APL Main Event (65,000 PHP)

After several days of intense play, the esteemed APL Manila Main Event final table has finally met this season's cast with only 8 contenders out of its 739-entry field remaining in the running. Today's Day 3 welcomed back 53 players to the scene, and after eight levels of play, the field thinned and the final table was set. Each player is now guaranteed PHP 903,000 (~USD 15,565) in winnings and stands only inches away from the PHP 9,650,000 (~USD 166,695) top prize.

Japan's Mitsuki Sakimoto stole the spotlight throughout Day 3, dominating the action from the moment the field reached the last three tables. One of his biggest boosts came at the expense of Day 1 chip leader Sangwoo Chun, whose set was crushed by Sakimoto’s turned flush, sending him to the rail in 22nd place .As the action progressed down to the final two tables, no one could come close to matching Sakimoto's commanding lead, leaving a 100 big blind gap to the next player in following. Sakimoto delivered two more eliminations just as the day closed and finished with a massive 12,425,000 (155 BB) stack to come into the Final Day with nearly half the chips in play.

A significant distance behind Sakimoto, South Korea's Hoseung Jung is positioned second in rank with 4,900,000 (61 BB), trailed closely by local gunner Reiner Magbutay two big blinds behind.

Action resumes tomorrow, March 3rd at 13:30 local time, where only one will rise to victory and catch the lion's share of the PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000) prize pool! 🏆

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: 53 players, 8 qualified

Final Day: Monday, March 3

Remaining Payouts

Seat Chart

Mitsuki Sakimoto opened on the button and snap called Soo Jo Kim's 960,000 all-in from the big blind.

Kim dominated, accepted his fate and headed for the rails just as board J♣ 7♠ Q♣ 9♣ 9♠ kept him behind all the way.

Mitsuki Sakimoto fired a hefty 360,000 three bet on the button against an utg open, and saw John Tech on the big blind commit his last 685,000 in the middle. Initial raiser opted out while Sakimoto flicked in the rest.

Tech primed for another double up, instead bowed out as board 7♠ 3♠ 2♥ J♣ 9♣ landed Sakimoto a pair of jacks to deliver the bust.

John Tech defended his big blind against Mitsuki Sakimoto's 120,000 cutoff open, and check called two streets from Sakimoto - 65,000 and 150,000, on board 8♥ 8♣ 2♥ 9♠ .

On river T♥ , Sakimoto gunned for a final 1,150,000, leaving Tech to pay the price, only to muck as Sakimoto showed a full house 9♥ 8♣ . Tech tabled an 8♦ in return as he relinquished the pot.

Soo Jo Kim pushed 535,000 on the hijack and was looked up by chip leader Mitsuki Sakimoto on the small blind.

Kim a huge favorite, easily secured the double up on board 5♣ 3♥ 5♥ J♦ 4♣ , boosting him back up to 15 big blinds.

Action is down to the final two tables. Another seat redraw will be put in place, with play continuing down to the final nine.

Chip Count Update

On his third push, Jongwon Lee finally met a caller for his last 370,000 with initial raiser Mitsuki Sakimoto rising to the challenge.

Lee at risk, caught up on board 8♥ 2♣ 5♣ Q♣ J♦ , earning him the much needed double up and another run at the title.

With action folded to the blinds, Mistuki Sakimoto opened to 175,000, called behind by Soo Jo Kim.

On flop K♦ 3♦ 4♣ , Kim called a 65,000 cbet from Sakimoto but gave it up shortly on turn T♠ after Sakimoto went for another 250,000.

Facing an open and a button call from Sangwoo Chun, Mitsuki Sakimoto lodged a three bet to 280,000 on the big blind and saw only Chun complete.

On flop 8♣ 4♣ T♣ , Sakimoto continued for 130,000 and was met with an all-in from Chun for around 2,000,000. Sakimoto took the gamble with the nut flush draw A♣ Q♦ and was up against Chun's set 8♥ 8♠ for a massive pot.

Turn Q♣ instantly completed Sakimoto's flush with the river A♠ missing to fill up Chun's boat to send him out.

Mitsuki Sakimoto opened 80,000 on the hijack and found two callers behind - Suguru Sawada on the button along with the big blind.

Action on flop A♦ A♥ 2♦ was checked to Sawada, who bet 80,000. Big blind folded while Sakimoto raised back to 250,000. Sawada completed and faced another 400,000 from Sakimoto on turn K♦ .

Sawada called once more and was put in a tough spot just as Sakimoto barreled all-in on river 4♥ . Sawada burnt through all his time banks and eventually surrendered, shipping Sakimoto yet another win.

Chip leader Mitsuki Sakimoto is on a roll, picking up yet another pot to shoot up past the 4 million mark and extend his lead further.

Sakimoto opened early position, raised by Oh Se Kyung to 175,000. Sakimoto responded with an all-in for the rest and Kyung called off his 350,000 behind.

Up for a race, Sakimoto's momentum, clearly unstoppable, clutched another victory on board 2♥ 5♦ 5♣ 3♥ 7♦ , sending Kyung out in 26th.

On the next hand, Mitsuki Sakimoto kicked off the action with an open on the cutoff and clapped back with a fourbet to 330,000 against Jongwon Lee's raise on the small blind. Lee completed and went on to lead 500,000 on flop A♦ 4♣ T♥ .

Sakimoto gave it a thought and decided to raise all-in for Lee's 31 big blinds behind. Lee gave up the fight, relinquishing yet another pot to the reigning chip leader.

Jeseok Lee opened in early position and was met with a 150,000 raise from Mitsuki Sakimoto on the button. Soo Jo Kim on the small blind, padded it further to 385,000 and saw only Sakimoto complete.

On flop 5♥ 7♥ 2♣ , Sakimoto called another 255,000 bet from Kim and arrived at turn K♦ . Kim this time, checked and tank folded after Sakimoto shot out a bet of 450,000. Sakimoto picked up the pot, pushing him atop the ranks over the last three tables.

With only 26 players remaining, the final three tables are due for a seat redraw. Only nine runners will advance to the Final Day, where the hunt for the APL Main Event title continues.

Here are the chip counts:

Mitsuki Sakimoto opened 75,000 on the button and called Suguru Sawada's all-in for 745,000 total.

With 50 big blinds in the middle, Sawada scooped it all as board 3♣ Q♣ J♥ J♠ 6♦ steered clear of any aces.

Mitsuki Sakimoto limp called Michael King's all-in on the button and picked up another stack to add onto his towering pile.

Sakimoto outran King on board 4♦ 3♣ 9♥ 5♦ A♣ , landing a set to bust his opponent out.

Sakimoto picked up a hefty boost just prior after serving Jonald Garcia his elimination in 39th place. According to Garcia, the two clashed on a flop of Kx Tx 9x with Garcia holding Qx Tx against Sakimoto's Ax Jx. River striked an ace and shipped Sakimoto the win to crack the 2 million mark.

Mitsuki Sakimoto opened early position and went on to four bet jam his entire 668,000 against Hernan Villa's raise behind. Villa snap called with a premium pair, putting Sakimoto in danger.

Lucky for Sakimoto, the board 7♦ 6♠ T♦ 5♥ 3♥ rolled him a straight, more than enough to send Villa's kings flying towards the muck. Villa survived the damage but exited just the hand after.

A button vs blind battle saw Michihiko Matsuda commit his 169,000 up against Mitsuki Sakimoto for a flip.

Sakimoto instantly spiked the advantage on board A♣ 6♣ K♠ 8♥ 8♦ , leaving Matsuda headed for the rails early in the day.