APPT Championship 2026 | October 8-19 | Okada Manila, Philippines
One of the most prestigious stops in the Asia Pacific region, the APPT Championship 2026, returns to the heart of Manila from October 8 to 19. Hosted at the luxurious Okada Manila, the twelve-day festival offers a massive total guaranteed prize pool of over PHP 132,000,000 (approx. USD 2.24 million). The action will center around the Coral Lounge, where the region’s elite players will compete for the iconic “Spadie” trophies.
APPT Championship 2026 Event Highlights
The crown jewel of the series is the APPT Main Event, featuring a PHP 165,000 buy-in and a staggering PHP 60,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. Other key events on the roster include the APPT National, the PokerStars Red Dragon, and various High Roller tournaments.
Full Tournament Schedule
The festival features dozens of events, ranging from affordable satellites to multi-million High Roller tournaments. The buy-in spectrum caters to all bankrolls, from entry-level qualifiers to the highest stakes in the region.
Satellites and Qualification
Players have numerous paths to qualify for the Main Event at a fraction of the cost. Daily live satellites will be held on-site at Okada Manila, while PokerStars online players can find “Road to APPT” qualifiers and step tournaments in the game client.
Poker and Travel Guide
Manila, the vibrant capital of the Philippines, offers a unique blend of modern skyscrapers and Spanish colonial heritage. For poker enthusiasts, the Entertainment City district is the place to be, with Okada Manila serving as its centerpiece. The country is world-renowned for its hospitality, incredible cuisine, and world-class casino service. Between sessions, players can enjoy the tropical climate and the coastal proximity of the Manila Bay area.
Official Poker Guide (Rules and Structures)
All tournaments are conducted under PokerStars Live international standards, utilizing the Big Blind Ante format in most events to ensure a smooth and fast-paced game. Detailed blind levels and starting stacks are available in the official tournament guide.
Registration and Buy-in Information
Registration takes place at the PokerStars Live desk located within the Coral Lounge at Okada Manila. A valid government-issued photo ID or passport is required, along with a PokerStars Live card, which can be issued on-site for free.
- Currency: Exclusively Philippine Peso (PHP).
- Payment Methods: Cash (PHP), casino chips, PokerStars.com/EU account funds (subject to restrictions), and wire transfers.
Destination Guide and Must-See Attractions
Manila offers much more than just poker. We recommend exploring the historical heart of the city and the luxury amenities of the resort.
- Intramuros: The historic walled city and the cultural soul of Manila.
- The Fountain at Okada: One of the world’s largest choreographed water displays, located right at the venue.
- Manila Bay Sunset: A world-famous sunset viewable from the casino boardwalk.
Travel Logistics (Travel Essentials)
For international visitors, navigating the city is straightforward with a bit of planning.
- Airport Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is just 8 kilometers from the Okada Manila venue, though travel time can vary between 20-40 minutes depending on traffic.
- Transportation: We highly recommend using the Grab mobile app for safe, fixed-rate taxi rides. The casino also operates shuttle buses from key points in the city.
Past Results and Champions
The APPT Championship has been a cornerstone of the Asia poker scene for years, consistently drawing massive fields and life-changing prize pools to Manila.
Previous Festival Highlights
The record-breaking APPT Manila Championship 2025 concluded with a dominant victory by South Korean player Minwoong Jeong, who claimed a PHP 11,850,000 first-place prize and his first live championship title in Manila. From a field of 384 entries, Minwoong Jeong commanded the final table, defeating his opponents in just 59 hands and overcoming British pro Craig Jones in the final heads-up battle at Okada Manila. Over the twelve-day festival, a total of more than PHP 225,300,000 was awarded across all events, setting a new record for the series in the Asia region.
| Event | Buy-In | Winner | Country | 1st Prize | Entries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,000 PHP (17,600 + 2,400) | ![Canada [CAN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ca.svg "Canada [CAN]"){kind=small} CAN | $28,445 1,650,000 PHP | 525 ITM: 76 | Finished | ||
| 60,000 PHP (54,000 + 6,000) | ![Australia [AUS]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/au.svg "Australia [AUS]"){kind=small} AUS | $55,600 3,230,000 PHP | 362 ITM: 53 | Finished | ||
| 70,000 PHP (63,000 + 7,000) | ![Hong Kong [HKG]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/hk.svg "Hong Kong [HKG]"){kind=small} HKG | $67,935 3,950,000 PHP | 340 ITM: 51 | Finished | ||
| 35,000 PHP (31,500 + 3,500) | ![South Korea [KOR]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/kr.svg "South Korea [KOR]"){kind=small} KOR | $45,500 2,652,000 PHP | 511 ITM: 76 | Finished | ||
| 90,000 PHP (81,000 + 9,000) | ![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small} PHL | $27,500 1,602,760 PHP | 68 ITM: 9 | Finished | ||
| 500,000 PHP (485,000 + 15,000) | PHL | $87,195 5,070,000 PHP | 32 ITM: 6 | Finished | ||
| 165,000 PHP (148,500 + 16,500) | KOR | $202,070 11,850,000 PHP | 384 ITM: 55 | Finished | ||
| 30,000 PHP (26,400 + 3,600) | PHL | $32,400 1,900,000 PHP | 624 ITM: 94 | Finished | ||
| 300,000 PHP (285,000 + 15,000) | ![Indonesia [IDN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/id.svg "Indonesia [IDN]"){kind=small} IDN | $70,930 4,159,600 PHP | 48 ITM: 7 | Finished | ||
Past Champions
Here are some of the notable winners from the previous stop who etched their names into APPT history:
South Korea
Hong Kong
South KoreaThe Venue: Okada Manila (Coral Lounge)
Okada Manila is a 30-hectare, Forbes 5-star luxury integrated resort featuring one of the world’s largest gaming floors. The Coral Lounge, located at the heart of the action, offers a sophisticated environment with live entertainment and premium service. The venue is strictly 21+, and the dress code is “Casual.”
![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/1x1/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small}
Okada Manila stands as the “Grand Dame” of Entertainment City, a massive, gold-faceted integrated resort that has redefined luxury gaming in the Philippines . While the property is famous for its opulent Pearl and Coral wings, for poker players, the true heart of the resort is the dedicated PokerStars LIVE Manila room. This partnership has turned Okada into a primary gateway for international poker, recently winning “Best Poker Room in Asia” for the second consecutive year.
Why Okada Manila?
- Elite Environment: Luxurious surroundings with professional dealers and 24/7 high-end services catering to all levels of players.
- Major Series Hub: Frequent host to the region’s largest events, including the PokerStars LIVE festivals and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT).
- Massive Gaming Floor: Features the Philippines’ largest gaming space with over 500 table games and 3,000 electronic machines.
GAMES
NLHE & PLO
STAKES
PHP 25/50 to 500+
PARKING
Valet & On-Site
The PokerStars LIVE Experience
The poker action at Okada is centered in a high-energy, 15-table room that balances the prestige of the PokerStars brand with the localized “Manila style” of play. It is a reliable 24/7 destination for cash games, spreading No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha from PHP 25/50 up to high-stakes PHP 200/400 and above.
During major 2026 festivals like the Manila Megastack 24 or the APPT Manila, the room expands into larger event spaces such as Cove Manila to accommodate hundreds of international players. Even outside of major series, the vibe remains premium with table-side food service, auto-shufflers, and a dedicated staff trained to global EPT standards.
Venue Logistics
📍 Location: Situated in Entertainment City, Parañaque, approximately 8km from NAIA airport.
🏨 Accommodations: Offers 993 well-appointed luxury rooms with dedicated poker player rates during major festivals.
📝 Entry Requirements: Strictly for guests aged 21 and older. A valid government ID or passport is mandatory for registration and membership.
♠️ Official Okada Manila Updates
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