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.

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.

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.

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♥ .

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

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.

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♠ .

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.