APPT Championship (165,000 PHP)

The Asia Pacific Poker Tour by PokerStars resumes today with the APPT Championship taking center stage at the Coral Lounge inside world-class Okada Manila, Philippines. This year’s edition has already set a new benchmark with a ₱60 Million (~US$ 1M+) prize pool guarantee, and with one final flight yet to play, that figure has the potential to increase further.

Yesterday’s opening flight proved to be a grueling test of endurance and skill with players needing to survive 11 levels of 60-minutes each. Out of a total of 144 entries, only 47 players reached that goal. Germany’s David Sommer emerged as the chip leader, setting the pace with an impressive 412,500 (275 bb).

Joining him among the survivors was defending champion Trong Hieu Ngo, along with a formidable lineup of past APPT champions: Justin Ong, Christopher Mateo, Hai Ha Tran, Alexander Puchalski, and the newly crowned APPT Open champion Alex Chong.

Players seen at the venue - but have not yet entered the main event - and expected to jump in today's flight are India pros Aditya Agarwal and Sumit Sapra, and local stars Florencio Campomanes, Mike Takayama, and Vamerdino Magsakay. Unlike all other PS LIVE events held in the country, registration stays open all day, closing at the start of Day 2.

APPT Championship – Information

• Date: October 23-27, 2025
• Buy-in: ₱165,000 (~US$ 2,900)
• Guarantee: ₱60,000,000 (~US$ 1,080,000)

• Day 1A: October 23, 2025
• Day 1B: October 24, 2025
• Day 2: October 25, 2025
• Day 3: October 26, 2025
• Final Table: October 27, 2025

Here are some important details to know:

Players start with a deep 50,000 stack - which is 250 big blinds at the opening level of 100-200 ante 200. With 60-minute blinds throughout, the structure offers room for strategic play and table reads, while also giving latecomers plenty of time to enter the mix. Those cutting it close will still have a chance to register, the latest being just before Day 2 begins.

• Day 1 plays 11 levels (60 mins per level)
• Day 2 plays 10 levels (60 mins per level)

*Registration closes at the start of Level 12 in Day 2.

• Day 3 plays to the Final Table or TD discretion
• Final 9 – transition to a specified number of hands per level structure where a pre-determined number of hands will be played rather than a fixed time duration per level

Cards start flying at 12PM. Somuchpoker is onsite to bring you the action from start to finish. It will also be live-streamed on the last three days.