PokerStars Red Dragon (70,000 PHP)

"What's it been? 15 years? 20 years? I finally won!"

In just three heads up hands, Hong Kong's Tak Sin Alex Chong was able to shut down Vietnamese pro Cao Ngoc Anh to lift his career first live title, the Pokerstars Red Dragon trophy, and the largest cash prize of the series yet of ₱3,950,000. An avid cash game player, Chong boasted,

"I watched some videos and thought to myself, 'that's easy', these guys aren't that good. But I also got lucky."

However the win wasn't enough for the newly minted Chong who said the payout was too small. He planned to win the big one and will get that chance with a ticket worth ₱165,000 to the APPT Championship Main Event in addition to his cash prize.

Facing Cao at heads up, Chong admitted that he was his most challenging opponent.

"The Vietnamese player to my left was the toughest player for me. He was very aggressive so I am lucky to have been able to win against him."

The 2025 APPT Manila Championship - PokerStars Red Dragon event resumed at 1PM today, October 22 at Okada Manilal, with 6 players remaining out of 340 total entries. It was an all-international final lineup each one guaranteed to pocket the largest cuts of the ₱20,777,400 prize pool. At the minimum was ₱800,000 while the champion was due to win ₱3,950,000.

On just the 12th hand of the day, that six-figure prize went to Australia's Graham Cowan who ran into a cooler with A♣ Q♠ trips against Cao's 4♠ 4♦ full house to finish in 6th place.

Out next was Malaysia's Eng Loong Choi whose stack swung all day and was unable to tame it. He was seen pushing multiple times with the hammer coming down on a flip. Also unable to pick up upward momentum was Ireland's last hope, Frank Lillis, to exit in 4th place.

When action continued, Chong dominated the three-handed grind to quickly snatch the lead while Lee slipped into a downward spiral. Though Lee survived one showdown, his run ended shortly after, further boosting Chong's stack.

Heads up began with Chong ahead 2:1 - 69 bb to 33 bb. It only took three hands for him to wrap it up. Chong sealed the victory, rivering a flush to crack Cao’s pair and claim the PokerStars Red Dragon title.

On just the third hand of heads-up play, it was all over. Alex Chong opened for 225,000 holding A♠ J♠ , and Cao Ngoc Anh defended his big blind with T♣ 7♣ . The pot grew quickly as Chong fired a 300,000 c-bet on the J♣ 7♠ 5♠ flop, which Cao called with middle pair.

The 2♦ turn saw another check from Cao, prompting Chong to shove all in. After burning a time bank, Cao made the call for his tournament life. Though ahead, his hand was only a 66% favorite against Chong’s flush draw - odds that didn’t hold. The river 4♠ completed the draw, crowning Chong the new PokerStars Red Dragon champion, while Cao settled for a hard-fought runner-up finish.

On just the second hand of heads up play, Alex Chong struck again. After defending his big blind against Cao Ngoc Anh’s 225,000 open, Chong check-called a continuation bet of the same amount on the J♠ 7♣ J♦ flop. Both players checked the Q♥ turn, and after another check from Chong on the A♠ river, Cao took a chance for 500,000 half-pot bet. Chong made the call and was right. Cao tabled T♦ 3♣ for a bluff, while Chong’s 7♥ 9♠ earned him another pot.

First heads up hand began as a limped pot that was checked to the turn J♠ 8♠ A♠ Q♦ . Big blind Cao Ngoc Anh gave it a go for 150,000 and Alex Chong called it then both checked the river Q♠ one-card flush board. Neither had a spade. Instead Cao showed A♣ 4♦ top pair that still lost to Chong's Q♥ 6♥ trips.

We are now heads up here at the PS Red Dragon between Hong Kong's Alex Chong and Vietnam's Cao Ngoc Anh. Between the two, Cao is the more seasoned tournament player while Chong is an avid cash game player. Both players have been aggressive throughout. Chong has the advantage with a 2:1 chip lead equivalent to 68 bb to Cao's 33 bb.

Unable to get much going in this fast-paced three-handed final table, Song Peng Lee dropped to 900,000 (9 bb) and risked it all with A♥ 7♥ . Pushing him to that decision was small blind Cao Ngoc Anh who open-shoved with K♦ Q♥ . The board was good to Lee running J♥ 3♦ J♠ 7♠ 5♥ .

Alex Chong limps in from small blind then faces a big raise of 255,000 from big blind Cao Ngoc Anh. Chong fires back for 580,000 and Cao contains the pot from further action with a call.

When the flop landed Q♥ T♣ T♥ , Chong hand other plans in mind and resumed for 350,000, Cao flatted to take them to the turn T♦ . Chong finally slowed down the barrage and checked, however Cao responded with pressure making it 600,000 to continue. Chong folded.

Song Peng Lee raised from small blind and went hunting at the flop with big blind caller Alex Chong. Backing down, Lee checked the flop 7♠ T♥ 9♦ only to be challenged with a bet of 200,000. Lee called. Action was the same on the turn K♦ with Chong firing 375,000 that was check-called by Lee.

When the river came 5♦ , the last check by Lee was met with a jam from Chong. Lee let it go.

Much needed double up for Song Peng Lee who was down to 740,000 (9 bb) when he shoved. Holding A♣ Q♦ , he was happy to see he dominated Cao Ngoc Anh's K♠ Q♣ until the flop ran K♦ 9♠ 8♦ . The turn quickly shaked it up with an A♦ for a higher pair to Lee and with the river 6♦ , Lee sat back down to collect his winnings.

Song Peng Lee makes it 160,000 from the button and the blinds join in for a three-way look at what the dealer brings. The cards come spreading K♦ A♥ Q♣ and it's checked to Lee who continues for 125,0000. Small blind Alex Chong jumps out with a strong check-raise of 400,000, and it's enough to scoop it up uncontested.

From the big blind, Alex Chong called a button raise of 160,000 by Cao Ngoc Anh then defended at the flop and turn 6♠ Q♣ 5♥ 6♣ check-calling c-bets of 120,000 and 300,000. When the river completed the board with 3♦ , Chong took the reins for a tower of reds amounting to 500,000, Cao called then paid up upon seeing that Chong wasn't stealing with 6♦ 4♠ trips.

Alex Chong pumps up the pot 125,000 and Song Peng Lee tops up from the big blind. Chong continues for 150,000 at the flop A♣ T♣ 6♦ and Lee calls to take them to the turn K♣ where both checked. The 6♦ found the river, and Lee seemed to like this card and fired 375,000, Chong wanted to see his hand and called.

Lee revealed 9♦ 6♠ trips, Chong said "ace" and showed A♠ 9♥ .

Frank Lillis met his end in 4th place after losing two consecutive deals. On the first hand he opened 500,000 while on the button leaving just 380,000 behind and small blind Alex Chong called to go to the flop.

The cards landed A♣ Q♣ 9♦ and in a snap, Chong announced all in. Lillis squirmed in his seat then folded showing 4♣ 4♦.

The next hand he was all-in with K♥ Q♠ and Cao Ngoc Anh called with A♦ 2♥ . When the cards ran 4♠ 4♥ 6♥ J♠ A♣ , it was the board he was hoping for on the previous hand, one hand too late.

With this win, Cao amassed half of the chips in play.

Cao Ngoc Anh is on fire! Another pot went his way when he limped in and got to see a flop cheap with big blind Song Peng Lee. They checked to the turn 2♦ 2♣ 6♥ 4♥ where Cao led for 60,000 then called Lee's 225,000 raise to take them to fifth street where the 7♣ turned up.

Cao checked, Lee took the opportunity to bet 180,000, Cao tanked for one time bank then slid out the one-chip call. Lee smiled and showed T♥ 3♣ bluff, Cao had better air showing Q♥ 9♥ .

Cao Ngoc Anh is dominating this level so far with another pot going his way. From the big blind he defended then led out 125,000 on a turn board 3♠ 7♦ 6♣ 6♠ after the flop was checked. Song Peng Lee called then they both checked the river T♠ . Cao revealed T♣ 3♣ for the scoop.

Cao Ngoc Anh calls 125,000 from the button and he checks it to the turn board 2♠ 7♦ T♥ 9♦ with Alex Chong who checks again. No more checking for Cao and lays out a 125,000 bet. Chong calls then it's back to tap tap on the river 3♥. Chong shows A♦ Q♣ , Cao brings in the pot with 6♦ 6♥ .

Several hands into the new level and Cao Ngoc Anh goes on attack mode starting with a raise of 120,000 from under the gun. Big blind Alex Chong is on the defense as he check-calls 100,000, 250,000 by the turn board A♥ A♦ J♣ 8♦ . With the river 6♥ , Cao fires again for 850,000 and that does the job after Chong tank-folds.

After a very swingy time at the final table, Eng Loong Choi's fired burned out in 5th place. His last hand was a three-bet jam with 2♥ 2♣ and big stacked Song Peng lee made the easy call for 465,000 total with J♠ T♦ . With the board running A♦ 7♠ T♣ , only two outs to help Choi but it failed to turn up on the runout 4♦ and 3♣ .

Alex Chong limped in from the small blind with Q♠ J♥ then called a raise of 175,000 from the big blind Cao Ngoc Anh. When the board ran out A♥ A♦ T♥ 8 Q♣ , Chong check-called 125,00 and 225,000 then they both checked the river. Chong's two pair on the river was good.

From the button, Eng Loong Choi raised 110,000 and Alex Chong defended his big blind to bring about a flop of 6♦ 6♥ 6♣ . Choi was given the tap to continue which he used to bet 65,000. Chong replied with a check-raise to 150,000. Choi called then Chong resumed on the turn K♦ for 300,000. Again Choi called however on the river 7♠ , Chong's all-in was too much for Choi to risk and folded.

Second hand of the new level and Eng Loong Choi was all-in which ended with a split with Alex Chong. Both players had Ace-King offsuite.

On the very next hand, Choi three-bet all in with A♦ A♣ and Alex Chong called the 610,000 showing K♥ T♥ . The flop gave Choi a bit of a sweat then stayed clean on the turn and river completing 4♣ T♣ 6♥ Q♦ 9♦ for a double up.

Up and down for Eng Loong Choi is back down to 15 bigs after this hand. He opened from under the gun and got action from big blind defender Song Peng Lee. Choi fired down the flop and turn for 60,000 and 160,000 on a board running A♠ 8♦ J♦ K♣ . Lee check-called both then on the 8♠ river, Lee lunged with a shove that dwarfed Choi's stack.

After using up two time extensions, Choi folded.

Small blind Cao Ngoc Anh makes it 120,000 and big blind Song Peng Lee defends. Both proceed to check the flop 7♥ A♣ Q♥ then Cao barrels 100,000 and 255,000 on the turn 4♠ and river J♥ . Lee calls both then waits to see Cao reveal 8♦ 5♠ bluff. Lee ships it with K♠ Q♠ .

From the small blind, Song Peng Lee makes it 110,000 and big blind Eng Loong Choi defends. When the board runs A♥ 5♥ 4♠ J♠ 6♦ , Lee is unstoppable with bets of 90,000, 280,000, and a shove. Choi spends a time-bank then drops to be the shortest stack.

Eng Loong Choi raised 80,000 and big blind Song Peng Lee wanted to play the flop and called. Both players checked it to the turn 8♠ 7♠ 5♥ 2♣ . Lee took the reins for 110,000 and Choi tossed it in to complete the board K♥ river.

Lee went back to checking, Choi used the chance to try to steal with a half pot bet of 220,000, Lee tanked for a time-bank then hero-called with 7♥ 4♥. It was the right decision as Choi showed J♠ T♥ bluff.

Alex Chong defended his big blind then check-called 70,000 on a flop 2♦ 5♠ K♦ while holding 2♥ 3♦ . No more bets landed on the turn T♦ and Chong checked again on the river 3♣ , missing the chance at getting more value when Cao checked back.

Song Peng Lee kicked off the hand with a raise to 90,000 and big blind Cao Ngoc Anh wasn't letting him have his chip easy and defended. More chips dumped in by Song on the flop 4♦ 2♥ T♣ and again Cao continued to defend.

The turn 2♣ seemed harmless however both opted to check for a free river card 6♠ . Check again from Cao and this time Lee resumed the aggression with a 450,000 bet and it was enough to rake in the pot.

After a short ten-minute break, the blinds have gone up and both Alex Chong and Eng Loong Choi seem to have renewed energy. Hand opened with an 85,000 raise from buttong Choi that Chong called from the big blind. The dealer spread the flop A♥ 7♣ 9♠ and Choi continued for 60,000. Chong fired back with a check-raise to 130,000 and after using a time-bank, Choi three-bet 350,000. Choi called.

Both players stepped on the brakes on the turn K♥ but not for long with Chong leading out 400,000 on the river 8♦ . Choi gave it up.

Alex Chong opens 75,000 from cutoff, Cao Ngo Anh on the button makes it 225,000 to continue, back to Chong who answers back with a four-bet of 575,000, Cao mucks.

After losing a chunk to in the previous hand, Frank Lillis defended his small blind with a three-bet to 240,000. Initial raise Song Peng Lee called while caller Eng Loong Choi got out of the way.

Despite the over half a mil pot, Lillis bet a light 60,000, Lee called, then both lost steam, checking the turn Q♠ and river T♣ . Lillis showed A♦ 3♦ and won the pot.

The heavy betting action continued with Cao Ngoc Anh putting Frank Lillis to the test. Cao raised 60,000 from cutoff and Lillis defended the big blind. When Cao sent out a c-bet of 45,000 on a flop 3♦ A♦ 8♠ , Lllis answered with a check-raise to 260,000. Cao flatted then they both checked the turn 6♦ .

The free river card 9♥ saw action erupt again with an open of 160,000 from Lillis only to be challenged with an 800,000 bet. Lillis tanked then folded, preserving his 1,000,000 behind.

No one clearly in charge with every player on aggro mode. One such example, the fourth hand of the new level, Song Peng Lee opened 60,000, Eng Loong Choi three-bet 170,000, then button Frank Lillis four-bet 375,000 which was enough to claim the pot.

Before the action reached Graham Cowan, cutoff player Cao Ngoc Anh opened then button Song Peng Lee three-bet 150,000. Big blind Cowan defended and Cao called for a three-way.

After the heavy action preflop, they all checked to the turn Q♣ 8♠ 4♣ Q♦ . Cao resumed for 150,000, and the three-way remained with the other two making the call. The river completed the board with a 2♦ . Check again from Cowan, bet again from Cao for 850,000, Lee bowed out while Cowan announced all in for 1,190,000.

Cao felt committed and assessed the board once more before calling. Cowan flipped over A♣ Q♠ trips, Cao showed a winning 4♠ 4♦ full house. "Well done" say Cowan as he packs up in 6th place.

Frank Lillis gets involved in back-to-back hands with the first one seeing him in the driver's seat with a raise from cutoff to 50,000 that's called by the big blind Song Peng Lee. When the board completes 9♥ 4♥ 2♥ 7♠ J♠ , Lillis bets every street - 35,000, 125,000, 225,000, Lee check-folds on the river.

Next hand, Lillis raises 50,000 from hijack, two spots over button Cao Ngoc Anh three-bets 450,000, Lillis tanks then defends. Cao continues for 75,00 on a 4♥ T♣ 3♥ flop. Lillis calls then checks again when the turn comes 2♦ . Cao is still on the pedal and bets 400,000, Lillis decides to let go of his stake in the pot.

Eng Loong Choi joins the action with a raise from the button for 55,000 and big blind Frank Lillis defends to have a look at the flop Q♠ J♠ 6♦ . They both check it to the turn 2♣ where Lillis leads 100,000 that's called by Choi. The players return to checking on the river 9♠ .

Lillis shows J♦ 5♦ , Choi has K♥ J♥ better kicker and rakes it in.

On hand#6 of Cao Ngoc An raised 50,000 at cutoff which was followed by a three-bet of 140,000 by button Song Peng Lee. Action swung back to Cao who fired a four-bet 350,000, Lee tamed the heat by calling.

No slowing down for Cao who barreled again for 225,000, Lee check-called to further balloon the pot over 1.2M. When the river felted T♣ , Cao finally slowed down and checked, Lee opted to test him with a 400,000 bet and it was good to win the pot uncontested and take the lead.

On the second deal of the final 6, Alex Chong raised 75,000 from the big blind. Limper Frank Lillis called from small blind and the first flop of the day landed J♣ 5♥ 3♦ . Chong continued the strong stance for 75,000 then showed A♥ K♦ after Lillis folded.

Race to the PS Red Dragon is underway! Good luck to all!

The newest PokerStars Red Dragon champion will be crowned today at the APPT Manila Championship, as the final six players return out of 340 entries to the Coral Lounge in Okada Manila to battle it out starting at 1PM today, October 22.

The all-international lineup is led by Vietnam's Cao Ngoc Anh, just ahead of Malaysia’s Eng Loong Choi. Both players are trailed by Song Peng Lee, Alex Chong, Graham Cowan, and Frank Lillis.

Each of the finalists are now guaranteed the largest cuts of the ₱20,777,400 prize pool earning a minimum payout of ₱800,000. For the champion, ₱3,950,000 awaits along with the iconic PS Red Dragon trophy. The blinds will resume at 10,000-25,000 ante 25,000 for 16 deals before it increases every 22 deals. It will be a long grind ahead with the average stack at 68 big blinds.

Somuchpoker is onsite to bring you the action from start to finish.