APPT Open (55,000 PHP)

Australia's Leo Kamiya captured the festival’s second shard trophy after emerging victorious in the APPT Open. Entering heads up with a commanding lead over Gi Boum Kim, Kamiya was briefly derailed after suffering a bad beat that flipped the counts. He later found redemption, delivering a bad beat of his own, then sealed the win when Kim’s bluff fell short. With an ICM deal struck, Kamiya walked away with ₱2,999,000 (~US$ 52,430) and his first major APPT title.

Thank you! It feels great! I haven’t placed first in large field events before so happy to run well enough and finally win one.

The APPT Manila 2025 - APPT Open ran from July 26 to 29 attracting 367 entries across three flights for a prize pool of ₱17,621,505 (~US$ 307,800). Taking place at the stunning Cove Manila within world class Okada Manila, 53 players advanced to the money round with the final nine players back on the felt today.

Right out of the gates, two of the three locals in the lineup met their end within the first 15 hands. APPT Open final table returnee Edgar Asehan finished in 9th place and Christopher Mateo in 8th place.

It took another 93 hands before the next player fell and during that time, the day's entering chip leader Jihun Choi, dropped significantly after paying a costly double up to Emmanuel Derecho while Gi Buom Kim and Leo Kamiya took turns up top. For the day's entering shortest stack, Alex Chong, he clawed from just 9 bb to over 43 bb.

On the 108th hand, Choi was eliminated in 7th place followed by the last Filipino, Benhur Ybarsabal, in 6th place. Down to five players, with the average at just 24 big blinds, Chong shoved with 2♦ 2♠ on a king-high flop and was eliminated by Kamiya with A♠ K♠ top pair. Derecho followed shortly after with J♣ J♦ outdrawn by Kim's T♣ 9♣ flush on a board 3♣ 2♠ 6♣ 7♣ Q♦ .

With three players remaining, the average was back up to 49 big blinds giving plenty of playing room. However, while Kamiya and Kim exchanged blows as they vied for the chip lead, Finn Penderak bled out chips to fall in 3rd place.

Before heads up kicked off, the players struck an ICM deal with ₱128,000 set aside for the eventual winner. Kamiya was ahead with 68 bb over Kim's 42 bb and over the next stretch, he extended it to a dominating 95 bb over Kim's 19 bb. However, closing it out wasn't easy.

I think everyone played really well, I felt like no one was really scared of the spot and most of them were really going for it. Gi Boum Kim put me in three huge tough river spots so specifically for me he was the toughest. EJ (Emmanuel Derecho) also, he's a friend from Australia, we played most of Day 2 on same table and the final table also, he played really tough the whole way.

I just tried to play solid aggressive against these guys, don’t need to bully the table even as chip leader if they were going to take each other out.

First, Kamiya was denied the win when his A♣ J♥ was outdrawn by Kim's K♦ T♣ . Though still holding a decent lead, Kamiya suffered another setback when Kim's A♦ J♥ spiked the jack on a board 8♠ J♦ 7♠ 4♠ Q♠ to crack his A♥ K♣ . This cost him to lose the chip lead.

It was up and down so I just tried to stay focused and play the best I can, even though we did a deal there was a lot to fight for the title and the trophy.

In dramatic fashion, Kamiya retaliated delivering a bad beat of his own when his 5♣ 5♠ landed a flusn on a board 4♥ 2♣ K♣ J♣ 9♣ to survive against Kim's 8♠ 8♥ . On the very next hand, Kim barreled down the streets and shoved on the river K♣ 5♦ 8♣ 3♦ 2♣ only to be called by Kamiya's K♥ 5♣ two pair. Kim's T♦ 9♥ bluff was crushed and Kamiya locked up the win.

To me, the final hand was the toughest spot, maybe it was a bit of a nit roll. But he raised me at the flop then barrel turned and all in river. I think many people will just show you a flush here. He has to be somewhat creative to have bluffs, what ultimately skewed me to calling was I was betting 2 sizes flops and this hand I bet small and he raised so I gave him a wider range on flop.

Congratulations to Leo Kamiya!

After Leo Kamiya doubled up, both were near even with Kamiya ahead by 2 bb. Sitting on the button, he raised 250,000 with K♥ 5♣ on hand and Gi Boum Kim defended with T♦ 9♥ . At the flop K♣ 5♦ 8♣ , Kim checked, Kamiya bet 175,000 for his two pair, Kim pumped it up to 600,000, and Kamiya flat.

On the turn 3♦ , Kim barreled again, this time for 850,000 and still didn't shake off Kamiya to take them to the river 2♣ . Kim unloaded the rest of his stack amounting to 3,650,000, sending Kamiya tanking. After using up two time-banks, Kamiya called. Kim was caught bluffing and fell in 2nd place.

Leo Kamiya finally put the brakes on Gi Boum Kim by claiming the first hand of the new level. He limped in from the button and Kim checked to see a cheap flop Q♠ 9♣ Q♥ . After Kim checked, Kamiya bet 125,000, Kim called then both players checked the turn A♣ and river 9♣ . Kim showed K♠ 3♣ , Kamiya had T♥ 9♥ full house.

Another pot for Kamiya who called Kim's button raise of 250,000. They proceeded to check down the board Q♣ 3♦ 5♥ A♥ K♣ . Kamiya had Q♥ 6♠ which was good to claim the pot.

Third consecutive pot for Kamiya saw him open for 250,000, Kim called, then followed it up with a flop bet of 450,000 on a board 3♠ 9♥ 2♠ . Kim folded.

Down to 15 bb, Gi Boum Kim gains momentum, winning the next five hands to trim the gap significantly. On Hand #158 Kim limped, Leo Kamiya checked, Kim bet 100,000 on the flop 6♠ Q♠ 7♦ and won the pot.

Next hand, Kamiya limped in then folded to Kim's 300,000 raise.

On Hand #160, Kim limped in again and Kamiya checked it. Kamiya checked the flop 5♥ A♣ T♠ then folded to Kim's 100,000 bet.

With Kamiya back on the button, he limped again then folded to Kim's shove.

The fifth consecutive win for Kim started with him raising 200,000 then calling Kamiya's 650,000 re-raise. At the flop Q♥ T♥ 6♣ , Kamiya fired another 600,000, this time Kim shoved for 1,610,000, Kamiya snap-called.

Kim: K♦ T♣

Kamiya: A♣ J♥

The turn 8♥ and river 6♠ didn't improve Kamiya for a double up to Kim.

After giving up a small pot to Gi Boum Ki, Leo Kamiya won the next pot that simultaneously sent Kim down to just 15 bb. Kamiya opened 200,000 from the button and Kim called. When the board ran 8♥ Q♥ Q♣ 5♦ 2♣ , Kamiya barreled down each street with bets of 175,000, 575,000, and 1,700,000. Kim check-called the flop and turn bets then tank-called the river.

Kamiya showed Q♠ J♠ trips and dragged in the sizable pot.

Leo Kamiya defended his big blind then on a flop 7♠ Q♦ Q♠ with Gi Boum Kim laying out a 125,000 c-bet, Kamiya check-raised 380,000 and earned the pot uncontested.

On the next deal, after Kamiya min-raised, Kim three-bet 600,000, and Kamiya called. At the flop T♠ K♥ 2♦ , Kim slid out 375,000 and took down the pot without a challenge.

After going back and forth, both players get a walk.

No more freebies, Leo Kamiya min-raises from the button, Kim calls, then c-bets the flop 2♣ A♦ 7♥ for 175,000. Kim folds.

Kamiya wins another pot while defending his big blind. On a limped pot, Kamiya check-calls 100,000 on a flop 4♠ 9♠ K♦ . Both check the turn 6♥ for a free river 2♠ . Kamiya leads out 750,000, Kim lets go of his hand.

Kamiya claimed the next pot with an uncalled raise.

Gi Boum Kim picks up the next three hands. On Hand #145, he defended his big blind then after the flop was checked, he bet 250,000 on a board 7♣ K♥ 2♦ 6♦ . Leo Kamiya folded.

Next hand Kim kept up the aggression with a min-raise that Kamiya called. At the flop and turn 7♣ Q♦ J♥ K♦ , Kim fired 175,000 and 750,000, Kamiya folded to the turn bet.

Now on the big blind, Kim called the min-raise then check-raised Kamiya's 175,000 bet to make it 925,000 to continue on a flop T♥ 7♠ 9♥ . Kamiya folded.

First two heads up hand went to Leo Kamiya. He min-raised on the button, got called, then c-bet 175,000 on the flop T♦ 7♦ A♣ . Kim folded.

Next hand, Kim limped in and Kamiya checked. They checked it to the turn K♣ Q♣ J♦ 7♠ where Kamiya bet 250,000 and won it uncontested.

Leo Kamiya raised 200,000 and Gi Boum Kim defended. They both checked to the turn 8♣ 6♥ 2♦ J♥ . Kim bet 600,000 and won his first heads up hand with Kamiya folding.

Gi Boum Kim raised 225,000 and Leo Kamiya called to take the bout to the flop 5♣ 4♥ 4♠ . Kim continued for 190,000 then quickly folded to Kamiya's 625,000 check-raise.

A quick look at the numbers and the players agreed on an ICM deal. The figures below are what they are guaranteed. On the side is an extra ₱128,000 for the champion plus the shard trophy.

Leo Kamiya - ₱2,871,000 (~US$ 50,200)

Gi Boum Kim - ₱2,581,000 (~US$ 45,100)

Upon revealing, Penderak was behind went on to fall on a board 5♠ 4♥ T♦ 9♣ 4♣ .

Down to heads up.

Leo Kamiya continues to drive the action at the final 3 and winning a majority of the pots. After chipping up against Gi Boum Kim, Kamiya limped in then called big blind Finn Penderak's 240,000 raise. At the flop T♣ K♠ 6♦ , Kamiya check-called another 140,000 then folded to Penderak's 375,000 bet on the Q♠ turn.

Following that small loss, Kamiya picked up the next two hands. Raising 160,000 from the button, he got action from the big blind Kim and more at the flop 2♥ T♥ 4♦ when he barreled 225,000 and Kim making the call. On the turn 6♦ , Kim quickly folded when Kamiya counted out chips.

No stopping Kamiya who defended his big blind from Penderak's button raise of 200,000. At the flop 6♥ 9♥ 2♥ , Penderak c-bet 120,000, Kamiya tested with a check-raise of 350,000 and Penderak called. When the turn came 8♥ , Kamiya lowered it to 275,000, and again Penderak called, leading to the river 7♦ . Wasting no time counting chips, Kamiya shoved, sending Penderak deep in the tank until he folded after two time banks spent.

The railroading Gi Boum Kim has been challenged by Leo Kamiya. In a battle of the blinds, Kim limped got to see the flop cheap A♠ 4♦ Q♥ when Kamiya checked. Kamiya bet 80,000 and another 160,000 on the turn 9♥ . Kim called both then heavier action was seen on the river T♠ .

Check again from Kim induced a bet of 375,000 from Kamiya. Kim answered with a raise of 1,400,000, Kamiya called. Kim showed 6♣ 9♠ third pair, Kamiya took it down with Q♣ T♣ two pair.

The next seven hands were dominated by the chip leader Gi Boum Kim, grinding successfully to increase well over 6M.

Although Kim was ahead with the flush, Derecho still had outs for the higher flush however the river was Q♦ to send him packing.

Alex Chong's impressive run ended in 5th place with Gi Boum Kim cleaning him out. Before the elimination, Chong won a pot against Leo Kamiya, when he raised preflop then shoved on a flop 7♥ 5♥ 6♠ that Kamiya folded to.

The very next hand, Chong defended his big blind then check-raised all in on a flop 5♠ 8♦ K♣ . Kim snap-called and showed A♠ K♠ which was not what Chong expected as he showed 2♦ 2♠ . No miracles came for Chong on the turn 6♦ and river 8♠ .

After three hands of uncalled preflop raises, a battle of bets draws some excitement. Alex Chong kicks off the hand with a min-raise, button Finn Penderak three-bets 440,000, small blind Gi Boum Kim four-bets 740,000, Chong folds. Action back on Penderak, he unloads his entires stack and it's enough to push out Kim.

Down to 5 players, Emmanuel Derecho continues his aggressive play leading to few losses. The first saw Alex Chong deny Derecho the steal by three-bet shoving from the big blind. Derecho folded.

The next hand, Derecho opened from under the gun and big blind Gi Boum Kim called. At the flop and turn, 5♣ 6♣ 9♣ 7♥ , Derecho barreled 80,000 and 325,000, and still Kim stuck around to complete the board with 4♥ river. Both players checked. Kim had A♣ 8♥ straight for the win.

Next hand, Finn Penderak opened on Derecho's big blind and the latter folded. Now on the small blind, Derecho faced a button raise from Kim and shoved. Kim folded for Derecho to finally claim one.

On the first hand of the new level, Leo Kamiya increased a bit more off Gi Boum Kim. Calling a min-raise from the small blind, Kamiya checked through the turn T♦ 5♣ Q♣ 4♣ and Kim did the same. On the river 4♠ , Kamiya test-bet 100,000 and won the pot as Kim folded.

Battle of the blinds, Alex Chong limped in and got to see the flop cheap after big blind Finn Penderak checked. On a board T♠ 8♣ 5♥ , Chong checked it then folded to Penderak's 100,000 bet.

Next two hands are picked up by Jihun Choi to rise back over 20 bb. This was followed by more small pots with Emmanuel Derecho initiating most of the action. On Hand #96, Derecho's aggression was halted by chip leader Leo Kamiya who called Derecho's preflop and turn bets on a board K♣ 2♦ 3♥ K♠ then fired 250,000 on the river Q♣ . Derecho called then mucked to Kamiya's A♥ Q♥ two pair.

After Gi Boum Kim claimed a pot on an uncalled raise, Benhur Ybarsabal three-bet all in for his last 440,000 and aggressor Emmanuel Derecho folded.

Leo Kamiya opened for 120,000 and again went hunting with Emmanuel Derecho who defended on the big blind. Both players checked it all the way down 8♣ 4♠ 6♥ K♣ 6♣ . Derecho picked up the pot with a winning J♦ 8♠ .

Gi Boum Kim was dealt A♠ Q♥ on the button and opted to just call Leo Kamiya's early raise. Big blind Benhur Ybarsabal joined in as well then folded to Kamiya's 125,000 c-bet while Kim flatted again. On the turn K♠ , Kamiya slowed down and checked. Kim bet 80,000, Kamiya called. The river A♥ improved Kim to a full house and bet 175,000 following Kamiya's check. Kamiya called then quickly mucked upon seeing the boat.

On the next hand, Kamiya recovered a little on an uncalled c-bet at the flop against big blind Finn Penderak.

Gi Boum Kim is dealt 9♦ 9♥ and raises 125,000, small blid Emmnanuel Derecho calls. When the board runs J♥ T♠ 7♠ K♣ K♦ , the overcards freeze Kim as both check it down. Derecho has 9♠ 7♥ , Kim's pair earns the pot.

After two hands of steals, Leo Kamiya surges to 3.25M to take the lead. Raising preflop that was called by big blind Gi Boum Kim, they check it to the turn 6♦ 9♦ 4♠ 8♣ . Kim leads out 125,000, Kamiya makes the call. When the river comes Q♠ , Kim backs down and checks, Kamiya takes a different approach and bets 550,000. Kim uses up a time bank before calling.

Kamiya flips open J♣ T♣ straight and collects the pot.

No major action on the next four hands to end the level.

After nine deals go by without a flop, Hand #76 was filled with action. Emmanuel Derecho opened from early position and went hunting down the streets with big blind caller Jihun Choi.

At the flop J♣ 4♠ 4♥ , Derecho's 65,000 bet was check-called then Choi led out 65,000 on the turn 4♦ . Derecho called for the board to complete 2♥ on the river. By this time the pot was 535,000. Choi dipped in his stack again and fired 400,000. Derecho replied with a shove of 815,000. Choi tanked then called with his full house J♠ 9♦ . Derecho had better with K♦ K♥ .

Derecho shipped a huge double up to 43 bb, Choi plunged to 13 bb.

Emmanuel Derecho min-raises and button player Gi Boum Kim joins in to see a flop come 7♠ 7♣ J♠ . Derecho passes to Kim who test-bets 80,000, Derecho lunged out with a check-raise of 250,000 which didn't scare away Kim. At the turn 3♦ , Kim tested with a much larger 350,000 bet, Derecho folded.

On the next hand, Derecho was given consolation with a walk.

Another walk on the felt with Leo Kamiya picking up the small blind. On the next hand, Kamiya claimed a larger pot up against Emmanuel Derecho. The hand opened with Derecho miin-raising from the button that Kamiya defended on the small blind.

At the flop 8♥ T♣ 5♠ , Derecho continued for 55,000 only to be punched back with a check-raise of 165,000. He called then both player check the turn Q♠ . When the dealer opened the river 9♣ , Kamiya took charge with a 225,000 bet on the table, after using up a time-bank, Derecho paid to see. Kamiya showed a winning 6♠ 7♦ straight.

Kamiya rises to 53 bb, Derecho drops to 13 bb.

From the big blind, Alex Chong calls button player Emmanuel Derecho's min-raise then after they both check the flop, Chong takes control with a bet of 100,000 on the turn 8♠ T♠ 2♦ Q♦ . Derecho lays it down as Chong shows T♥ T♣ set.

No major action on the next four hands with raises uncalled and a walk for Benhur Ybarsabal.

Finn Penderak makes it 80,000 from cutoff only to face a three-bet from button Gi Boum Kim of 225,000. Penderak folds.

Leo Kamiya and Jihun Choi go back-to-back with the first pot claimed by the Aussie with a c-bet at the flop 6♦ 3♦ A♥ uncalled by Choi. On the next, similar situation but reversed. Choi c-bet 100,000 on a board J♠ 2♥ 3♠ and Kamiya folded.

No major movement in chips with raises preflop and flop bets uncalled until Hand #56. Gi Boum Kim opens 80,000 and Jihun Choi calls. Big blind Emmanuel Derecho then three-bet 320,000, sending the action back to Kim who four-bet shoves. Choi and Derecho both fold.

After the heavy preflop action, Leo Kamiya gets the second walk of the day.

Leo Kamiya held on to his big blind and ante plus adding a few more bigs after defending against the big stacked Jihun Choi. On a board A♥ 2♠ 5♦ 3♥ Q♠ with Choi betting the flop and both checking the turn , Kamiya led out 100,000 on the river and took down the pot without a fight.

Having just lost a pot, Jihun Choi gets shaved down some more by Emmanuel Derecho who opened from early position. Choi called from the big blind spot then both checked it to the turn A♥ 7♠ T♥ 4♦ . No more checking for Derecho with a 55,000 bet laid out, Choi answered with a check-raise of 175,000, Derecho didn't flinch and called, then both went back to checking on the river A♠ .

Choi missed with 6♥ 8♥ , Derecho shipped the pot with K♠ 7♣ .

Emmanuel Derecho's raise from hijack was met with a three-bet of 280,000 from Finn Penderak. Derecho let it go.

Jihun Choi defended his big blind by calling Leo Kamiya's preflop raise and flop bet of 120,000 on a board 6♠ 3♣ 5♦ . On the turn 2♠ , Choi switched up and led out 175,000, Kamiya folded.

On the next hand, Kamiya recovered some chips with an uncalled raise while Emmanuel Derecho was given the first walk of the day.

Gi Boum Kim opens 60,000 that's called by Jihun Choi. When action is at cutoff Emmanuel Derecho, he three-bets 250,000 and wins the pot uncontested.

Following Alex Chong's button raise of 75,000, big blind Jihun Kim defends then check-calls a follow up bet of 80,000 on a flop J♦ A♣ 7♦ . On the turn 8♦ , Kim checks again and this time Chong does the same for a free river card 5♥ . Kim takes the reins for 240,000 and wins the pot without challenge.

Button raise from Finn Penderak wins the blinds and ante but not the case on the next deal. On the button, Gi Boum Kim raises and is met with a three-bet of 190,000 from small blind Jihun Choi. Kim lets go of his hand.

Alex Chong takes charge with a preflop raises then bets 100,000 on the flop 5♦ 9♦ 7♣ . This was enough to get a fold from Emmanuel Derecho who initially defended his big blind.

Next hand, small blind Derecho limped in then called big blind Leo Kamiya's 130,000 raise. Same action on the flop T♥ T♠ J♦ with Derecho calling an 85,000 bet. Both players then checked the turn 8♣ and river Q♠ . Derecho showed 8♥ 9♣ straight for the win.

Four players in for 60,000 preflop, the board runs 9♦ 9♥ 9♣ . Heavy action follows starting with Jihun Choi who bets 100,000, Benhur Ybarsabal raises 200,000, Alex Chong check-folds, then Gi Boum Kim check-raises to make it 450,000 to go. Action back on Choi who slows down the pace by calling while Ybarsabal steps aside. On the turn 2♣ , Kim checks again, Choi jams, Kim lays down his hand.

Another pot for Emmanuel Derecho, this time earning from preflop caller Leo Kamiya. Both players checked to the turn 4♦ 9♠ 3♣ 6♣ where Derecho bet 55,000 and again Kamiya called, then back to checking on the river J♦ . Derecho had K♥ 9♥ to claim the pot.

Leo Kamiya picked up two pots back-to-back to rise to 2M. On the first hand, he defended his big blind by calling Jihun Choi's cutoff raise of 70,000. At the flop 7♥ 3♠ 8♥ , Choi c-bet 110,000, Kamiya check-raised 275,000 and it was enough to rake it in.

Now on the small blind, action folded around, Kamiya raised 100,000 and Alex Chong tossed in the call. The flop K♦ Q♣ 9♦ saw another 80,000 laid out by Kamiya and won the pot without further challenge.

Alex Chong started the day with just 9 bigs and now is back in the game with 42 bigs. Looking down at A♦ T♦ , he raised 60,000 from early position then defended when Gi Boum Kim re-raised to 150,000.

At the flop K♦ J♦ 2♥ , Chong passed the baton to the aggressor Kim who laid out 90,000. Chong answered with a shove for 455,000, Kim snap-called and flipped open J♥ J♠ .

Needing to connect, no such luck for Chong on the turn 6♠ but just what he needed on the river with a Q♠ for the straight.

After the fall of Christopher Mateo, the next twelve hands saw chips move around the felt with only one full board that ended in a split pot. At Hand #27, significant action was seen between Emmanuel Derecho and Benhur Ybarsabal.

Derecho raised 65,000 and Ybarsabal defended his big blind. Both players checked to the turn 3♠ 9♠ 2♦ A♦ where Derecho bet 105,000. Ybarsabal called then took control on the river K♦ with a bet of 175,000. Derecho called and showed A♣ K♥ . Ybarsabal chipped up with 4♦ T♦ .

Mateo is ahead with top pair but needs to dodge an ace and any spade.

When the turn comes 8♦ he is still ahead but is denied on the river with A♣ landing on the felt.

Christopher Mateo raises 210,000 from the button leaving 15,000 behind and wins the pot with no callers.

Finn Penderak and Emmanuel Derecho battle for control that starts the latter defending his big blind. At the flop 2♦ A♣ 7♣ , Penderak c-bets 35,000, Derecho uses up a time bank then answers with a check raise of 115,000, Penderak flats.

The pot gets bigger on the turn 2♠ with Derecho taking the reins for 225,000 however is given the brakes when Penderak shoves. Derecho gives up his hand and stake in the pot.

Leo Kamiya min-raises and is joined by two callers to the flop 7♥ A♣ Q♥ . Kamiya continues for 50,000 and both players call until the turn 9♣ where Kamiya fires 165,000. This gets a fold from Finn Penderak while Jihun Choi tanks then calls to see the river 3♣ .

Once more, Kamiya dips in and sends out 225,000, Choi uses up another time bank and can't resist calling. Kamiya shows A♠ 9♠ two pair, Choi mucks.

Gi Boum Kim added more to his stack after his 50,000 raise got called by big blind Leo Kamiya who then folded to the c-bet of 60,000 at the flop 4♣ 9♣ 8♦ .

Christopher Mateo can't catch a break. Having lost two pots already he went further south. Opening from mid-position for 50,000, cutoff Emmanuel Derecho three-bet 125,000, and Mateo called. At the flop 7♦ 2♣ A♥ , Mateo checked then folded to Derecho's 65,000 bet.

Benhur Ybarsabal raised and big blind Finn Penderak defended to take the battle to the flop K♠ 7♥ 8♣ . Following a check, Ybarsabal continued for 35,000 and still Penderak stuck around to the turn T♠ . Switching up, Penderak fired a bet of 100,000, Ybarsabal challenged with a shove, though Penderak had the chips to call, he opted otherwise.

After Jihun Choi steals Gi Boum Kim's big blind, next hand Kim shoves from small blind and recovers the chips with Christopher Mateo folding.

Drawing for a flush, Asehan was denied as the turn and river landed 9♥ 3♦ .

Gi Boum Kim and Christopher Mateo go pound for pound kicked off by Kim at cutoff for 50,000. Acting next, button player Mateo three-bet 160,000, and after the blinds got out of the way, Kim fired a 350,000 four-bet. Mateo took a moment to decide and slid out a five-bet of 660,000. At this point, Kim announced all in and well covered Mateo who folded giving up over half of his stack.

On the next hand, Mateo attempted to reclaim some chips, raising 50,000 from cutoff. Big blind Emmanuel Derecho defended. After they checked the flop 5♦ 3♠ 4♠ , Derecho bet the turn 45,000 and won the pot with Mateo folding again.

Emmanuel Derecho wins the first pot of the final table, first opening 55,000 that's called by small blind Finn Penderak. At the flop 5♠ 2♥ K♥ , Derecho continues for 80,000 and takes down the pot uncontested.

After Benhur Ybarsabal's 55,000 went through without a challenge, the next hand brought the first showdown of the final table.

From under the gun, Alex Chong went all in for his last 215,000 (9 bb) and was put on the ropes by caller Jihun Choi. The chip leader was ahead A♦ J♦ against Chong's K♣ J♣ and while it looked like elimination was eminent on a board 4♠ 2♥ 4♦ Q♣ , the river K♦ saved Chong to have a second chance.

The hunt for the second shard trophy winner has begun with 9 players remaining and cards now flying. Good luck to all!

Another exciting day lined up at APPT Manila 2025 with the second shard trophy set to be claimed today at the featured APPT Open. Only 9 players remain. Cards start flying at 1pm at the stunning Cove Manila inside the world-class Okada Manila.

Looking back, the event kicked off with three flights running from July 25-26, attracting a total of 367 runners. With buy-in at ₱55,000 (~$970), the ₱15M guarantee was eclipsed for a larger ₱17,621,505 (~$307,800) prize pool. At Day 2, portions of that pot were shaved down and today, the 9 returning players will be hunting down the biggest cut. While everyone is guaranteed a decent ₱371,505 (~$6,540), the goal is to seize the ₱3,430,000 top prize.

The player to chase is undoubtedly the massive chip leader Jihun Choi who brings in 2,610,000 (104 bb). Choi is 33 big blinds ahead of his nearest rival, Gi Boum Kim who sits on 1,765,000 (71 bb). While it is anyone's game, Edgar Asehan will surely be looking to chip up early in hopes of having a chance at surpassing his 6th place finish last year. He enters with 10 bb.

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