APL Main Event (65,000 PHP)

"I’m very happy. I couldn’t believe it because this is the first time for me to win a tournament, and I don’t have much experience playing poker, especially in another country. I was very nervous, but on day two, three, and the final day, I became more relaxed, and I was able to play my own game from day two onwards.", commented Sakimoto in his post match interview.

Ace Poker League has closed another chapter in its books with this season's Manila Main Event seeing Japan's Mitsuki Sakimoto reigning in glory. A total of 739 entries turned up for its latest showing, sizing up a grand prize pool of PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000). Stakes were high across the Final Day games with only 8 players returning on the hunt for the title. After just four hours of play, action capped with Sakimoto besting the field, earning him the largest series payout of PHP 9,650,000 (~USD 166,695).

"I prepared. I called and messaged my friends, and they all gave me the same advice: 'Don’t be afraid, just believe in yourself because if you’re afraid, you won’t win.' It was really good advice for me. It was the best advice I could have received."

Sakimoto entered the final rounds with an undeniable lead of 94 big blinds over his contenders and not once did he find himself at risk, nor did he relinquish the advantage. His biggest boost came right at four-handed play, when he eliminated Reiner Magbutay over an ace-high battle to ship 85% of the total chips on the table.

"I was a little bit scared when he went all-in, even though I had A♣ Q♣. His all-in was so quick, and I had such a strong hand. I was thinking, 'How did he go all-in so quickly?' I was thinking because there were two short stacks, too, so I couldn’t snap-call because I had him covered. I thought his hand wasn’t as strong as kings, so I called.", said Sakimoto when asked regarding his hand against Magbutay.

From there on, Sakimoto remained unstoppable, eventually reaching heads up play against South Korea's Jae Yi Chang with a nearly 5:1 lead. It took only four deals for Sakimoto to close out the victory, with the final hand seeing him win over Chang's last 21 big blinds for the trophy.

Congratulations to all the winners!

APL Manila 2025 Main Event

Dates: February 26 - March 3, 2025

Buy in: PHP 65,000 (~USD 1,120)

Guarantee: PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000)

Entries: 739

Prize pool: PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000)

ITM: 111 places

Final Table Results

Hand #103: In the final showdown, Mitsuki Sakimoto open raised all-in on the button and saw Jae Yi Chang call off his last 4,200,000.

Sakimoto slightly behind, found a pair on flop 5♥ 5♦ 4♥ to gain the upper hand. With runout 2♦ 7♠ , missing out Chang's overcards, leaving him settle for a runner up finish and hand the final victory to his Japanese opponent.

Hand #100: Jae Yi Chang opened 450,000 on the button and Mitsuki Sakimoto defended his big blind. Action on board A♦ K♣ 3♣ 9♥ K♥ was checked to showdown, revealing Sakimoto's Q♣ 8♥ , no good against Chang's better Q♦ J♦ .

Hand #101: Sakimoto opened on the button and folded to Chang's all-in for 5,100,000.

Hand #102: Chang opened on the button and called a 1,400,000 three bet from Sakimoto on the big blind. On flop A♦ 5♦ T♦ , Chang folded after Sakimoto continued for 750,000.

APL Manila Main Event is down to the final two with Japan's Mitsuki Sakimoto stacking a nearly 5:1 advantage over South Korea's Jae Yi Chang. A PHP 9,650,000 (~USD 166,695) top prize stands on the line, with both runners already guaranteed a PHP 6,315,000 (~USD 108,855) payday.

Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

Hand #96: Reiner Magbutay opened utg and was met with another three bet from Mitsuki Sakimoto on the button. Magbutay again, responded with an all-in for 7,590,000 and Sakimoto this time, took the spot.

Magbutay dominated, bound for the exit just shortly after missing to get lucky on board T♣ 9♥ 2♥ 8♣ 7♦ . Sakimoto shipped the massive boost and now sits with 85% of the chips in play.

Hand #97: Mitsuki Sakimoto opened on the button, no callers.

Hand #90: Mitsuki Sakimoto opened utg, no callers.

Hand #91: Jae Yi Chang opened utg and picked up the blinds.

Hand #92: Sakimoto raised all-in on the small blind, no call from Chang.

Hand #93: Reiner Magbutay got a walk.

Hand #94: Asehan with another walk.

Hand #95: Magbutay opened on the button, raised by Sakimoto on the big blind to 1,250,000. Magbutay came back with an all-in, risking his entire 6,100,000, and Sakimoto folded.

Hand #85: Edgar Asehan opened utg, no callers.

Hand #86: Reiner Magbutay opened on the small blind, Asehan opted not to complete.

Hand #87: Jae Yi Chang opened utg and picked up the blinds.

Hand #88: Mitsuki Sakimoto raised all-in on the small blind, Chang surrendered.

Hand #89: Asehan opened utg and called a 750,000 three bet from Sakimoto on the button. On flop A♥ T♥ 5♣ , Asehan check called another 550,000 and headed to turn J♥ . Both checked it through to river Q♣ , where Sakimoto barreled all-in, convincing Asehan to give up the fight.

Hand #81: Edgar Asehan opened utg and saw Reiner Magbutay shoot a raise to 960,000 on the big blind. Asehan came back with an all-in, convincing Magbutay to give it up. Asehan showed 9♦ 9♥ as he collected the pot.

Hand #82: Asehan got a walk.

Hand #83: Magbutay opened on the button and folded to Mitsuki Sakimoto's 1,050,000 raise on the big blind.

Hand #84: With action folded to the blinds, Sakimoto opened to 500,000, called by Jae Yi Chang behind. On flop 8♣ 8♦ 6♦ , Sakimoto led 275,000, Chang with another call. Sakimoto this time, checked turn 4♣ and called a 500,000 bet from his opponent.

River 9♣ was checked to Chang, leaving him to take a minute before gunning for a final 1,250,000. Sakimoto hero called with two pair J♥ 4♠ , just enough to beat Chang's 3♦ 3♣ for the pot.

Hand #80: Action folded to the blinds and saw Mitsuki Sakimoto put in a 500,000 chip without declaring a raise. Ruled as a call, Jae Yi Chang checked his option behind and took it to flop K♠ Q♠ 2♦ .

Sakimoto led 160,000 and followed with another 550,000 on turn 2♥ . Chang called down both streets and faced an all-in on river K♦ . Chang called off for his remaining 1,660,000 with a full house 8♠ 2♠ and bagged the double up as Sakimoto revealed bluff 6♦ 3♠ .

Hand #79: Renato Villanueva opened on the cutoff, called by Edgar Asehan on the small blind. Mitsuki Sakimoto on the big blind, bumped it up to 1,150,000 and saw Villanueva snap raise all-in for 3,295,000. Asehan folded while Sakimoto flicked in the rest.

A classic NLH flip, Sakimoto's overcards took it this time on board K♥ 5♦ 4♠ 2♥ 2♠ , knocking out Villanueva in 5th place.

Hand #72: Mitsuki Sakimoto opened 320,000 early position and Reiner Magbutay completed on the big blind.

On board 8♣ 2♠ 5♠ 5♣ , Sakimoto double barreled - 200,000 and 650,000, with Magbutay check calling both streets. Magbutay checked a third time around on river 7♣ and Sakimoto checked it back for a showdown.

Magbutay tabled A♣ 6♥ , no good against Sakimoto's two pair T♥ T♣ .

Hand #66: Jae Yi Chang open shoved on the cutoff for 1,225,000, no takers.

Hand #67: Mitsuki Sakimoto opened utg, joined by both Reiner Magbutay and Edgar Asehan on the blinds.

Action on flop 7♥ 7♠ T♦ was checked to Sakimoto, who continued for 350,000. Only Asehan stuck around to see turn 5♣ , where he check called for another 700,000. Asehan checked river 6♦ a third time around and Sakimoto checked it back for a showdown.

Asehan showed trip sevens 8♣ 7♦ and collected the pot.

Hand #68: Magbutay opened on the button and picked up the blinds.

Hand #64: Mitsuki Sakimoto opened on the cutoff and picked up the blinds.

Hand #65: Sakimoto opened on the hijack, no callers once more.

Hand #63: Reiner Magbutay opened on the hijack and was met with a 600,000 three bet from Mitsuki Sakimoto on the button. Sunghak Lee on the big blind, moved all-in for 760,000 and saw both complete.

Action on board J♥ T♣ 5♣ T♦ T♥ was checked down to the river, where Magbutay led 700,000. Sakimoto opted out, leaving the two to showdown.

Magbutay revealed quad tens A♥ T♠ , crushing Lee's K♦ K♥ entirely to send him out in 7th place finish.

Hand #38: Hoseung Jung defended his big blind against Mitsuki Sakimoto's 240,000 hijack open, and check folded on flop K♣ Q♣ Q♠ after Sakimoto continued for 200,000.

Hand #39: Sakimoto opened early position and was met with a 550,000 three bet from Jung on the small blind. Reiner Magbutay on the big blind cold called, pushing Sakimoto to squeeze all-in. Jung folded while Magbutay on the other hand, snap called for his entire 4,430,000, brewing a massive pot in the middle.

Sakimoto in rough shape, missed to catch up on board A♦ T♣ 7♠ 9♣ 3♥ , shipping Magbutay a huge double up.

Hand #37: Mitsuki Sakimoto opened 200,000 on the cutoff, called by Jae Yi Chang right behind.

On board 8♥ K♦ 5♦ 9♠ , Sakimoto led both streets - 175,000 and 350,000. Chang called the initial bet but gave it up as Sakimoto proceeded with aggression.

Hand #32: Edgar Asehan jammed 1,040,000 utg and was looked up by Mitsuki Sakimoto a seat after.

Asehan well ahead, cruised to victory on board Q♥ 7♣ 5♣ 7♦ 2♠ , earning him a quick double up.

Hand #25: Edgar Asehan opened utg and folded against Mitsuki Sakimoto's raise to 500,000.

Hand #26: Renato Villanueva opened on the cutoff and picked up the blinds.

Hand #27: Hoseung Jung opened on the cutoff, followed by a raise from Reiner Magbutay on the button to 550,000. Sakimoto on the big blind, squeezed to 1,800,000 and saw Jung fold with no hesitation. Magbutay on the other hand, burnt through two time banks before throwing in the fold.

Hand #28: Villanueva opened early position and was called by Asehan on the button. On flop 3♥ 5♣ T♠ , Villanueva check folded as Asehan fired a bet of 200,000.

Hand #16: Mitsuki Sakimoto opened on the cutoff and called Jae Yi Chang's all-in right behind for 730,000.

Board 6♦ 3♦ 8♣ A♥ A♣ ran dry for both , leaving Chang's king-high good for the takedown.

Hand #12: Renato Villanueva opened 210,000 on the cutoff, raised by Hoseung Jung right behind to 500,000. Riener Magbutay on the small blind, squeezed all-in and picked up the pot uncontested.

Hand #13: Action folded to Mitsuki Sakimoto on the big blind.

Hand #14: Hoseung Jung opened on the hijack but folded after Sakimoto raised on the small blind to 600,000.

Hand #15: Sakimoto limped in on the button and both Jae Yi Chang and Sunghak Lee came along on the blinds. On flop K♦ 4♣ 3♠ , Lee led 100,000 and saw both continue to turn A♠ . Both Chang and Lee checked to Sakimoto, and folded as the chip leader went for a bet of 400,000.

Hand #5: Mitsuki Sakimoto opened utg and found no callers.

Hand#6: Sakimoto completed his big blind following an early open from Sunghak Lee, and check called 130,000 on flop Q♠ 9♣ 2♣ . Both checked turn 8♣ through to river 4♣ , where Sakimoto led 750,000. Lee folded, shipping back to Sakimoto his recently acquired chips.

Hand #7: Sakimoto opened 240,000 on the small blind and was called by Jae Yi Chang behind. Chang however, surrendered on flop A♦ 5♦ T♣ after Sakimoto continued for 180,000.

Hand #8: Sakimoto opened from the button and the blinds folded.

Hand #9: Renato Villanueva defended his big blind against Sakimoto's cutoff open yet folded on flop T♠ 5♠ 3♠ against his opponent's 120,000 cbet.

Hand #10: Hoseung Jung got a walk.

Hand #4: Mitsuki Sakimoto limped in early position and Reiner Magbutay raised to 420,000 on the big blind. Sakimoto came back for 1,450,000 but snap folded as Magbutay put his tournament life on the line.

Hand #1: Sunghak Lee defended his big blind vs Mitsuki Sakimoto's cutoff open, and check called 100,000 on flop J♣ 2♣ 4♣ . On turn T♦ , Sakimoto barreled another 260,000, but folded after Lee check raised to 625,000.

Hand #2: Renato Villanueva got a walk.