APL Main Event (65,000 PHP)

With registration remaining open just before the start of APL Manila Main Event Day 2, 66 players took advantage of the last-minute entry, bringing the final count to 739 entries! A prize pool of PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1M) stands on the line, with today's action seeing the money bubble burst just before the sun set. Day 2 began with 315 players returning to the felt, and by the end of the day, only 53 remained.

South Korea's Joohyun Park was the unfortunate last elimination to walk away empty-handed after a blind vs blind clash against Gun Choi cost him his shot at the title. Once the bubble burst, eliminations came fast and furious, capping the action within the next two levels.

Local gunner Ryan Platon ended the day on top, amassing a massive 1,668,000 (139 BB) stack onto Day 3. Platon gained a hefty boost by midday and maintained his momentum through the final five levels. Right at the close of the day, Platon scooped up Hyeongmin Yu’s entire 37 big blind stack, adding it to his own to seize the overall lead. Close behind is Edgar Asehan with 1,507,000 (126 BB), followed by one of South Korea’s most prominent players, Soo Jo Kim with 1,237,000 (103 BB).

Other notables advancing through include John Tech (1,032,000), Lester Edoc (888,000), Czardy Rivera (707,000) and Richard Marquez (408,000), along with Day 1 chip leaders Sangwoo Chun (787,000), Renato Villanueva Jr (731,000), Gun Choi (633,000), and Jongwon Lee (408,000).

With just two minutes left on the clock at Level 21 (6,000/12,000 ante 12,000), play will resume tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., right where it left off. All returning players are now guaranteed PHP 211,000 (~USD 3,635) in winnings and are one step closer to clinching the PHP 9,650,000 (~USD 166,695) top prize.

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

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: 315 players, 53 qualified

Day 3: Sunday, March 2

Final Day: Monday, March 3

Akihisa Toyoshima pushed his last 49,000 early position, called by Michael King on the cutoff. Yong Jae Lee on the small blind, reshoved for a larger 260,000, and saw King eventually make the final call for a three way showdown.

Lee dominated, striked gold as board 5♠ 9♥ K♥ A♠ J♥ landed him a set to scoop it all while Toyoshima exited in 54th place finish, capping the Day 2 action.

Facing a late position open and a button call from Ryan Platon, Hyeongmin Yu bumped it up on the big blind to 75,000 and saw only Platon complete.

On flop 8♥ 2♣ A♥ , Yu led 55,000 and followed with an all-in for 314,000 on turn 8♠ . Platon called down with trip eights J♣ 8♣ and shipped the massive boost against Yu's A♦ 5♦ as river 6♣ completed the board.

Having just sat down at a new table, Lemmor Patulot opened early position and called off his 188,000 stack after Yu Liu moved all-in on the big blind.

Patulot in trouble, was offered a second life, having spiked his two outer on board 7♠ K♦ 8♠ 9♦ 7♦ to take the win.

Jonald Garcia opened 24,000 in early position and saw Soon Chul Kim on the small blind, come along on flop 5♦ 2♥ Q♠ . Garcia continued for 32,000, check raised by Kim to 70,000 and Garcia completed.

On turn 4♦ , Kim check called a 45,000 bet from Garcia, yet folded on river 6♠ as Garcia went for a final 158,000.

Suguru Sawada opened 26,000 on the hijack and put out 73,000 more following an all-in from Seungjun Lee two seats after.

Up for a race, Sawada kept ahead all through board A♣ K♦ 7♣ J♥ 8♥ , knocking one off the counts once again.

In Ho Song opened 25,000 on the hijack and saw both Hernan Villa and Czardy Rivera call from the blinds.

Action checked round to turn 9♦ 4♠ J♦ T♥ , where both Villa and Rivera checked once more. Song this time, bet 25,000, called by Villa. Rivera on the other hand, decided to raise to 85,000, re-raised by Song to 220,000. Villa folded while Rivera completed.

On river 7♠ , Rivera checked a third time around and tank folded after Song barreled a hefty 180,000.

Yu Liu sent out a 65,000 three bet against a utg open and saw Ron Ryan Mesina move all-in on the big blind for 147,000. Initial raiser opted out while Liu flicked in the rest.

Board 5♣ 7♠ 9♠ 3♦ 6♦ steered clear of any overcards, leaving Mesina's pocket pair good for the win.

Suguru Sawada opened 25,000 early position and was joined by Jessie Leonarez on the small blind.

On flop 5♥ 7♥ 2♦ , Leonarez led all-in for 57,000 and was called by Sawada for a showdown.

Leonarez 3♦ 3♠

Sawada K♦ 7♦

Sawada ahead, scooped up the pot as runout 5♦ 9♥ sealed him the win.

Edgar Asehan opened 25,000 utg and shelled out 77,000 more following an all-in from Cezar Quiambao on the cutoff.

Up for a race, running hot Asehan delivered another bust as board 5♥ 3♦ 8♣ Q♠ 9♦ ran in his favor.

Seungjun Ko stuffed his 104,000 stack on the big blind and was challenged by hijack raiser Hoseung Jeung.

Ko dominated, lucked out as board 6♦ 2♥ K♦ T♦ 5♦ landed him the nut flush to survive through.

Edgar Asehan opened 25,000 utg and Gwanu Ju completed his big blind.

On flop Q♠ 3♠ 9♦ , Ju check jammed 81,000 against Asehan's 20,000 cbet and went to showdown after Asehan made the call.

Ju 9♣ 8♣

Asehan A♣ 3♥

Ju ahead, bid his Main Event dreams goodbye as runout A♠ 5♥ landed Asehan two pair to steal the win.

Luke Pangan defended his big blind against Edgar Asehan's 25,000 button open, and check called another 20,000 on flop 9♣ T♦ 4♠ . Both checked turn 5♦ through to river 6♠ , where Asehan went for a final 30,000. Pangan check called a second time around and mucked as Asehan tabled top pair J♥ T♥ .

Younghun Kim opened utg and called a 60,000 three bet from Yu Liu on the hijack.

On board K♥ 5♥ A♥ 6♦ , Liu double barreled - 35,000 and 135,000, with Kim check calling both streets. Action slowed down on river Q♣ , revealing Kim's set Q♥ Q♠ shortly, good for the win.

With 68 runners remaining in contention for the title, Day 2 is nearing its close with fourteen more eliminations to go before play wraps up. Only 54 players are due to advance to Day 3, where the race to the PHP 9,650,000 top prize continues!

Younghun Kim opened early position and went on to fourbet raise all-in against Chinatsu Uda. Uda called off his entire 146,000 and ran a flush to bag the victory on board K♠ K♦ T♦ 9♦ 3♦ .

Suga Yoshitsuga open shoved 67,000 utg and was called by Soon Chul Kim on the hijack.

Yoshitsuga flopped the nuts on board J♥ Q♠ T♣ K♦ 3♠ , keeping him in the Main Event running.

A back and forth between Sangwoo Chun and Johan Lees saw the latter make the final call for his entire 133,000 stack.

Lees ahead, instead bowed out as an ace-high board 5♣ T♠ Q♦ A♠ 2♠ left his kings in pieces.

Having just a caught a double off Gun Choi, Michihiko Matsuda found himself at risk once more against the Korean contender, this time for 102,000.

Board 2♦ 7♠ 4♥ K♠ 4♣ landed Matsuda top pair, earning him a double up a second time around.

Earl Mendoza defended his big blind against Lester Edoc's early open, and went on to lead all-in for 81,000 on flop 6♥ 3♠ 5♣ . Edoc called with 7♥ 7♣ and found himself behind Mendoza's slightly better 8♥ 8♣ .

Lucky for Edoc, the runout 4♣ J♥ landed him a straight to turn the tables in his favor.

Suga Yoshitsugu opened early position and snap called Juhwan Kim's button jam for 202,000.

Kim in rough shape, was in luck to find three diamonds on board 7♦ J♦ 3♠ 8♥ 6♦ , giving him a flush to send Yoshitsugu's aces flying towards the muck.

Gun Choi opened 20,000 on the button and flicked in 75,000 after Michihiko Matsuda on the big blind, put his tournament life at stake.

Matsuda well ahead, secured the double up on board 7♠ 9♣ T♦ 6♥ K♠ with no worries.

Facing an open and a call, Ferdinand Lu on the small blind, made it 85,000 to go and saw utg raiser Reiner Magbutay complete.

On flop Q♥ 5♠ T♥ , Magbutay called another 45,000 and went on to bet 125,000 on turn A♦ . Lu check folded, giving up the pot to his opponent.

Yongkyun Kim open shoved 80,000 on the hijack, followed by another all-in from Hyundong Lee for 247,000. Ryan Platon on the big blind, made the final call for a three way showdown.

Platon landed a set on board 7♦ 4♦ T♥ J♦ 8♥ and easily delivered the double bust.

Hyeongmin Yu open shoved on the button for 190,000 and was looked up by Jeremy Catalig on the small blind.

Yu behind, flopped the world on board 3♠ 2♣ 4♦ 9♦ 6♣ , earning him another double up with his straight crushing Catalig's set of nines.

Vying for a pot of 60,000 on flop 7♥ J♥ 6♥ , Hyeongmin Yu led all-in for 65,000 on the small blind and saw Yulmin Lee rise to the challenge.

Yu Q♦ J♦

Lee 9♥ 8♦

Drawing to several outs, Lee found none on either turn A♦ or river 6♠ , relinquishing the pot to Yu.

Gwanu Ju stuffed his last 63,000 utg and saw Michihiko Matsuda right behind push likewise.

Ju ahead, clinched the win on board 6♥ Q♥ 7♠ 3♠ T♦ , costing Matsuda half his stack.

With action folded to the blinds, Suguru Sawada kicked off the action with an open and called for his tournament life (284,000) after Sangjin An pushed all-in.

Sawada at risk, instantly spiked a set, sealing the win on board 9♦ 5♠ 3♠ 2♥ 3♥ . Two hands later, Sawada finished off An , shooting his stack up to nearly 90 big blinds.

Wanhee Kang pushed 110,000 on the cutoff and ran smack into Ryan Tan's rockets on the big blind.

Kang failed to catch up on board 5♥ 8♦ 5♠ T♥ Q♠ , cutting his Main Event run short.

A blind vs blind battle brewed a pot of nearly 120,000 in the middle across board Q♠ K♠ 5♠ J♥ . Turn action saw Joohyun Park lead for 20,000 and tank call for his remaining 88,000 after Gun Choi raised all-in.

Park K♦ Q♥

Choi J♠ 7♠

Park at risk with two pair against Choi's flush, missed to fill up on river J♣ , eliminating him as the day's stone cold bubble.

All remaining 111 players are now guaranteed a share of the PHP 55 million prize pool and a mincash of PHP 169,000. Congratulations! 🎉

With action folded to the blinds, Lester Edoc raised all-in, leaving Youngkyun Kim behind in a pickle. Kim tanked and decided to lay it down, open folding A♣ Q♦ . Edoc returned the gesture and showed 7♠ 7♣ .

Johan Lees opened 17,000 on the button and was committed to call off Shigeaki Okada's 57,000 all-in on the big blind.

Unfortunately for Lees, Okada woke up with the top of his range and cruised to victory on board 3♥ K♦ 5♠ 9♣ 7♠ .

Paul Zehetleitner opened utg and called a 55,000 three bet from Yu Liu on the big blind.

On flop 9♥ 9♦ 7♠ , Zehetleitner called another 80,000, but tank folded on turn 4♦ after Liu barreled all-in.

Ellezer Castillo on the other hand, is on the edge of his seat with only 5,000 left and one elimination left on the table.

Jessie Leonarez open shoved his short stack twice in a row and picked up two rounds of blinds and antes after meriting no calls.

Having just doubled off Yong Jae Lee two deals prior, Younghun Kim caught another win, this time for a bigger 230,000.

Lee opened utg and called Kim's 29 big blind jam on the button. Both with premium pairs, Kim once again had the best hand, claiming the pot on board 5♠ 8♥ J♥ 9♥ 9♦ .

Jeseok Lee opened 18,000 utg+2 and got a call from Jongwon Lee on the cutoff.

On flop 7♠ Q♠ 5♦ , Jeseok continued for 20,000 and put out 40,000 more following a raise from Jongwon. Turn T♣ saw Jeseok check call another 80,000, and arrive at showdown with a discount as Jongwon checked it back.

Jeseok revealed A♦ A♥ and collected the pot.

Yong Jae Lee opened 20,000 mid position and shelled out 91,000 more following an all-in from Younghun Kim on the big blind.

Lee in search of an ace, found none on board J♠ T♣ 9♠ T♦ 5♦ , shipping Kim the rightful double up.

Juhyun Lee opened early position, called by John Tech on the button along with Jongwon Lee on the small blind.

Action on flop A♦ 9♣ T♣ was checked to Tech, who bet 20,000. Both called to see turn J♦ and got a free round to river 7♥ . Juhyun and Jongwon checked once more to Tech, leading him to fire a final 90,000. Jongwon raised to 200,000 and left both in surrender.

Taehun Yu pushed 149,000 in and was met with another all-in from Edgar Asehan.

Both tabled the same hand, splitting the pot on board T♥ 6♥ 6♣ Q♥ 9♦ .

Another cooler landed on the tables with Eugene Co in rough shape against Chanhee Yea's nutted pair.

Board 3♣ 9♥ 8♦ Q♣ 7♦ offered no surprises, leaving Co to fork out a chunk of his stack.

Gerald Lubas opened 60,000, leaving himself 3,000 behind. Hyundong Lee called on the button, and flicked in for the rest on flop K♣ Q♣ 3♣ .

Lubas J♠ J♣

Lee A♥ A♠

Dead against the pair battle, Lubas had some flush outs with his club but bricked runout Q♥ T♠ , sealing his elimination.

Juhyun Lee stuffed his last 85,000 on the button and was called by initial raiser Jongwon Lee.

Juhyun with the best hand in the deck, secured the double up with no worries on board 9♣ 4♠ Q♥ Q♠ 4♠ .

With action folded to the blinds, Hernan Villa opened 24,000, called behind by Czardy Rivera.

On board A♣ 2♣ 8♦ K♦ , Villa led both streets - 35,000 and 60,000, again called down by Rivera.

The front flush filled up on river 9♣ and Villa decided to slow down. Rivera took the chance to bet 228,000, leaving Villa to take a minute before open folding two pair A♠ 2♠ .

Luis Bernardo shoved 83,000 on the small blind against a utg open and was followed by another all-in from Jaehyun Lee right behind. Initial raiser opted out, leaving the two to showdown.

Bernardo in great form, cruised to victory on board 8♠ 8♥ 9♠ Q♣ A♥ , doubling up as bubble time continues.

Yu Liu opened early position and was priced in to call Christopher Chua's all-in for 32,000.

Chua at risk, scored the pot just as no aces showed up on board 9♦ 2♣ 6♣ 3♠ 6♠ .

Chan Woo Min fired a 40,000 three bet against an open and saw Junho Kwak cold call on the big blind.

Action on flop K♦ 6♦ 2♠ checked round to turn 7♦ , where Kwak led 12,000. Min called behind but gave it up shortly after Kwak went for a final 30,000 on river J♠ .

Jaehyun Lee opened 14,000 utg and Reiner Magbutay completed on the big blind.

Action on board was checked round to turn 8♦ 2♦ 9♠ Q♥ , where Lee bet 12,000. Magbutay check called onto river Q♠ and hero called a final 45,000 with A♦ J♠ . Magbutay's decision paid off as Lee tabled bluff A♥ 5♥ .

With a pot of 67,000 spread out across board 7♠ 5♥ 9♣ 8♥ , Jaehong Lee on the small blind, made a run for it, risking his last 105,000. Jiwoon Yoon was up to gamble and called with a straight draw.

Lee T♥ T♣

Yoon A♠ T♠

River Q♥ left Yoon with just ace-high, shipping Lee the 46 big blind pot.

Carlo Calingasan open shoved 120,000 utg and was looked up by Sangjin An right on bubble time.

Flop K♥ Q♠ 5♦ had Calingasan worried for a bit, which all faded as the runout A♣ A♦ brought him quads to turn it back in his favor.

Yulmin Lee stuffed his last 47,000 on the button and was challenged by utg raiser Jeremy Catalig.

Board A♥ J♦ 6♦ 5♦ Q♥ left Lee in no sweat, earning him the much needed double up.

The Filipino pro has been on the move since bubble time struck, playing all seven hands to apply maximum pressure on his opponents. Lester Edoc has nearly doubled his stack, claiming a boost over 30 big blinds for his timely aggression.

Jae Yi Chang opened mid position and went on to jam the rest of his 99,000 stack against Johan Lees' raise behind. Lees snap called, putting his opponent at risk right on bubble time.

Board T♦ T♠ 2♣ 3♦ 7♥ ran dry for both, leaving Chang's ace-high good for the takedown.

Three way action on flop 2♥ A♣ K♣ saw Hernan Villa continue for 20,000 into a pot of 50,000. Czardy Rivera called on the button and headed to turn 7♥ . Both checked it through to river J♣ , where Rivera gunned a final 40,000. Villa check called and mucked as Rivera tabled the nut straight Q♦ T♥ .

Lemmor Patulot opened 15,000 on the hijack and saw Seongjun Ko come along from the small blind.

Ko led out 12,000 on flop 6♣ 6♦ 4♠ and called 26,000 more following a raise from Patulot. Turn 9♣ and river Q♣ were checked down, revealing Ko's T♥ T♣ , good against Patulot's 5♥ 5♣ .

With action still on bubble time, short stacked Marc Rivera moved all-in for his last 70,000 on the button, putting his tournament life on the line. Cutoff raiser Mitsuki Sakimoto opted out and shipped Rivera the boost for his bold move.

A three way raised pot saw action on flop 6♣ 6♦ 3♠ get checked to Sin Yong Il on the button, leading him to bet 60,000. Hernan Villa check called on the big blind and did so once more on turn 6♥ after Il moved all-in for his last 20,000.

Villa revealed quads 9♠ 6♠ and sent his opponent out in quick fashion just as river A♥ completed the board.

Il 7♠ 7♣

Right on the first hand on bubble time, Soo Jo Kim sent one out, leaving only 114 players in the running.

Soo Jo Kim opened 13,000 early position, joined by Michael Concepcion on the small blind.

On flop 8♦ 4♥ 7♣ , Kim continued for 10,000 and followed with another 25,000 after Concepcion put in the call. Concepcion this time, check raised to 65,000, and went on to lead 90,000 on river 6♠ .

Kim paused for a minute and raised all-in, applying maximum pressure close to the money. Concepcion eventually called off for his remaining 243,000 with a straight K♦ T♣ , and crashed out just as Kim revealed the nuts J♣ T♥ .

The tournament clock has been set on pause to make way for bubble time. Hand for hand play is currently in progress until 111 players remain, all in the money.

Mincash is valued at PHP 169,000. Let's take a look at the top payouts:

Up against an early open and a button call, Youngjun Jang decided to push his last 75,000 in and saw initial raiser Jessie Leonarez take the spot.

In for a flip, Jang remained to keep his seat warm as his pocket pair held through on board T♣ 2♣ K♠ K♦ 3♦ .

Youngjun Jang opened utg and called Jungmin Park's all-in a seat after for 64,000.

A 50-50 situation, Park's pocket pair took it this time as board 4♦ 6♠ 8♣ A♥ 9♠ missed to pair Jang's overcards.

Sangjin An opened early position and called Dongyeon Kang's all-in from the big blind for 102,000 total.

An dominated, turned the tables, having flopped a flush on board K♠ 8♠ 4♠ 6♥ 5♣ to send his opponent out completely.

Younghoon Kim limped utg, followed by a 14,000 raise from Jongwon Lee on the cutoff. Juhyun Lee on the big blind called, and Kim raised back all-in for 34,000. Both Jongwon and Juhyun completed, revealing flop 9♦ 2♣ 2♠ .

Jongwon bet 60,000 and Juhyun check folded, leaving the two to showdown.

Kim K♦ K♥

Jongwon A♠ A♣

The worst cooler, Kim headed out just as turn 7♥ and river 5♦ failed to save him from his demise.

Youngjun Kang stuffed his last 64,000 on the big blind and saw hijack raiser Dongyeon Kang rise to the challenge.

Running a race, both flopped a pair on board 9♦ 3♣ Q♠ 5♦ 6♣ with Jang banking the win with a better pair of queens.

Luis Bernardo open shoved 89,000 early position and was called by Jiwoon Yoon on the hijack.

A classic flip, Bernardo faded elimination, having spiked an ace on river T♣ 9♠ 4♠ 6♣ A♣ to take the win.

Suguru Sawada opened 12,000 early position and Carlo Calingasan completed on the big blind.

Action was checked round to turn 9♣ 7♦ 8♦ 8♣ , where Calingasan led 12,000. Sawada called behind and paid another 18,000 on river 3♠ , only to muck as Calingasan showed two pair Q♣ 7♣ .

The money bubble is nearing with a dozen more eliminations left on the table before the cash flows in. 111 players are set to get a share of the PHP 55 million prize pool, mincash set at PHP 169,000.

Top Chip Counts

Preflop action between John Tech on the button and Jan Leoncio on the big blind sized up a pot of 50,500. On flop 5♥ A♣ J♠ , Tech bet 14,000 yet folded after Leoncio check raised for 25,000 more.

Seungjun Lee opened mid position and called a 22,500 three bet from Jerico Padilla on the small blind.

On flop A♥ 6♠ 7♠ , Lee raised all-in vs Padilla's 51,000 cbet and saw his opponent flick in his last 29,000.

Lee A♠ 5♠

Padilla A♦ K♦

Lee with some flush outs, missed to catch one on either turn 9♦ or river A♣ , costing him a chunk off his stack.

A button vs blind battle on flop A♠ 5♠ 2♥ saw Hoseung Jung fire a half pot bet of 15,000. Hyundong Lee check raised to 45,000 and led 34,000 on turn 5♥ after Lee put in the call. Lee this time, raised to 95,000, bloating up the pot even further. Lee completed, yet ultimately surrendered on river 9♠ after Jung bet all-in for 210,000.

Tables are now 8-handed with only 123 runners holding on to their seats. Action will close once the field is down to 54 players remaining.

Aaron Valencia open shoved 54,000 and was called right behind by Michael Concepcion, putting him at risk.

Board A♣ 8♥ 3♦ A♥ 7♣ was a slam dunk win for Concepcion, sending Valencia quickly to the rails.

A button vs blind battle brewed a pot of 38,000 in the middle across board J♦ 9♠ 5♦ A♠ . Hernan Villa went for a check raise to 69,000 against Sin Yong Il's 24,000 bet and picked up the pot uncontested. Villa showed bluff T♦ 9♣ as he raked in the boost.

Facing an open and a call, Sunghak Lee sent out a 40,000 three bet and called for his remaining 205,000 after initial raiser Dong Jae Lee came back with an all-in.

Board 5♥ Q♥ J♠ 2♠ 5♦ left Dong in pieces, shipping Sunghak a big boost to continue his run.

Junghyun Min opened 12,000 utg and Paul Zehetleitner completed on the big blind.

On board 5♣ Q♦ 8♦ 5♠ 5♥ , Min bet each street 12,000 and saw Zehetleitner check call to showdown, only to muck as Min tabled a full house K♣ Q♥ .