APL Main Event (65,000 PHP)

The first heat of the eagerly anticipated Ace Poker League - APL Main Event has come to a close, with 64 initial entries marking the beginning of the headline games. After eleven action-packed levels, only 19 players remain in the hunt for a share of the PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000) guaranteed prize pool, leaving those who failed to make the cut several more chances to qualify throughout the week.

South Korea’s Sangwoo Chun finished the day with a commanding lead, stacking a mighty 550,400 (344 BB) in chips, having dominated the last three levels. One of Chun's biggest boosts came by the final hour after he sent Sean Sztyler to the rails, cracking pocket aces with eight-six offsuit to extend his lead further. Chun sets the bar high for the four flights ahead, leaving a substantial gap behind second in the running Seitaro Aso's 218,500 (137 BB) chip count, along with Kyuhyung Jung, who rounds up the podium with 205,100 (128 BB) in chips.

All Day 1A survivors now have two days to relax or compete in side events before returning to battle for the next round of games. Late registration will remain open until the start of Day 2 on Saturday, March 1st.

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)

Day 1A: 64 entries, 19 qualified

Day 1B: Thursday, February 27

Day 1C: Thursday, February 27

Day 1D: Friday, February 28

Day 1E: Friday, February 28

Day 2: Saturday, March 1

Day 3: Sunday, March 2

Final Day: Monday, March 3

Yongkyun Kim opened 3,500 early position, called by Sangwoo Chun behind. Robertson Yap on the big blind, bumped it up to 6,500 and saw both flick in the extra 3,000.

On flop K♥ K♣ 5♦ , Yap led out 5,500, called only by Kim onto turn Q♥ . Yap this time, went for a check, and shortly surrendered after Kim gunned 11,500.

Day 1A is nearing its close with the clock set on pause and only four more deals left in play before bagging time.

William Ysmael defended his big blind against an early open from John Constiniano, and check called 3,500 on flop A♣ 5♣ 2♦ . Constiniano fired another 11,000 on turn Q♦ , enough to get Ysmael to lay it down.

Up against a late position open and a call, Dongwook Lee sent out a 12,000 three bet on the small blind and saw both complete.

On flop 9♣ T♣ 2♦ , Lee check called a 14,000 bet from initial raiser Kyuhyung Jung and headed to turn 6♥ . Lee checked once more, pushing Jung to bet all-in. Lee called off for his remaining 62,000 and found his pocket pair in terrible shape against the rockets.

Jung A♠ A♣

Lee 8♠ 8♣

Lee drawing slim, bowed out as river 5♥ sealed the win for Jung's overpair.

Having gotten a shove through the previous hand, Jihyun Min was at it again, this time with an open and call ahead. Min remained unchallenged, earning him another round of blinds and antes.

Gunning for the 7,500 in the middle across board 6♣ T♠ 4♠ 2♥ 4♣ , Byungchan Oh sent out a 5,500 bet on the big blind and was looked up by Jiaqi He behind. Oh turned over trip fours J♦ 4♥ and collected the pot as He failed to show a better hand.

Paul Zehetleitner opened on the cutoff and called Robertson Yap's all-in for 27,400 (17 BB) on the big blind.

A 50-50 situation, Yap's pocket pair held this time around on board 3♥ 7♦ 5♣ 7♥ 5♥ , keeping him in the Main Event Day 1A running.

Preflop action between Sean Sztyler and Sangwoo Chun bloated the pot to 15,800 already as flop 8♠ 8♥ T♣ cleared out on the felt. A series of raises shortly landed both stacks in the middle, Sztyler at risk for his entire 122,000.

Chun 8♦ 6♥

Sztyler A♦ A♣

Chun with a towering stack, added more to his pile as runout 9♣ 7♦ left Sztyler's rockets crushed on all streets.

Dongwook Lee opened 3,000 utg, raised by Benjamin Jacobs a seat after to 8,500. Player on the hijack cold called, and followed with a squeeze from John Constiniano on the big blind to 25,000.

Action back to Lee, he raised all-in for 108,800 total and easily scooped up all the dead money in the middle unchallenged.

Sean Sztyler defended his big blind against Robertson Yap's 3,000 button open, and check called three streets - 3,000, 8,000, and a final 16,000, on board 2♣ 9♥ 4♥ 5♠ 9♠ .

Yap showed 6♥ 2♦ , behind Sztyler's 6♠ 6♣ all the way.

Having just collected a river value bet off Chun Yuan Chen with A♥ 5♣ on board 2♦ 3♦ J♠ J♥ 4♣ , Sangwoo Chun continued to run table captain, securing two more pots in following.

The last one saw Chun open on the button and fourbet jam against Chen's 14,000 squeeze on the big blind. Chen snap folded, taking another hit as he surrendered the pot a second time to the chip leader.

Up against an early open and a button call, Jiaqi He on the small blind, lodged a three bet to 11,000 and snap called the rest after initial raiser Raphael Bulaong pushed for 32,800 total.

Bulaong in trouble, failed to catch up on board 5♦ 4♦ 2♣ 4♣ Q♥ , busting him out in the process.

A back and forth between Jiaqi He on the button and Dong Jae Lee on the small blind eventually landed both stacks in the middle, Lee at risk for his entire 61,500.

He in rough shape, turned the tables as flop J♠ 4♣ 9♠ landed him top set, with no help arriving for Lee on either turn 6♦ or river A♠ to knock him out of the running.

With already 37,500 in the middle on board K♦ K♥ 8♣ 4♦ , turn action was spotted on Sangwoo Chun leading out for 20,000. Sean Sztyler called on the button and paid another 30,000 on river J♣ with Q♥ Q♠ , only to take a loss as Chun showed a better A♦ A♥ .

With an open in front, Shinya Fukutomi shoved 33,500 (24 BB) on the button and was looked up by Jinwoo Choi right on the big blind.

Up for a flip, Choi immediately landed the advantage on board T♣ 6♠ A♥ Q♥ J♠ , sending Fukutomi out at an instant.

Facing a late position open and a call, Kyuhyung Jung on the big blind sent out a three bet to 16,500 and saw initial raiser Ferdinand Lu complete.

Both checked flop A♠ 2♠ K♦ through to turn 2♦ , where Lu bet 20,000. Jung check folded, quickly surrendering the pot to his opponent.

Two more 60-minute levels is left at play with all survivors by the end of Level 11 advancing to Day 2 this Saturday, March 1st. More than half the field has been dusted with only 29 runners currently remaining in battle.

Registration will be open for late entrants, all the way before the start of Day 2.

Top Chip Counts

Dong Jae Lee opened on the cutoff and was met with an 8,000 three bet from Chun Yuan Chen right behind. Lee clapped back with a raise to 19,000, yet gave it up as Chen put his tournament life on the line.

On a completed board of 4♥ 9♥ J♦ 8♣ 3♠ , river action saw Dong Jae Lee fire a final bet of 3,000 on the button. Sehyeon Kim check jammed for 12,200 more with 6♦ 6♣ , and got a call from Lee with ace-high A♣ 2♣ . An ill-timed hero call, Kim's bluff instead got full value off Lee for a nice double up.

Chun Yuan Chen fired a hefty turn bet of 11,000 into a pot of 12,800 on board 4♥ 7♣ A♠ 5♦ . Jiaqi He check called on the small blind, but was left unable to get to showdown as Chen pulled the trigger on river Q♣ for his last 36,900.

With a pot of 18,000 on the line across board A♥ J♥ 4♥ T♦ , Hoseung Jung gunned for a bet of 8,000, yet folded after Seitaro Aso demanded for the rest.

Vying for 26,700 in the middle across board 2♦ 8♣ K♠ T♣ , Vamerdino Magsakay made an attempt for it with a bet of 15,000. Sangwoo Chun on the small blind, check raised to 30,000 and snap jammed after Magsakay clicked back to 60,000.

Magsakay took a moment to deliberate but was eventually pressured into a decision after time was called. Ultimately, Magsakay folded, propelling Chun to rise to the top of the ranks.

Sean Sztyler sent out a 6,600 three bet on the button against Sergei Korzhenko's late position open, and was joined by both the small blind and Korzhenko onto flop 8♥ T♣ T♥ .

Action checked round to turn 5♣ , where Korzhenko shot out a bet of 5,500. Sztyler looked him up and called a final 33,000 on river 4♦ , leaving his opponent to muck without delay. Sztyler nonetheless, showed Q♦ Q♠ as he raked in the boost.

Having gotten his aces cracked just a few hands earlier, Benjamin Jacobs got entangled with Ferdinand Lu once more.

This time with a pot of 40,000 centered around board 3♠ 2♠ J♦ 9♥ K♦ , Jacobs faced an all-in from Lu for his remaining 43,300. Jacobs called off with top pair K♠ 4♠ and bagged the win as Lu showed T♦ T♠ , earning him back what he lost along with some change.

Vamerdino Magsakay defended his big blind against Sean Sztyler's 3,500 hijack open, and went to battle on flop K♥ Q♦ 7♦ .

Action checked round to turn J♥ , where Magsakay led 11,000. Sztyler called behind, and went on to bet a final 10,800 on river 3♠ , checked to him. Magsakay gave it up and tossed his hand back in the deck.

A pot of 13,500 was centered round the middle on flop 5♥ A♥ 7♦ , with three way action seeing Benjamin Jacobs continue for 3,800, called by a player behind. Ferdinand Lu on the small blind, went for a check raise to 7,800 and saw Jacobs respond with an all-in. Only Lu was up to the challenge, risking his 33,400 stack with a combo draw.

Jacobs A♠ A♣

Lu 8♥ 4♥

Drawing to several outs, Lu one found one on runout 8♦ Q♥ for the win, sending Jacobs' rockets flying towards the muck.

With 12,500 in the middle across board 4♥ 9♥ 2♠ Q♥ , turn action was caught on Seitaro Aso on the big blind, leading out for 8,000. Sehyeon Kim called behind and faced a final 12,000 from his opponent on river J♦ .

Kim took a minute and went on to jam his remaining 29,600, only to be called by Aso with a flush J♥ 2♥ , crushing his ace-high A♥ K♣ entirely.

Won Gyu Kang was put on the spot after Dong Jae Lee demanded for his last 17,000 on board 6♦ J♠ Q♠ J♠ 8♣ alongside a pot of 34,000. Kang called off with K♥ K♣ and banked the win as Lee was caught red-handed with 7♣ 6♥ .

A preflop back and forth between John Constiniano and Cheolmin Byeon saw a pot of 20,500 already in the middle even before flop J♣ Q♣ 6♦ hit the felt.

Constiniano check called 5,500 and faced another 20,000 bet from Byeon on turn 8♠ . Constiniano this time, responded with an all-in for 33,000 more, sending Byeon in the tank. Byeon eventually called off with a straight draw K♥ T♠ and was up against Constiniano's set J♥ J♠ for a 158 big blind pot.

River 5♣ bricked out for Byeon, earning Constiniano the full double up.

Sean Sztyler opened 3,300 on the hijack, called by Kim Kyong Hun right behind. Vamerdino Magsakay sent out a 12,300 three bet off the small blind, pushing Sztyler out of the pot. Kim on the other hand, thought it was a 9,300 raise and put in the call.

Both checked flop 7♥ 7♣ J♠ through to turn T♥ , where Magsakay fired 10,000. Kim found no reason to continue, opting to save his 30 big blinds behind.

Kevin Mateo opened 2,000 utg and saw both John Constiniano and Cheolmin Byeon on the blinds come along on flop 4♠ 6♣ 4♦ . Checked to Mateo, he bet 3,500, called by Constiniano. Action back to Byeon, he fired a raise to 10,500 and saw only Mateo complete.

On turn 3♥ , Mateo went for an all-in for his remaining 27,500 after Byeon checked, only to get snap called by his opponent with a straight.

Mateo 5♥ 5♠

Byeon 5♣ 2♥

Drawing slim, Mateo bowed out right on his first hand after K♣ failed to come through for his pocket pair.

A blind vs blind battle built a pot of 28,300 in the middle across board J♠ 8♣ 4♠ J♥ 8♥ . Dongjae Lee checked to Chun Yuan Chen, pushing his opponent to fire an overbet of 30,000. Lee looked him up with a boat A♥ 8♦ and claimed the pot as Chen revealed bluff Q♦ 9♦ .

Kyuhyung Jung opened 2,200 on the button and saw both players on the blinds complete.

On flop 4♣ 2♣ 7♥ , Jung continued for 4,500, check called only by Dongwook Lee. Both checked turn 7♣ through to river 3♣ , where Lee led a final 8,500. Jung threw in the fold, shipping Lee the pot with no showdown.

An all-in preflop situation saw Dongwook Lee take the spot with his pocket pair, putting Kim Gi Boum at risk for his entire 37,800 for a flip.

Board 7♣ 6♦ 5♣ 3♣ T♦ felted none of Kim's overcards, sending him out of the Day 1A running in quick fashion.

With two limps in front, Liao Po Hsun on the cutoff, raised the stakes to 3,500, and was followed with a series of back and forth against initial limper Byungchan Oh. Liao committed his entire 50,200 with A♠ K♦ and was up for a chop against Oh's A♣ K♣ .

Unfortunately for Liao, the board 2♣ 8♥ 9♣ T♣ 3♣ rolled four clubs, giving Oh the nut flush to scoop it all while Liao headed out the door.

With action folded to the blinds, Sergei Korzhenko bumped it up to 2,500, called behind by Michael De Leon.

Korzhenko led both streets - 2,000 and 8,000, on board K♥ 8♦ 2♠ 3♣ and left De Leon in quick surrender by the second bet.

On a board of 5♠ 2♣ K♠ 6♥ K♣ , Dong Jae Lee sent out a bet of 5,000 off the small blind and was met with a raise to 16,000 from utg raiser Kang Won Gyu. Lee tank folded in frustration, saying he had pocket jacks as Lee revealed bluff A♥ Q♠ .

Benjamin Jacobs opened 2,000 on the hijack and was called behind by John Niko Constiniano on the button.

On flop 2♦ 8♣ 6♠ , Jacobs continued for 2,000, raised by Constiniano to 6,000. Jacobs completed, yet gave it up shortly after Constiniano went for another 10,500 on turn 8♦ .

Dongwook Lee opened 1,600 utg and saw Shinya Fukutomi come along on flop 5♠ T♣ 9♠ . Action checked round to turn 3♣ , where Fukutomi bet 1,600. Lee check called onto river 8♦ , and did so once more for another 1,600, only to muck as Fukutomi revealed two pair 5♦ 3♦ .

Roland Ferrer opened 2,000 utg and shelled out 5,000 more following a raise from Emmanuel Derecho on the big blind.

On flop K♠ 9♦ J♥ , Ferrer managed to call a 4,000 cbet from Derecho, but was left unable to continue on turn 6♣ as Derecho followed with a hefty 31,000.

Preflop action between Kyuhyung Jung and Paul Zehetleitner built up a 26,000 pot in the middle even before flop K♥ J♥ 8♥ landed on the felt. Jung check called a 6,000 bet from Zehetleitner and faced another 5,000 on turn 2♥ . Jung this time, gunned for an all-in for 17,400 more, called by Zehetleitner for a showdown.

Jung A♥ 9♥

Zehetleitner J♣ 8♠

Jung with the nut flush, secured the full double up just as Zehetleitner missed to fill up on river T♣ .

With a hefty 44,100 already spotted in the middle across a completed board of 5♦ 7♦ 3♠ 9♠ 4♠ , Sangwoo Chun finished with an all-in for his last 13,600. Younghoon Kim tank called behind with a pair of sevens 8♥ 7♥ , and booked the loss as Chun tabled a wheel straight A♥ 2♠ .

Joseph Magnotti opened 1,200 utg and saw Sean Sztyler complete on the big blind.

On flop K♣ 6♠ 7♥ , Sztyler pulled a check raise to 3,000 after Magnotti continue for 1,200. Magnotti made the call, but let it go as Sztyler followed with another 5,400 on turn 8♠ .

Dongwook Lee defended his utg open and called a 4,200 three bet from Sergei Korzhenko on the hijack.

On flop A♦ 5♥ 9♣ , Lee check called another 2,300 and arrived at showdown shortly after Korzhenko checked back both turn 6♦ and river J♦ . Lee showed a mere pair of sixes 7♣ 6♣ , utterly no good against Korzhenko's premium K♠ K♣ .

With a pot of 10,000 in the middle across board 6♣ 4♣ J♦ 5♥ K♣ , action was caught on Edwin Dela Cruz leading out for 6,000 on the big blind. Younghoon Kim right behind, tank raised all-in, called by Dela Cruz with a flush T♣ 3♣ for his entire 22,300 stack. Bad news for Dela Cruz as Kim showed the nut flush A♣ 2♣ , delivering his bust.

Having just hit the rails a few hands prior, Kang Won Gyu re-entered the Main Event Day 1A games and was seated right back on his original seat.

Dong Jae Lee defended his big blind against Kang's 1,200 early open, and check called another 1,000 on flop K♠ 9♦ 4♥ . Action on turn 8♠ and river J♣ warranted no more bets, revealing Lee's A♥ 8♦ , no good against Kang's A♦ 9♠ .

Facing a button open and a call from Sangwoo Chun, Kim Kyong Hun on the big blind raised it up to 4,600, and saw only Chun continue to flop J♦ 3♠ 7♣ .

Kim bet 4,500, check called by Chun onto turn 8♠ . Both checked it through to river 5♣ , where Chun led 8,000. Kim opted out, giving up his chances of the pot.

Vamerdino Magsakay opened on the hijack and called a 4,500 raise from Chun Yuan Chen right behind.

Action on board J♥ 5♥ 6♥ A♠ A♦ was checked all the way down to the river, where Magsakay bet 1,200. Chen made the call yet mucked as Magsakay tabled two pair K♦ J♣ .

With already 8,900 in the middle across a completed board of 2♥ 8♣ 4♦ 5♦ A♥ , Paul Zehetleitner gunned for a final 3,800 and showed a straight 4♠ 3♠ after Michiko Matsuda paid the price. Matsuda mucked following the showdown, shipping his opponent the boost.

With two limpers ahead, Seitaro Aso bumped up the action to 3,800 on the button and saw both continue to flop 6♥ 7♣ 8♦ . Action checked round to turn Q♣ , where Seyoon Lim bet 3,100. Aso raised to 10,000, and flicked in 4,000 more after Lim came back with an all-in.

Lim T♥ 9♥

Aso A♣ 5♣

Lim ahead with a flopped straight, unfortunately bound for the exit as river 4♣ filled up Aso's flush to take it down.

Yulmin Lee opened utg and called a 4,100 three bet from Daegon Shon on the hijack.

On board T♣ T♦ K♣ 6♣ , Shon fired two barrels - 3,000 and 8,000. Lee check called one street but gave it up after Shon proceeded with aggression.

Vying for a pot of 5,800 across board Q♣ Q♥ 2♦ J♦ 7♠ , Junghyun Lee made a final attempt for it with a bet of 3,500. Gerardo Lubas snap called on the big blind and picked up the pot with no showdown after Lee instantly tossed his hand in the muck.

Dongwook Lee opened utg and was met with a 4,200 three bet from Akihiro Kawaguchi a seat after. Lee bumped up the stakes to 11,100 and Kawaguchi completed.

Action on board A♠ T♦ A♥ K♥ J♠ was checked all the way down to the river, where Lee bet all-in. Kawaguchi snap folded, allowing Lee to show off his full house K♠ K♣ as he raked in the pot.

A blind vs blind confrontation brewed 4,000 in the middle across board Q♦ 5♥ 9♥ 2♣ . Sehyeon Kim check called a 2,000 bet from Miura Shinya right behind, but failed to get to showdown after Shinya gunned for a final 8,000.

With a pot of 6,400 spread out across board A♥ J♥ 9♠ 6♦ , action was caught on Paul Zehetleitner on the big blind, check calling a bet of 5,000 from Kang Won Gyu. On river Q♥ , Zehetleitner faced another 8,500 and responded with an all-in for the rest. Kang snap folded, giving up the pot to his opponent.

Texsoo Jung kicked off the action with a 1,500 open from early position, called by Dongwook Lee behind.

On board 8♠ 8♥ 5♥ 5♣ , Jung double barreled - 2,400 and 2,500, and pushed his opponent out successfully by the turn.

Seitaro Aso opened 1,200 early position and received a call from Sehyeon Kim on the cutoff.

On flop 7♠ 9♥ 7♦ , Aso continued for 1,500 and put out 3,000 more following a raise from Kim. Both checked down turn 7♣ and river K♥ , revealing Aso's A♣ Q♥ good for the win.

Paul Zehetleitner defended his big blind against Michihiko Matsuda's 1,300 cutoff open, and went to battle on board 5♠ T♦ J♥ 8♦ 3♣ . Matsuda barreled all three streets - 800, 3,000, and a final 6,500, and left Zehetleitner unable to get to showdown by the final bet with his relentless aggression.

Both down short, Younghoon Kim flicked in his last 4,000 utg and was met with another all-in from Werner Cybulski right behind for a bigger 10,800. No one else joined the action, leaving the two to showdown.

Kim at risk, secured the double up, having outflopped Cybulski on board J♣ 7♦ 2♠ 8♠ 6♥ to survive through.

Dongwook Lee opened 1,000 on the button and saw both players on the blinds complete.

Lee continued for 1,200 on flop A♥ 2♣ 2♠ , check raised by Akihiro Kawaguchi to 2,400. Both opponents surrendered and slipped their cards back to the dealer, earning Kawaguchi the pot.

Jia Qi He opened 1,200 utg and saw Byungchan Oh complete on the big blind.

Oh check called a 1,000 cbet from He on flop 6♥ Q♠ 6♣ and arrived at showdown for cheap after turn K♥ and river 8♥ welcomed no more bets.

Oh showed two pair A♥ Q♣ and picked up another win.

With 6,700 in the middle across board 5♦ 6♣ 7♠ A♦ 9♥ , Seitaro Aso on the big blind gunned for an overbet of 8,000. Sehyeon Kim tank called behind, only to muck as Aso turned over a straight K♠ 8♠ .

A five way three bet pot led by Younghoon Kim dealt a flop of 9♠ 3♣ 5♥ . Kim continued for 5,500, called by Seitaro Aso on the button. Action back to Byungchan Oh, he fired a check raise to 16,200 and saw Kim raise all-in. Aso stepped away while Oh snap called for his remaining 21,100 with a set.

Kim 9♥ 7♥

Oh 3♥ 3♠

Drawing only to a runner runner, Kim forked over a chunk of his stack after turn K♦ and river 5♦ left him entirely behind.

Junghyun Lee opened 900 on the hijack right on his first hand and was instantly met with a three bet to 2,900 from Byungchan Oh. Younghoon Kim on the button cold called, and Lee completed.

On flop 6♦ 4♦ 3♣ , Oh fired a bet of 4,600 and saw both opponents continue to turn 3♠ . Action was this time, checked to Kim, leading him to bet 12,000. None had the courage to call, earning Kim the boost.

A completed board of 7♦ 5♦ 5♣ K♠ 6♠ along with a pot of 7,000 stood in front of a button vs blind battle. Younghoon Kim made a go for it with a bet of 5,000, yet proved unsuccessful after Byungchan Oh raised the stakes to 24,000.

Werner Cybulski opened 900 on the cutoff and was joined by Texsoo Jung on the button along with the big blind.

All three checked flop 3♠ 6♣ 8♦ through to turn 8♠ . Checked to Jung once more, he bet 3,500. Cybulski made the call but quickly gave it up on river T♥ as Jung went for a final 6,000.

With a pot of 6,500 in the middle across board K♣ 8♣ T♦ 8♦ , three way action saw Werner Cybulski lead out 2,500 on the small blind. Both opponents called behind, peeling river 6♥ . Cybulski this time, check called Akihiro Kawaguchi's bet of 9,000, and mucked his two pair K♥ T♥ as Kawaguchi revealed trip eights Q♥ 8♠ .

Seitaro Aso opened utg and called a 2,200 three bet from Sehyeon Kim on the cutoff.

On flop A♥ K♥ T♦ , Aso check called a 3,000 cbet from his opponent and went on to lead 7,000 on turn 4♥ . Kim tank called, and was put to the test by Aso with a bigger 20,000 on river 8♦ . Kim gave it some more thought and eventually found the call with two pair K♣ T♣ , good for the pot as Aso showed J♠ J♣ .

Seitaro Aso defended his cutoff open and called a 3,200 three bet from Yongsoek Choi on the big blind.

On flop A♥ 7♥ J♦ , Choi continued for 2,000 and called 6,000 more following a raise from Aso. Both players wasted no time getting their stacks in the middle on turn 4♠ , Aso slightly covering his opponent.

Choi A♠ K♥

Aso A♣ J♥

Aso well ahead with two pair, scooped up the win as river 4♣ completed the board, sending Choi out of the Main Event games early on.

A fourway raised pot led by Paul Zehetleitner dealt a flop of T♠ 8♣ 4♣ . Zehetleitner bet 900, and saw both Sean Sztyler and Sehyeon Kim continue to turn 6♣ .

Zehetleitner proceeded with more aggression, striking a bet of 3,200. Only Kim this time elected to call, and arrived at showdown shortly after Zehetleitner checked back river 9♥ . Kim showed straight 8♦ 7♣ and took down the pot.

The three went head to head once more after Texsoo Jung opened 1,100 from mid position and Younghoon Kim and Sean Sztyler decided to come along.

Action on flop A♥ K♠ 8♣ was checked to Kim on the button, pushing him to bet 1,500. Both opponents called onto turn Q♣ , where Kim gunned for another 3,500. Sztyler slipped the fold but saw Jung momentarily jam his remaining 14,700. Kim snap folded, shipping Jung the pot at an instant.

Younghoon Kim opened 600 on the hijack, raised by Sean Sztyler right behind to 2,100. Texsoo Jung cold called on the big blind and Kim completed for a three way pot.

On flop T♣ 8♥ 2♣ , Jung went ahead and fired a donk bet of 3,200. Kim called behind while Sztyler stepped out of the action. Jung continued with another 5,000 on turn J♦ and finished with a final 11,000 on river A♠ . Kim called all the way with two pair A♣ 8♣ , crushing Jung's pair of tens Q♦ T♦ by the river.

Younghoon Kim opened 600 on the cutoff, called by Sean Sztyler on the button along with the big blind.

On flop 9♠ 2♣ 6♣ , Kim continued for 1,100, raised by Sztyler to 2,400. While one got out of the way, Kim responded with a heftier 5,700 bet, leaving Sztyler to give up the fight.

Paul Zehetleitner opened on the hijack and called a 1,100 three bet from Younghoon Kim right behind.

On board 2♠ J♦ 5♥ 2♣ , Kim double barreled 1,600 and 4,000, with Zehetleitner check calling both streets. Kim finally slowed down on river J♠ and decided to check it back, revealing Zehetleitner's full house J♣ T♣ for the win.

A four way limp pot fanned a flop of 8♣ 4♠ 2♦ . Texsoo Jung led for 700 on the big blind, called by Younghoon Kim. Sean Sztyler on the cutoff, bumped it up to 2,200, and pushed one player out. Jung however, padded it further to 7,200 and shipped the pot straight away following three folds.

On a board of Q♦ A♥ Q♣ 6♥ , Kim Sehyeon bet 1,700 into a pot of 3,000 and followed with a final 5,200 on river 8♥ . Sean Sztyler on the small blind, check called both streets to showdown, and mucked as Kim revealed flush K♥ T♥ .

With only two players seated, action kicked off straight away, leaving the two in a clash.

Sean Sztyler defended his big blind against Kim Kyong Hun's 400 button open, and check called two streets on board 6♠ Q♠ 8♦ J♠ . On river 7♥ , Kim barreled a final 1,300, yet open folded top pair Q♥ after Sztyler check raised to 3,500.

APL Main Event action begins, good luck to all the players!

The Ace Poker League (APL) Manila festivities at Prime Poker Club in Pasay city, is in full swing with thirteen trophies out of its 34-event lineup already taken down on display. While several players have already achieved early successes, the grandest event is yet to come as today marks the beginning of the highly anticipated PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000) guaranteed Main Event.

The qualifiers are up and a total of five will be taking place through Friday, February 28th, marking a busy week to come for those up to the challenge. For a buy-in of PHP 65,000 (~USD 1,120), players will kick off the games with a starting stack of 40,000, 200 times the opening blinds. Varying blind structures have been set for the Day 1 rounds, with the initial flight providing the most room for play while the latter two - Day 1D and Day 1E, will run in a turbo format. Best Stack Forward will be in play across all the Day 1 heats, allowing players to advance with their largest stack onto the next round.

Action kicks off at 11:00 local time with late registration closing before the start of Day 2 on Saturday, March 1st. Stay tuned for updates as SMP brings you all the latest directly off the floor!

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)

Day 1A: Wednesday, February 26

Day 1B: Thursday, February 27

Day 1C: Thursday, February 27

Day 1D: Friday, February 28

Day 1E: Friday, February 28

Day 2: Saturday, March 1

Day 3: Sunday, March 2

Final Day: Monday, March 3