APPT Manila Main Event

With Cheng pairing up both cards, he wins the APPT Main Event and collects the enormous PHP 15,000,000 (~USD 259,265) top prize. For runner up Matsuda, a life changing payout as well of PHP 9,320,000 (~USD 161,100). Both players have also been awarded a package worth PHP 200,000 to the APPT Championship this October.

Limped pot sees a board that's checked to the turn T♦ 2♠ K♥ A♦ , John Matsuda bets 500,000, Xiong Cheng check-calls. On the river 5♣ , Cheng checks again, Matsuda fires 1,300,000, Cheng answers with a push, Matsuda folds.

Button Xiong Cheng limps then calls John Matsuda's 1,200,000 raise. Matsuda continues on the flop 4♠ T♥ T♦ for 500,000, Cheng calls. Matsuda checks the turn 9♦ then calls Cheng's 1,300,000 bet. Both check the river Q♥ .

John Matsuda limps, Xiong Cheng checks, The board Q♥ 8♠ T♥ 7♦ 7♣ is checked down Cheng wins with 8♦ 5♦ .

John Matsuda limps, Xiong Cheng checks, both check to the turn K♣ T♥ Q♦ A♦ . Cheng leads out 500,000, Matsuda calls, then it is back to checking on the river T♦ . Cheng shows 2♠ 3♠ , Matsuda has A♠ 6♣ top pair.

It is heads up here at the record breaking APPT Main Event. On the line is the PHP 15,000,000 (~USD 259,265) top prize and the bragging rights title. For the runner up is a sizable PHP 9,320,000 (~USD 161,100). Both players are guaranteed a package worth PHP 200,000 to the APPT Championship this October.

With Cheng pairing up one of his big cards, Rosete exits in 3rd place.

Massive chip leader Xiong Cheng raises 600,000 from the small blind and John Matsuda defends the big blind. Cheng continues for 1,000,000 on the flop 2♣ Q♦ T♦ , Matsuda calls. No bets land on the turn 8♥ , Cheng bangs out 2,000,000 on the river Q♠ , Matsuda calls and plunges to Cheng's Q♣ J♥ trips.

Maxwell Rosete is the shortest of the final three and has bumped up his stack after a series of small wins.

Raising big from the small blind, big blind Xiong Cheng folds to the 2,900,000. Next hand he shoves from the button, no takers. He then gets a walk, then shoves from the small blind and finds no callers.

From the button Xiong Cheng raises 575,000, small blind Shobu Oda three-bets 1,900,000, Cheng calls. On the flop 8♥ 8♦ 4♥ , Oda continues for 1,200,000, called by Cheng. Another big bet from Oda on the turn Q♣ of 2,000,000, Cheng snap-calls and heads to the river A♥ . Oda checks, Cheng shoves 5,600,000, Oda folds another big pot.

Small blind John Matsuda limps in then calls big blind Maxwell Rosete's 700,000 raise. On the flop 9♣ T♥ 7♠ , Rosete continues for 650,000, Matsuda check-calls. The turn 8♦ , Rosete sends out 800,000, this time Matsuda give up his hand.

From utg, John Matsuda raises 500,000 and is called by the big blind Shobu Oda. On the flop 7♠ 4♥ T♥ Matsuda continues for 500,000, Oda raises 1,150,000, Matsuda calls and they head to the turn J♣ . Check again from Oda, Matsuda bangs out 900,000, Oda calls, river is 2♥ . Matusda barrels again this time for 1,700,000, Oda gives up his hand and the big chunk he put in the pot.

Shobu Oda opens 450,000 from the button then calls big blind Maxwell Rosete's 1,300,000 re-raise. Rosete continues 850,000 on the flop T♥ 9♥ 7♣ , Oda calls. The turn 2♥ is checked by Rosete, Oda fires 2,200,000, Rosete uses up his last time-bank then folds.

Small blind Shobu Oda limps, big blind John Matsuda checks. Oda leads out 250,000 on the flop 7♥ 9♥ 4♦ , Matsuda flats then both check the turn 5♠ . The river 3♣ is checked by Oda again, Matsuda bets 450,000, Oda calls and has the better kcker.

Following a min-raise from Maxwell Rosete, Shobu Oda re-raises 1,600,000, big blind Matsuda tanks then four-bet shoves 5,275,000, no callers.

Maxwell Rosete on the button raises 400,000, small blind Xiong Cheng calls, flop runs A♦ T♥ 5♠ . Cheng leads out 350,000, Rosete raises 900,000, snap-fold from Cheng.

Maxwell Rosete min-raises, Cheng three-bets 1,500,000, Shobu Oda four-bets 2,400,000, Rosete folds, Cheng folds and shows A♦ K♥ .

Button John Matsuda opens 400,000, blinds Maxwell Rosete and Xiong Cheng call. Flop comes 3♣ 3♠ 9♦ , check to Cheng who sends out 300,000 which only Matsuda calls.

On the turn 7♥ , Cheng passes the betting, Matsuda fires 475,000, Cheng tanks for one time bank then check-raises 1,075,000, Matsuda tank-calls to bring the river 6♠ . Cheng leads out 1,500,000, Matsuda tanks for two time-banks then calls.

From the button, Shobu Oda raises 425,000, small blind John Matsuda calls. Both check to the turn T♣ 7♠ J♣ 5♥ . Matsuda bets 275,000, Oda calls. The river 4♥ is checked by both. Matsuda has 3♣ 3♦ , Oda claims the pot with A♣ 7♦ .

Following the bust, Maxwell Rosete takes charge in several hands. One of the pots is a battle of the blinds with John Matsuda limping from the small blind, checked by Rosete. On the flop and turn K♠ T♣ 5♣ 7♦ , Rosete bets 225,000 and 475,000, Matsuda calls both. On the river 7♦ , Rosete fires 500,000, this time no challenge from Matsuda.

Following the bust, Maxwell Rosete takes charge in several hands. One of the pots is a battle of the blinds with John Matsuda limping from the small blind, checked by Rosete. On the flop and turn K♠ T♣ 5♣ 7♦ , Rosete bets 225,000 and 475,000, Matsuda calls both. On the river 7♦ , Rosete fires 500,000, this time no challenge from Matsuda.

John Matsuda raises 325,000 big blind Shobu Oda calls it. Matsuda continues for 190,000 on a flop 5♣ Q♣ A♥ , Oda check-raises 600,000, Matsuda folds.

Daniel Benor limps and Xiong Cheng checks on the big blind. Both check to the turn 3♥ 7♦ 9♦ 6♦ . Benor checks, Cheng bets 320,000 and gets the call. The river 7♠ Cheng sends out 500,000, Benor pays it then mucks to Cheng's 5♣ 8♣ straight.

Next hand, Maxwell Rosete min-raises from cutoff, blinds Cheng and Shobu Oda call. They check the to river 6♦ T♦ 7♦ 5♥ Q♣ . Cheng leads out 600,000, only Rosete calls then mucks to Cheng's A♦ 9♦ nut flush.

More chips for John Matsuda who raises 325,000 and is called by the big blind Xiong Cheng. When the board runs 9♣ 2♦ 3♠ 5♥ , Cheng takes charge with 380,000 and 680,000 bets, Matsuda calls both. The river 3♦ is checked by both. Cheng has J♦ 6♦ air, Matsuda wins it with 9♥ 4♥ top pair.

From cutoff, John Matsuda raises 325,000, big blind Daniel Benor calls then both check the flop 9♦ 3♦ 5♣ . On the turn 9♠ and river T♦ , Benor leads out 380,000 and 980,000, Matsuda calls it down. Benor sis bluffing with 6♣ 4♣ , Matsuda shows K♥ 3♥ bottom pair to claim the pot.

Daniel Benor continues to drop while other players capitalize. Next to shave some of his chips is John Matsuda who claims two decent pots.

First hand Matsuda calls Benor's 240,000 open and sees a flop Q♠ Q♥ 8♠ . Sitting on the small blind, Matsuda check-raises Benor's 220,000 c-bet to make it 450,000 to continue. Benor calls then both check the turn A♠ and river 3♣ . Matsuda shows 5♣ 5♥ , Benor mucks.

Four hands later, they meet again. Matsuda opens 240,000, small blind Benor defends. When the board runs A♠ K♦ T♦ 6♦ , Matsuda bets 180,000 and 675,000 both are check-called by Benor. The river 3♦ is checked down. Matsuda has 9♦ 9♠ flush that rivers Benor's A♣ 6♣ two pair.

From the button, Daniel Benor opens 240,000 then calls Xiong Cheng's 740,000 re-raise. Flop comes J♥ A♥ 8♥ , Benor sends out 315,000, aggressor Cheng check-raises 715,000, Benor calls. Again a check from Cheng on the turn 9♥ then calls Benor's 1,150,000 bet. The river 2♦ sees a 1,500,00 bet from Benor, Cheng check-raises all in for 2,355,000, Benor folds.

Xiong Cheng raises from the small blind wins the blinds and ante. Next hand Cheng raises 200,000 from the button position, big blind John Matsuda calls, both see a flop A♣ K♣ 5♠ . Cheng c-bets 275,000 and wins the pot without further challenge.

Shobu Oda picks up two pots to keep within sight of the leader Daniel Benor. First pot, Oda raises 250,000 from hijack and Maxwell Rosete calls from the big blind. Oda continues 300,000 on the flop K♥ K♣ 3♦ , and wins the pot unchallenged.

Two hands later, Oda is on utg and raises 250,000, Rosete and Xiong Cheng call. Again Oda c-bets 300,000 on the flop 2♦ 9♣ Q♠ , only Rosete calls for the tur 7♣ . Oda bangs out 650,000 this time, Rosete folds again.

From hijack, Daniel Benor opens 240,000, cutoff Xiong Cheng calls, flop comes K♣ 8♥ 8♣ . Following a check, Cheng sends out 30,000, Benor calls then both check the turn 5♥ to see the river J♠ . Benor takes the lead with a 586,000 bet, Cheng doesn't bite.

Shobu Oda has caught up with the leader. Hand opens with Daniel Benor raising 200,000 then calling cutoff Oda's 525,000 re-raise. On the flop A♥ A♦ 6♦ , Oda c-bets 350,000, Benor check-calls. The turn J♥ and river 6♠ is checked down. Oda flips over K♠ K♥ and Benor mucks.

From utg+1 Maxwell Rosete opens 200,000, cutoff Daniel Benor three-bets 575000, button Xiong Cheng and Rosete call it. Flop runs 6♠ 7♦ Q♣ , it's checked to Cheng who bets 375,000, only Benor takes interest for the turn 6♦ . Cheng uses a time-bank then bets 675,000, Benor continues to call to bring the river 2♣ . Cheng shoves 2,320,000, Benor tanks for one time-bank then gives up his stake on the pot.

John Matsuda raises 200,000 and button Daniel Benor calls. Matsuda c-bets 150,000 on the flop T♣ T♠ Q♥ then both check the turn K♣ . On the river 2♠ , Matsuda fires a large 950,000, Benor calls, Matsuda reveals the missed draw A♣ 8♣ , Benor collects with K♠ J♦ .

From utg, Shobu Oda raises 210,000, Maxwell Rosete calls from the button. When the board completes T♠ 6♥ 7♦ 5♦ 3♠ , Oda bets 250,000, 510,000 and 1,200,000, Rosete calls it down then mucks to Oda's A♣ A♥ .

Daniel Benor raises 200,000 and big blind John Tech calls. Flop comes Q♦ 7♦ 4♥ , Tech check-calls a 150,000 c-bet from Benor. The turn 2♠ and river A♣ is checked. Tech wins the pot with A♥ 2♣ two pair.

John Tech raises 210 from utg, hijack Daniel Benor and cutoff Xiong Cheng call for the flop 3♣ T♦ 6♣ , Tech checks to Benor who bets 230,000, Cheng raises 530,000, Tech gets out of the way, Benor calls. Both players opt to check the turn 7♣ and river J♠ , Benor has 9♠ 9♥ , Cheng wins the pot with K♥ T♥ top pair.

Shobu Oda opens 200,000 and is joined to the flop A♣ 8♥ 5♦ with big blind Maxwell Rosete. Oda c-bets 200,000 and wins the pot.

Next pot is larger with Oda raising 210,000, two players calls, flop runs 2♥ T♦ J♠ . Oda c-bets 260,000, again both players call to the turn 7♠ . Oda triple barrels 850,000, this time the players fold.

Beng Ker goes all in for his last 2 bb, Daniel Benor re-raises 500,000, Shobu Oda calls for a side pot. Both check the flop Q♠ 3♦ 6♦ , Oda bets 350,000 on the turn K♣ , Benor check-calls. The river 5♠ is checked again by Benor who then folds to Oda's 1,050,000 shove.

Maxwell Rosete opens the hand with a 200,000 raise, cutoff Xiong Cheng and big blind Vamerdino Magsakay call for the flop 8♠ 5♦ 3♥ . Checked to Rosete who c-bets 225,000, Cheng raises 550,000, Magsakay folds, Rosete folds after using up a time-bank.

More chips for the leader Daniel Benor who raises from cutoff that's called by Xiong Cheng. At the flop 8♣ Q♠ 9♥ , Benor c-bets 230,000, Cheng calls this one but on the turn T♣ , Cheng folds to Benor's 600,000 bet.

The two hatchet men go at it with Maxwell Rosete raising 200,000 then calling Daniel Benor's 650,000 re-raise. At the flop 9♣ T♣ 7♣ , Benor c-bet 350,000, Rosete folds.

First hand of the final table opens with a raise of 250,000 from Xiong Cheng from hijack, button John Matsuda calls for a flop J♥ T♣ 4♠ . Following a check, Matsuda bets 125,000, Cheng check-calls for the turn K♦ . Cheng switches up and leads out 275,000, Matsuda calls and heads to the river 8♠ . Cheng goes back to checking, Matsuda fires 875,000 and wins the pot.

Matsuda also picks up the next pot with an uncalled raise.

With the ace turning up, it's a double Vietnamese knockout. Huu Dung Nguyen is 10th, Quang Huy Nguyen is 11th, both earn the same payout of PHP 1,060,000.

Daniel Benor opens 160,000 from utg and John Tech defends the big blind. Flop comes 3♥ 6♣ 6♦ , Benor c-bets 110,000, Tech check-calls. On the turn A♣ , Benor fires 255,000, Tech tanks for one time-bank then raises 615,000, Benor folds.

From utg+1, Tran Huy Hoang raises 160,000, cutoff Maxwell Rosete and big blind John Matsuda call. Tran continues the aggression with a c-bet of 200,000 on the flop 2♣ 8♣ 8♠ that's called by both and a 600,000 bet on the turn Q♠ that's called only by Rosete. On the river 3♠ , Tran shoves 665,000, Rosete can afford it but uses three time-banks before calling.

Following the takedown, Daniel Benor continues to collect pots to rise to 10,000,000. His next hand however, he loses some to Xiong Cheng in a battle of the blinds.

From the small blind Benor limps then calls Cheng's 280,000 raise. They then check to the river 9♣ T♣ 2♦ 9♥ 5♣ . Benor bets 280,000, Cheng calls, Benor shows 6♣ 4♣ bluff, Cheng rake in the pot with A♦ K♠ .

Takuya Morita is now the third player to end up on Daniel Benor's chopping block. Hand opens with hijack Benor raising 160,000, small blind Morita calls. On the flop Q♥ 6♥ 2♠ , Benor continues with a 150,000 bet, Morita check-raises 600,000, Benor shoves his massive stack, Morita tank-calls 1,300,00 using two time extensions.

Morita's top pair holds on the turn 9♠ , however with the river A♣ , Benor overtakes to end Morita's run in 15th place.

Following a raise of 160,000 from Shobu Oda, Vamerdino Magsakay defends the big blind then both check to the turn A♣ K♦ 7♥ 4♥ . Oda sends out 230,000, Magsakay check-raises 700,000, Oda gives up his hand.

Neo Zhi Han has been stealing blinds and antes and this time his raise gets called. From utg+1, he opens 120,000, hijack John Tech calls, button Daniel Benor three-bets 405,000, small blind Xiong Cheng tanks for one time-bank then calls while everyone else folds.

On the flop Q♣ 7♥ 2♦ , Cheng leads out 600,000, Benor calls for the turn Q♦ . Cheng checks this time, Benor slides out 450,000, Cheng snap-shoves 1,320,000 which puts a stop to Benor.

From mid-position John Matsuda raises 125,000, big blind Quang Huy Nguyen defends then check-calls Matsuda's c-bet of 65,000 on the flop T♦ A♣ Q♠ . On the turn 5♣ , Matsuda sends out another 65,000, this time Nguyen opts to fold.

Having lost a pot to Maxwell Rosete, Tran Huy Hoang three-bet shoves with Q♦ Q♠ and initial raiser Beng Ker calls with A♣ K♠ . With the board running 3♠ 7♦ 7♥ 6♠ T♠ , Tran wins the flip to double through.

Maxwell Rosete opens 120,000, Tran defends the bling blind then both check to the turn 5♥ 4♠ 3♠ 9♣ . Tran leads out 100,000, Rosete calls. On the river T♠ , Tran checks, Rosete bets 300,000, Tran calls then mucks to Rosete's A♥ 9♥ pair.

With Jang missing the board, Benor ships and boots.

Hijack Shobu Oda opens 130,000, button John Tech three-bets 325,000, Oda four-bets 1,100,000, Tech gives up his stake on the pot. Oda rises past 4M.

Benor is ahead with the flush while Takayama is drawing for the nut flush. With the turn A♠ and river J♥ , Benor ships it as Takayama packs up.

Cutoff player John Matsuda opens 125,000 and big blind Beng Hong Ker calls. Both players check it to the river board 5♠ 9♥ 6♠ 2♣ 3♠ . Ker leads out 75,000, Matsuda calls then mucks to Ker's 8♦ 8♠ pocket pair.

Tran Huy Hoang min-raises from utg and heads to the flop 5♥ 7♥ T♠ with caller Takuya Morita from the big blind. Tran c-bets 130,000, Morita answers with a 400,000 check-raise and wins the pot without challenge from Tran.

From the button, chip leader Daniel Benor opens 120,000, big blind Huu Dung Nguyen calls. Benor continues 110,000 on the flop 4♠ J♠ 2♦ and anoter 310,000 on the turn 7♥ . Nguyen calls the flop bet then folds on the turn.

Facing a raise of 120,000 from cutoff Huu Dung Nguyen, big blind Jongbea Jang defends then check-calls a 150,000 c-bet on the flop K♥ J♦ 3♦ . The turn 4♠ is checked then Jang bets 345,000 on the river, Nguyen folds.

Zhao Feng opens 130,000 from cutoff and is joined by the blinds Shobu Oda and Beng Ker to the flop 2♥ K♥ K♦ . Zhao lays out 80,000 and wins the pot.

Cards are now flying at the APPT Main Event! Good luck to all!

The record breaking APPT Manila Main Event is down to its final day with 18 players remaining out of the 1,304 entry field. When the finalists return, they are all guaranteed a minimum payout of PHP 530,000.

Sometime today, one player will be crowned champion of the richest APPT Main Event in history and claim the jaw dropping PHP 15,000,000 top prize. Along with the cash is a package worth PHP 200,000 to the APPT Championship taking place in October.

The APPT Main Event attracted 1,304 entries over three starting days, and with buy in at PHP 80,000, it amassed a record prize pool of PHP 91,071,360 (~USD 1,575,790).

Cards start flying at 12pm.