APL Main Event (65,000 PHP)

All five qualifiers for the PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1M) guaranteed APL Main Event have wrapped up with the final heat bringing in the largest field of 218 entries. Another 92 players survived the initial eleven levels, bringing the Day 2 count to 265 runners. That number isn't closed just yet with registration remaining open up until the start of tomorrow's charge.

South Korean contenders once again dominated the field, claiming the top five spots of the Day 1E leaderboard. Inkyu Choi finished on top with a chip count of 299,600 (187 BB), having seized the lead with two last minute eliminations right as the day closed. Compatriot Jiwoon Yoon follows behind with 220,500 (138 BB), along with Chan Woo Min just shy of 200,000.

South Korea’s Sangwoo Chun raised the bar high in the opening heat and continues to hold the reins, having finished with a staggering 550,400 (344 BB) chip count in Day 1A.

All survivors are geared to return to the felt at 11:00 local time, where the race for the money really begins!

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 1 Entries: 673

Day 1A: 64 entries, 19 qualified

Day 1B: 135 entries, 44 qualified

Day 1C: 82 entries, 29 qualified

Day 1D: 174 entries, 81 qualified

Day 1E: 218 entries, 92 qualified

Day 2: Saturday, March 1

Day 3: Sunday, March 2

Final Day: Monday, March 3

Just as the day is about to close, Inkyu Choi delivered two last minute eliminations, sending both James Zaragosa and Andrew Nguyen to the rails right on the last three deals.

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

Jinsol Kim defended his big blind against Ivan Dela Cruz' 4,000 hijack open, and check called two streets - 4,000 and 15,000, on board A♦ 9♣ 2♣ J♠ . Kim checked river 7♠ a third time around and Dela Cruz decided to check it back for a showdown. Kim revelaed pair of jacks J♣ 5♣ , no good against Dela Cruz' pair of aces A♣ T♠ .

Hwang Seong Il opened 4,000 on the cutoff and called 12,000 more following a raise from Richard Nakila a seat after.

Hwang quicky laid it down on flop A♦ Q♦ 5♣ after Nakila continued for 12,000.

In Ho Song opened utg and called Rick Jason Ambata's all-in a seat after for 30,200.

Ambata ahead, saw his run cut short after board Q♥ T♣ Q♦ J♣ K♣ ran a straight for Song to seal his elimination.

Gi Boum Kim pushed all-in on the button for 24,800 and was looked up by Christopher Pasion on the big blind.

A coinflip situation, Kim faded a potential bust as board 9♦ J♦ 4♥ 3♠ 3♣ landed him a full house to take the win.

Hyejin Park pushed his last 10,600 in early position, called by Taehun Yu on the button. Kunwoo Kim on the small blind, reshoved for a larger 33,900, leaving Yu to put in the final call for a three way showdown.

Park instantly spiked a full house on board 7♠ 9♦ T♣ T♠ 8♣ , earning him the main pot while Yu shipped the side pot with a straight to cut his losses.

Roberto Morales opened on the cutoff and called Joohyun Park's all-in for 29,800.

Both found a pair on board A♠ 8♠ J♦ 7♦ 5♠ with Park's pair of aces keeping him in the lead for the double up.

Soo Jo Kim striked a bet of 4,500 into a 12,600 pot on flop A♦ Q♣ 6♠ . Andrew Nguyen called right behind yet surrendered on turn K♦ after Kim pulled another 11,000.

Chan Woo Min opened on the hijack, followed by a raise to 7,500 from Byeongsoo Lee right behind. Joohwan Jeon on the big blind, cold called and Min completed for a three way pot.

Action on flop J♠ 4♦ 3♣ was checked to Lee, who bet 5,000. Both check called and got to showdown after no more bets went in on either turn 4♥ and river 5♦ . Jeon showed 7♥ 7♣ and earned the pot with a pair.

Hae In Lee opened on the hijack and called an 8,500 three bet from Chan Woo Min right behind. On flop 9♦ 3♦ 8♠ , Lee immediately check folded as Min continued for 10,000.

Hyejin Park opened 3,000 early position, called by Nichols Manalo on the cutoff. Taehun Yu on the small blind, bumped it up to 9,200 and saw both complete.

Action was checked round to turn 7♦ 7♠ 6♦ 5♥ , where Yu led 6,000. Both Park and Manalo called behind onto river K♥ . Yu this time checked, Park bet 6,000 and Manalo raised 16,000. Yu folded while Park called to showdown, only to muck as Manalo revealed a flopped full house 7♥ 6♥ .

Seong Pyo An raised all-in for 15,500 on the hijack and saw Dasom Choi two seats after take the spot.

An dominated, stepped off the floor as board A♠ 6♠ 5♦ K♣ Q♠ left him behind on all streets.

A fiveway raised pot rolled a flop of 7♦ 5♣ 4♠ . Hyunmock Yu led all in for 23,900 on the big blind and was looked up by Christopher Mateo behind.

Yu 3♣ 2♦

Mateo A♥ 6♥

Both with straight outs, neither filled up on turn 4♦ and river T♣ , leaving Mateo's ace-high good for the win.

A limp pot blind vs blind saw Johan Lees lead out for 1,400 on flop A♦ K♥ 2♣ . Lloyd Fontillas called behind, but snap folded on turn Q♦ after Lees followed with another 4,100.

A preflop back and forth between Jaehyun Lee and Yunseok Choi landed both stacks in the middle with Lee at risk for his entire 49,700.

Lee a favorite to win, instead crashed out after board Q♥ 4♥ 2♥ 3♠ 2♣ gave Choi two pair to bag the victory.

Preflop action between Christopher Mateo and Jeseok Lee built up a healthy 43,500 pot even before the dealer fanned flop K♦ 6♣ 6♠ on the felt. Mateo faced an 11,000 bet from Lee and came back with a raise to 25,000, only to quickly give it up after Lee pushed all-in.

Johan Lees opened with pocket aces on the button and called Lloyd Fontillas' all-in for 25,000 from the big blind.

Fontillas with Ax 2x was in rough shape, but turned the tables after catching to deuces on board to survive through.

Jaemin Kim flicked in his last 4,800 on the cutoff and was called by Younghun Kim right behind.

Flipping for his tournament life, Jaemin bound for the exit as board A♥ 4♠ 7♠ 9♠ 8♠ landed Younghun a set to take the win.

With 9,800 in the pot on board T♦ 9♦ 9♠ 4♠ , Dasom Choi on the big blind, check called a 5,100 bet from Seong Pyo An on the button, and got to showdown for cheap after river 6♣ welcomed no more bets.

Choi showed K♦ T♠ and secured the win.

Taehun Yu opened on the hijack and called Sughyun Yun's 17,400 all-in on the big blind.

Yun dominated, headed out as board 3♥ 2♥ 3♠ K♠ Q♦ failed to save him from his demise.

Michael Bueza pushed his last 8,500 on the cutoff and left Nohjun Park priced in on the big blind.

Board 7♣ T♥ 7♠ 8♥ T♣ ran dry for both, leaving Bueza's ace kicker good for the takedown.

Chanhee Yea sent out a 6,500 raise against an early open and saw Bonifacio Mondalo cold four bet to 15,000 on the small blind. Initial raiser folded while Yea responded with an all-in. Mondalo surrendered, opting to save his 22 big blinds behind.

Joohyun Park opened 3,000 on the hijack and was joined by Jongbea Jang on the button and Soon Chul Kim on the small blind.

On flop 8♣ T♥ Q♣ , Park bet 6,000, and saw both Jang and Kim continue to turn 2♠ . Park lodged another 20,000 and showed T♦ T♣ as he successfully pushed both opponents out of the pot.

With a pot of 24,500 situated across board K♦ T♥ 4♦ 3♠ , Richard Tolentino on the big blind made an attempt for it with a bet of 8,000. Jeseok Lee called behind and faced an all-in from his opponent on river 7♣ .

Lee took a minute and eventually called off for his last 18,500 with bottom pair 8♦ 3♦ , only to bow out as Tolentino flipped over a pair of sevens J♠ 7♦ .

An all-in preflop situation saw Hyunmock Yu commit his entire 24,600 with A♦ K♦ , up for a flip against Sangjin An's 8♠ 8♣ .

Board T♠ 7♦ 6♠ 5♦ 3♥ ran clear for the pocket pair, earning An the boost while Yu headed for the door.

With action folded to the blinds, Soon Chul Kim limped in and faced a raise to 3,700 from Roberto Morales. Kim made it 9,700 to go, pushing Morales to shoot back for 19,700. Kim finished with an all-in and finally left Morales nowhere to go but out.

Gerardo Lubas Sr opened 3,000 on the cutoff and was called by all three players behind onto flop A♦ 7♠ 6♦ . Lubas continued for 10,000 and picked up the pot uncontested.

Michael Cabigan opened 2,000 in early position and was called by Darren Yu behind.

On board 7♥ 5♣ 4♣ 5♥ 4♦ , Cabigan led all three streets - 2,500, 5,000, and a final 10,000. Yu called down with no hesitation, only to muck as Cabigan revealed two pair A♠ 7♣ .

Chang Rok Han defended his button open and called a 7,000 raise from Chan Woo Min on the big blind.

On flop 9♦ 9♥ 8♠ , Min continued for 5,000, called by Han onto turn 3♥ . Min this time checked, pushing Han to bet 15,500. Min responded with an all-in and saw Han call off his remaining 22,000.

Min T♠ T♣

Han A♥ 4♦

Drawing only to an ace, Han exited the arena shortly after river rolled a 4♠ .

Alvin Sembrano pushed his last 11,100 in the middle against an open and a call, and was challenged by initial raiser Soon Chul Kim for a showdown.

Sembrano with the best hand in the deck, easily bagged the double up on board 6♥ 2♥ 7♦ 6♦ Q♣ , denting Kim's stack by just a bit.

With a pot of 16,200 across board 6♣ 4♥ 5♥ 4♦ , Nichols Manalo fired a bet of 5,500 and got a call from Jason Jastrzemski on the button. Manalo checked river 8♦ to Jastrzemski and folded after his opponent went for a final 10,000.

Saeim Jang fired a three bet against an early open and saw Michael Cabigan on the small blind, bump up the stakes to 12,000. Jang completed, and went on to bet 16,000 on flop T♣ A♣ 7♥ . Cabigan check jammed for the rest, leaving Jang to commit her 52,200 behind.

Cabigan A♦ A♠

Jang A♥ Q♠

Jang in rough shape against Cabigan's top set, bound for the exit just as runout 6♥ 2♠ completed the board.

Diana Tan sent out a 5,000 raise against a utg open and saw Dong Woo Lee cold four bet to 12,500. Initial raiser opted out while Tan continued onto flop K♥ 9♥ 9♦ .

Tan check raised Lee's 7,000 bet for another 7,000 and went on to lead all-in on turn 4♥ . Lee tank called for his entire 46,500 with A♣ K♣ and was down for a chop against Tan's A♥ K♦ .

River 6♥ unfortunately for Lee, landed a fourth heart, shipping Tan the massive pot for her ace-high flush.

Michael Shu defended his big blind against Taehun Yu's 2,000 button open and read a flop of 4♠ T♦ 7♥ .

Action checked round to turn 8♣ , where Yu bet 3,000. Shu check called to river K♣ , but gave it up as Yu went for a final 5,000.

With a completed board of J♣ 7♥ 9♠ 5♥ 4♣ spread out on the table alongside a pot of 27,800, Hwigon Park made a final attempt for it with an all-in for his remaining 12,500. Yunseok Choi right behind paused for a minute and eventually found the call with A♣ K♠ high, crushing Park's A♦ 6♦ to deliver the bust.

Attempting to secure the 23,000 in the middle across board A♠ Q♠ K♥ 2♦ 5♥ , Steeve Tan shot out an 11,000 bet on the big blind and saw James Zaragoza on the button, push all-in. Tan took his time deliberating and eventually laid it down, open folding A♥ . Zaragoza returned the gesture, showing only one card as well - K♣ .

Up against an open and a call from Martin Gonzales, Seungjun Kim squeezed all-in on the big blind for 17,900 and was challenged by Gonzales for a showdown.

Kim secured the double up with no worries as board A♥ 5♣ 7♠ 4♥ 2♣ left his ladies well ahead.

Joven Huerto donk bet 2,000 into a pot of 7,400 on board A♠ 3♣ 6♣ 9♥ and saw Jonald Garcia behind pump it up to 7,000. Huerto missed to continue, saving him some chips as Garcia showed two pair A♦ 3♦ .

Vying for 21,100 in the middle, action on flop 9♦ 9♠ 8♣ saw Jess Dalipe commit his last 16,800 with J♦ J♣ , only to face Joohwan Jeon's Q♦ Q♠ at showdown.

Runout 5♦ 9♣ brought no surprises, shipping Jeon the pot while Dalipe headed for the rails.

On a completed board of 3♥ 6♥ J♣ 5♦ Q♠ , Haechang Lee bet 4,000 into a pot of 6,300 and was met with a raise to 12,000 from Bonifacio Mondalo behind. Lee paid the price and mucked as Mondalo revealed two pair Q♥ J♥ .

Junghyun Min limped in on the button and saw both players on the blinds complete.

Action on flop 9♠ 7♦ 2♥ checked round to turn 6♣ , where Min bet 1,000. Both opponents check called to see river K♠ and faced another 2,000 bet from Min. Only Michael Bueza was up to the challenge, yet mucked as Min revealed nut straight T♣ 8♠ .

Donghyun Kim opened on the hijack and called a 4,500 three bet from Jungmo Lee on the next seat.

On board K♥ 2♣ 3♣ K♣ , Kim double barreled - 4,000 and 12,500, with Lee calling down both streets. Action slowed down on river Q♥ , revealing Kim's trip kings A♦ K♦ for the win.

Preflop action between Sunghoon Lee and Rick Jason Ambata built a pot of 7,300 in the middle. On flop K♠ 9♣ J♥ , Lee went for a check raise to 13,000 against Ambata's 4,500 bet and left his opponent unable to continue. Lee showed top two pair K♦ J♦ as he raked in the pot.

Christopher Pangan open shoved 8,000 in early position, called by Roberto Morales on the cutoff. Jinseok Hyung on the big blind, decided to join in for his last 1,100, making it a three way showdown.

Board 9♣ 6♥ 7♦ 5♦ K♣ landed Morales top pair, enough to send both opponents packing.

Hyejin Park on the small blind, donk bet 2,000 on turn 7♠ K♣ 5♠ 9♣ into a pot of 6,900, and was met with a raise to 5,000 from Jinseok Hyung. Park called, and went ahead and led 5,000 on river 8♠ . Hyung paid the price, only to muck as Park tabled the nuts A♠ Q♠ .

Alexandre Renard fired a 4,000 bet into a pot of 7,000 on board 5♦ K♠ A♥ Q♣ and finished with a final 9,000 on river 4♠ . Sughyun Yun right behind, called the turn bet but was left unable to get to showdown after Renard demanded for more.

Christopher Pangan opened 1,300 utg and was called by Jongbea Jang right behind along with the big blind.

Pangan continued for 1,500 on flop K♦ 6♦ 6♠ , called by Jang onto turn 5♥ . Pangan checked this time around, and folded after Jang fired a bet of 4,500.

Youngjun Jang opened 800 on the lowjack and was followed by a 2,200 three bet by Bonifacio Mondalo two seats after. Two players cold called behind, pushing Jang to raise the stakes to 25,000. All three ushered a fold, shipping Jang the dead money in the middle.

Soon Chul Kim shot out a 2,800 three bet on the big blind against a late position open and a call, and saw both continue to flop K♣ 5♠ 4♥ . Kim bet 6,100 and merited no callers.

Facing a late position open and two calls, Jongbea Jang squeezed to 3,600 on the big blind and saw only initial raiser Hyejin Park complete. Jang continued for 4,000 on flop 7♠ 4♠ 3♠ and called 6,000 more following a raise from Park.

On turn J♥ , Jang led all-in for 26,100 with no hesitation, sending Park deep in the tank. Park was pressured to make a decision after time was called and decided to let this one go. Jang showed K♠ K♥ as he raked in the pot.

Vying for a pot of 19,800 across a completed board of T♥ 3♠ 8♣ 6♥ Q♣ , Shigeaki Okada made a final attempt on the button with an all-in for 12,000. Ryan Platon looked him up with bottom pair A♣ 3♣ and relinquished the pot as Okada tabled 7♠ 7♥ .

In battle for a 9,400 pot spread across board 9♥ 7♦ 8♣ 4♠ , Joo Hee Oh led for 6,500 on the small blind and received a call from Jaehong Lee behind. Lee paid a final 6,500 on river 9♦ , only to muck as Oh showed a full house 7♠ 7♣ .

A limp pot blind vs blind saw Ryan Platon lead 300 on flop 3♦ 6♣ 9♥ . Jong Gu Cho called behind, revealing turn 9♠ . Both checked to river 4♥ , where Platon gunned a final 1,300. Cho opted out, giving up the pot to his opponent.

With only 2,500 in the pot across a completed board of 4♣ K♦ 5♠ J♥ 3♦ , Jaemin Kim on the small blind, chucked out an overbet of 4,000 and called 20,600 more after Alfonso Baja right behind fired a hefty raise.

Baja showed 7♠ 6♦ for a straight and got max value from Kim's rivered set 3♠ 3♣ for another boost.

With an open and three calls ahead, Hae In Lee on the big blind, fired a raise to 2,200 and saw first caller Alfonso Baja pump it further to 6,400. Lee completed and check called another 3,600 on flop 9♥ 3♥ 7♠ .

On turn T♣ , Baja barreled all-in for 20,700 and picked up the pot straight away.

With 4,200 in the middle across board T♥ 4♠ 6♣ 6♠ , three way action was checked to Ryan Platon, pushing him to bet 2,100. Alexandre Renard pulled a check raise to 7,000 and finished with a final 12,000 on river 8♠ .

Platon called him down with a flush A♠ 9♠ , exposing Renard's busted straight draw 7♣ 5♦ .

APL Main Event Day 1E action begins, good luck to all the players!

This is it! Tonight runs the final heat for the esteemed PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000) guaranteed APL Manila Main Event. Day 1E is likewise set on a Turbo pace, with the first four levels running 20-minute blinds, followed by two 30-minute levels, two 40-minute levels, and concluding with a final stretch of three 50-minute levels.

Great value for all players with a possible overlay on the horizon. The first three heats have since garnered a total of 281 entries, building up a pot just nearly the third of its published guarantee.

South Korea’s Sangwoo Chun raised the bar high in the opening heat and continues to hold the reins, having finished with a staggering 550,400 chip count - nearly 14 times the starting stack!

Day 1E action kicks off at 18:00 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: 64 entries, 19 qualified

Day 1B: 135 entries, 44 qualified

Day 1C: 82 entries, 29 qualified

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