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Okada Manila

Philippines, Manila

APPT Manila 2026

2026.07.28 - 2026.08.10 Add to Calendar

Asia Pacific Poker Tour

Info Chip Counts Event Photos

Blind level

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

Entries

41/272

Total Chips

8,160,000

Average

199,024

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 2:57:20 PM

Gunah Kim Leads 41 Day 1B Survivors as Field Sets Up for a Winner

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

Gunah Kim

Day 1B of the APPT National is complete, with the flight attracting 274 entries and the field now trimmed to 41 survivors, all locking up a min-cash and a seat for tomorrow's decisive Day 2.

Leading the way is Korea's Gunah Kim, who bagged a commanding 965,000 chips, more than double his nearest challenger. Philippines' Gary Guerrero (449,000) sits in second, with Singapore's Ivan Tan (425,000) rounding out the top three.

Top 10 Counts

Player	Chips
GK Gunah KimSouth Korea	965,000(121 BB)
GG Gary GuerreroPhilippines	449,000(56 BB)
IT Ivan TanSingapore	425,000(53 BB)
DB Dmitrii BelikovRussia	376,000(47 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	346,000(43 BB)
AD Arjun DhingraIndia	342,000(43 BB)
KO Kosei OkadaJapan	288,000(36 BB)
WL Wonjin LeeSouth Korea	280,000(35 BB)
JB Joseph BieglerUnited States of America	280,000(35 BB)
IG Insuk GoSouth Korea	244,000(31 BB)

The Day's Action

Tan was at the centre of some of the day's biggest pots on his way to the top of the counts. He first shipped a monster three-bet pot when his flopped trips improved to a full house against pocket queens, and later closed out a flush over two pair to send Viacheslav Zotov to the rail, extending his stack to nearly four times the average.

Chip leader Kim was involved in the day's strangest moment, open-jamming his stack only for confusion at the table to nearly cost Brenton Buttigieg his action. After a mix-up over whether Kim's cards had hit the muck, the floor ruled the hand still live, and Kim's pair held up on the runout to eliminate Buttigieg in brutal fashion just off the money.

Brenton Buttigieg

Elsewhere, Okada Kickoff champion Renato Villanueva Jr. picked up a hand at the table, firing a big river bluff that folded out Ryan Millington, who would have won the pot had he simply checked back. Insuk Go also found a much-needed double, rivering a flush to survive against Jaehyung Park, while Wonseo Jeong flopped trips to bust Rishi Mirpuri in a big pot.

Lifeofpoker founder Joris Michl, already a two-time champion this series after wins in the Ultrastack and Hyper Turbo events, also bagged a healthy stack of 346,000 to sit inside the top five, keeping his hunt for a third APPT Manila title alive.

Ryan Millington

The Bubble

The money bubble burst when Clyde Ravina got his stack in on a queen-high flop holding queen-six, dominated by Eundong Noh's king-queen. A jack paired the board on the turn, opening the door for a possible chop, but the river blanked, and Ravina was eliminated as the Day 1B bubble boy.

Play resumes tomorrow at 12:00 PM local time, when the remaining 41 players return to play down to a champion.

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 1:41:47 PM

Clyde Ravina is the Day 1B Bubble Boy

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

Clyde Ravina

The action was joined on a flop reading 3♦ Q♣ J♠, with Clyde Ravina all in and at risk against Eudong Noh for his remaining chips.

Ravina showed Q♦ 6♦ but was dominated by Noh's K♥ Q♥.

The J♣ paired the board on the turn, opening up some possible chop outs for Ravina.

The 2♦ river was not one of those cards, and the Filipino took the role of the Day 1B APPT National bubble boy.

Eundong Noh

Player	Chips	Progress
EN Eundong NohSouth Korea	120,000(15 BB)	95,000
CR Clyde RavinaPhilippines	busted	-75,000

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 51/272

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 1:25:06 PM

Hand-for-Hand!

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

Hand-for-hand is now in play, as 42 remain in the field.

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 1:04:45 PM

Unfortunate Ending for Buttigieg

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

Brenton Buttigieg

Chip leader Gunah Kim open-jammed with his ~750,000-chip stack, and after the action folded around, Brenton Buttigieg was left to act. Unaware of this, Kim had already flicked his cards to the dealer, believing the hand was over. Buttigieg, however, had moved his stack into the middle before Kim's cards were mucked.

Realising Buttigieg was still in the hand, Kim retrieved his cards. The floor was called over and ruled the hand still live, since the cards hadn't physically hit the muck pile, a decision that drew some pushback from players at the table, including Joseph Magnotti. In the end, the floor stood by the ruling, and the all-in and call stood.

Brenton Buttigieg: 3♦ 3♥

Gunah Kim: T♦ 4♠

It was a sick flop, with Kim pairing his four on the 4♦ J♥ 8♠ board. Buttigieg couldn't find the three he needed on the 8♦ 6♦ runout, ending his run just a couple of spots shy of the money in brutal fashion.

Player	Chips	Progress
GK Gunah KimSouth Korea	800,000(133 BB)	770,000
BB Brenton ButtigiegAustralia	busted	-30,000

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 51/272

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 12:42:18 PM

More Hit the Rail

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Renato Villanueva Jr

51 players remain in Day 1B of the APPT National, with 10 more eliminations needed before the field reaches the money and locks up a spot in tomorrow's Day 2.

Player	Chips	Progress
AA Ashish AnilkumarIndia	busted	-100,000
ML Marcial LouPhilippines	busted	-117,000
FC Federick CruzPhilippines	busted	-85,000
RB Raphael BulaongPhilippines	busted	-30,000
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	busted	-200,000
EL Edwards LawfordAustralia	busted	-70,000
JP Jaehyung ParkSouth Korea	busted	-45,000
JG Jose GarifePhilippines	busted	-21,000
MR Maxwell RosetePhilippines	busted	-47,000

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 12:34:32 PM

Jeong Gets a Big Boost

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Wonseo Jeong

Florencio Campomanes opened to 10,000 from early position before folding to cutoff Rafael Medel's 97,000 shove.

In the next hand, button Rishi Mirpuri opened to 10,000 and was called only by big blind Wonseo Jeong.

The dealer fanned the 8♠ 8♣ A♦ flop and Jeong checked; Mirpuri fired 7,000 and Jeong eventually made the call.

On the 2♦ turn, Jeong checked once more. Mirpuri upped it to 16,000, before calling Jeong's min-raise of 32,000.

Jeong then led on the Q♠ river, moving all in with his marginally covering stack. Mirpuri didn't take too long to call, only to look disgusted when the Korean turned over 8♥ 4♥ for flopped trips. Mirpuri mucked but eventually flicked over A♠ K♣ and left the table.

Player	Chips	Progress
WJ Wonseo JeongSouth Korea	300,000(60 BB)	270,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	105,000(21 BB)	75,000
FC Florencio CampomanesPhilippines	70,000(14 BB)	40,000
RM Rishi MirpuriIndia	busted	-30,000

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 69/272

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 12:07:46 PM

Go Back from the Dead

Level 15: 2,000 / 4,000 ante: 4,000

Cutoff Insuk Go moved the remainder of his 42,000-chip stack into the middle, and big blind Jaehyung Park snapped it off:

Insuk Go: 2♠ 2♥

Jaehyung Park: K♦ Q♦

Park picked up a gutshot on the J♥ 9♥ 5♥ flop but was drawing to far fewer cards, needing to avoid hitting any heart.

The 6♠ turn changed little, and the 6♥ river improved Go's hand to a flush, giving him a much-needed double and putting Park in the danger zone.

Player	Chips	Progress
IG Insuk GoSouth Korea	94,000(24 BB)	-139,000
JP Jaehyung ParkSouth Korea	45,000(11 BB)	15,000

Level 15: 2,000 / 4,000 ante: 4,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 73/272

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 73/272

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 11:27:48 AM

Table 31 Action and Counts

Level 14: 1,500 / 3,000 ante: 3,000

Kosei Okada

Cutoff Kosei Okada opened to 6,000 before folding to big blind Ashish Anilkumar's shove for around 80,000.

The next hand saw Wonjin Lee open for 6,000 from middle position and big blind Federick Cruz defend. The two players checked the J♦ 8♥ T♠ flop to the K♥ turn, where Cruz check-folded to Lee's 11,000 bet.

In the third hand of note at Table 31, Marciel Cerbito raised to 6,000 before calling Kosei Okada's 16,000 three-bet from a couple of seats over.

Cerbito check-called Okada's 8,500 bet following the A♦ J♥ 7♦ flop. On the 6♣ turn, Cerbito checked again before going deep in the tank when the Japanese player shoved for around

70,000, just about covering the Filipino.

Cerbito ultimately tapped the table and folded, flashing A♣ in the process. Okada also showed a card, the A♥.

Player	Chips	Progress
WL Wonjin LeeSouth Korea	280,000(93 BB)	100,000
KO Kosei OkadaJapan	205,000(68 BB)	175,000
AA Ashish AnilkumarIndia	100,000(33 BB)	88,400
FC Federick CruzPhilippines	85,000(28 BB)	-65,500
AG Aksshat GulatiIndia	81,000(27 BB)	51,000
SY Shuhei YamagamiJapan	80,000(27 BB)	50,000
MC Marciel CerbitoPhilippines	70,000(23 BB)	40,000
AD Arjun DhingraIndia	45,000(15 BB)	15,000

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 11:23:51 AM

Villanueva Jr. Gets One Over on Millington

Level 14: 1,500 / 3,000 ante: 3,000

Renato Villanueva Jr

Okada Kickoff winner Renato Villanueva Jr. opened to 6,500 from late position and was called only by small blind Ryan Millington.

Millington check-called Villanueva Jr.'s 4,000 bet following the Q♠ K♥ K♦ flop.

Both checked the 4♣ turn to the 8♣ river, where Millington led with a bet of 6,000.

Villanueva Jr. then grabbed his stack of yellow chips and put 26,000 into the middle.

Millington looked pretty sick, ultimately opting to fold. The pair then discussed showing their hands.

"You sure?" Villanueva Jr. asked Millington. He confirmed.

Villanueva Jr. flicked over 9♠ 3♥. Had Millington, who held A♦ 3♦, checked the river, Villanueva Jr. said he would've checked back, giving him the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	200,000(67 BB)	121,900
RM Ryan MillingtonUnited Kingdom	160,000(53 BB)	88,800

Level 14: 1,500 / 3,000 ante: 3,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 75/272

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 10:58:54 AM

Two-Time APPT Champion Exits Day 1B

Level 13: 1,000 / 2,500 ante: 2,500

Justin Ong

Justin Ong is among those who will sadly not be cashing via Day 1B of the APPT National event. Others include local grinder John Matsuda, circuit regular Dakota Anderson, and veteran Alvir Innocentes.

Player	Chips	Progress
JM John MatsudaJapan	busted	-60,000
JO Justin OngPhilippines	busted	-30,000
MC Michael ConcepiconPhilippines	busted	-120,000
DA Dakota AndersonUnited States of America	busted	-30,000
AI Alvir InocentesPhilippines	busted	-30,000
SM Sandeep MirchandaniHong Kong	busted	-30,000
RG Renniel GalvezPhilippines	busted	-30,000

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 10:53:53 AM

Kicker Problems for Zotov, Tan Out in Front

Level 13: 1,000 / 2,500 ante: 2,500

Viacheslav Zotov

Maxwell Rosete raised to 5,000 from early position and was called by blinds Ivan Tan and Viacheslav Zotov.

Tan checked when the dealer fanned the Q♠ 7♠ 6♠ flop; the Russian player shoved his remaining 9,500 into the middle, prompting a fold from Rosete, and Tan stuck in the call.

Zotov flicked over 9♠ 7♦ for middle pair and a flush draw, while Tan had him pipped with K♥ 7♥, his king kicker doing some heavy lifting.

Zotov couldn't find any further spades on the T♣ Q♦ runout, and his Day 1B APPT National run came to an end.

Tan, on the other hand, extends his current chip lead further. The average stack is around 100,000, while the Singaporean player is sitting on almost four times that amount.

Player	Chips	Progress
IT Ivan TanSingapore	390,000(156 BB)	321,900
MR Maxwell RosetePhilippines	47,000(19 BB)	17,000
VZ Viacheslav ZotovRussia	busted	-30,000

Level 13: 1,000 / 2,500 ante: 2,500

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 97/272

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 10:40:53 AM

Table 34 Action

Level 12: 1,000 / 2,000 ante: 2,000

Eundong Noh

Hand 1: Anant Acharya raised to 4,500 from early position before folding when John Matsuda three-bet jammed for 55,000 a couple of seats over.

Hand 2: Button Eundong Noh open-shoved for 30,000 and collected the blinds.

Hand 3: Cutoff Edwards Lawford raised to 6,000 and big blind Ishan Nadkarni defended.

Both checked the 9♠ 4♣ 5♣ 3♠ flop and turn to the K♣ river, when Nadkarni barely had time to slide out his 6,000 bet before the Australian's cards were in the muck.

Hand 4: Noh raised to 6,500 from the hijack and big blind Clyde Ravina stuck in the call.

The entire 8♠ A♥ 2♠ 5♠ Q♠ runout was checked down, with Ravina's pocket sevens, 7♣ 7♠, improving to a flush on the river to take the pot.

Player	Chips
IN Ishan NadkarniIndia	240,000(120 BB)
AA Anant AcharyaIndia	180,000(90 BB)
CR Clyde RavinaPhilippines	75,000(38 BB)
EL Edwards LawfordAustralia	70,000(35 BB)
JM John MatsudaJapan	60,000(30 BB)
EN Eundong NohSouth Korea	25,000(13 BB)

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 10:18:50 AM

One Out, One Up

Level 12: 1,000 / 2,000 ante: 2,000

Rudy Edenata

After his bluff was picked off by Rudy Edenata a couple of hands prior, small blind Chang Yu Lu moved all in for his last 17,000 after Edenata raised to 4,500 from early position, and Edenata made the call.

Chang Yu Lu: A♣ J♦

Rudy Edenata: A♠ 9♥

Lu looked primed for the double, having Edenata dominated. However, the 2♠ 7♣ 9♠ flop immediately put him behind with Edenata's paired nine, and Lu found no help on the 2♣ 2♥ runout, filling Edenata up in the process and sending Lu to the rail.

The next hand saw Lou Marcial open to 4,000 from early position and big blind Jose Garife called.

On the 9♥ 2♥ 8♦ flop, Garife checked before moving the remainder of his 5,500 stack into the middle after Marcial stuck 2,000 in. Marcial looked a little reluctant but eventually put in the call, sheepishly turning over A♦ 4♠, which was behind Garife's T♦ 8♣.

The 7♦ J♦ runout kept the short stack's pair of tens ahead, and he found a little more breathing room, though he was still sitting on around ten big blinds.

Player	Chips	Progress
RE Rudy EdenataIndonesia	165,000(83 BB)	135,000
ML Marcial LouPhilippines	117,000(59 BB)	87,000
JG Jose GarifePhilippines	21,000(11 BB)	-9,400

Level 12: 1,000 / 2,000 ante: 2,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 120/272

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 10:02:47 AM

Not This Time

Level 11: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

Mathias Schell

Player	Chips	Progress
SY Shoji YamamotoJapan	busted	-30,000
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	busted	-30,000
MA Martin AstorgaPhilippines	busted	-30,000
BG Battulga GanboldMongolia	busted	-30,000
MD Marvin Dela CruzPhilippines	busted	-30,000
PS Park Soun YoungSouth Korea	busted	-30,000
MS Mathias SchellSwitzerland	busted	-30,000
SM Soichiro MatsumotoJapan	busted	-30,000
JB Javier BecerrilSpain	busted	-30,000

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 9:51:10 AM

Go Takes Two

Level 11: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

Insuk Go

Michael Concepcion opened to 3,000 from early position before calling Insuk Go's 6,000 three-bet from a couple of seats over. Concepcion check-folded when Go continued for 12,000 following the 3♠ J♣ T♦ flop.

In the next hand, Go raised to 3,000 and was called by blinds Wonjin Lee and Concepcion.

Both blinds checked the 4♦ J♣ 5♣ flop; Go fired 8,000 and took down the pot uncontested.

Player	Chips	Progress
IG Insuk GoSouth Korea	230,000(153 BB)	200,000
WL Wonjin LeeSouth Korea	180,000(120 BB)	150,000
MC Michael ConcepiconPhilippines	120,000(80 BB)	90,000

Callum JuryCallum Jury

7/30/2026, 9:41:54 AM

Registration Closed!

Level 11: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

Registration has now closed for Day 1B of the APPT National. During the break, more players flurried in for another shot at qualifying during this flight, taking the total entries to 274, with 120 currently seated. The field is expected to play down to 41 players.

Level 11: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 120/272

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 112/263

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 9:10:00 AM

A Taste Of Okada Manila Between The Action

Level 10: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

Players are just minutes away from their first 20-minute break of Day 1B, and it's another reminder of why so many look forward to playing at Okada Manila.

Just outside the tournament area, the buffet is ready to welcome the players. Prepared by Okada Manila's culinary team, the spread features baked salmon, slow-cooked beef brisket, beef sliders, a variety of finger foods, fresh salads, desserts, pastries, coffee, juices, and plenty of other refreshments.

After hours of focusing on every decision at the table, the break offers a chance to slow things down. Some players catch up with friends, others replay interesting hands, while many simply enjoy a good meal before heading back into battle.

It's one of those small touches that players genuinely appreciate. Tournaments aren't only about chasing trophies and prize money. Spending long days at the tables becomes much more enjoyable when the venue takes care of everything away from the felt as well.

For 20 minutes, the poker talk can wait. Players get to relax, recharge, and enjoy the atmosphere before the tournament resumes.

Then it's back to business, with another few levels to navigate as everyone continues their chase for a spot in Day 2 of the APPT National.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 9:02:00 AM

Yesterday's APPT Manila Highlights

Level 10: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

Missed yesterday's action at APPT Manila 2026? Catch up with the full recap on Somuchpoker.

The Okada Kickoff, the first guaranteed event of the series, wrapped up after attracting 583 entries, more than 2.5 times its initial guarantee. Renato Villanueva Jr. emerged victorious, capturing the trophy, an APPT Championship 2026 package, and the PHP 820,184 (~USD 13,340) top prize.

Also making headlines was Lifeofpoker founder Joris Michl, who returned to the winner's circle by winning the Hyper Turbo for PHP 162,200 (~USD 2,630). The victory marked his second title of APPT Manila 2026 after opening the series with an Ultrastack win.

Read yesterday's full recap on Somuchpoker for the complete final table action, every elimination, all the winners, payouts, and the biggest stories from APPT Manila 2026.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 8:50:00 AM

Clock Ticking on Day 1B Registration

Level 10: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

We have reached the final level of late registration for Day 1B of the APPT National. Once this level wraps up and players head out for their break, the registration desk will officially close its doors for the flight.

The clock currently shows 251 total entries, with 118 players still battling at the tables. Once the total entry count is finalized after the break, the field will play straight down to the top 15%, all of whom will lock up a minimum cash and stamp their ticket to Day 2.

If you are still waiting on the sidelines, this is your last chance to jump into Day 1B before the late registration window shuts for good!

Level 10: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 118/251

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 8:44:00 AM

Two-Outer Turns Into Quads

Level 9: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

Joseph Sia

Facing a 2,500 open, Joseph Sia three-bet shoved for 11,200. On his left, Ashish Anilkumar reshoved, forcing the initial raiser out of the pot.

Joseph Sia: K♥ K♠

Ashish Anilkumar: A♥ A♦

It was a cooler between two premium pairs, with Anilkumar's pocket aces leaving Sia with just two outs.

The 7♣ 4♦ 2♠ flop kept the aces in front, but the K♣ turn completely flipped the hand, giving Sia a set of kings. The K♦ river improved him even further, making quad kings to complete a full double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
JS Joseph SiaPhilippines	27,300(23 BB)	-2,700
AA Ashish AnilkumarIndia	11,600(10 BB)	-18,400

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 8:33:02 AM

Gutshot Misses, Kim Gets the Boot

Level 9: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

James Bonanno

With roughly 20,000 chips already sitting in the pot, the board read Q♠ J♦ 2♠ 3♣. Jaehyuk Kim decided to take the lead with a 10,000 bet, only for James Bonanno to shove all in over the top with a covering stack.

Already heavily committed to the pot, Kim called off his remaining 21,500.

Jaehyuk Kim: A♦ K♥

James Bonanno: A♣ A♠

Kim found himself in bad shape, relying on a gutshot straight draw to save him against Bonanno’s pocket aces.

The 6♦ river brought no miracles, sending Kim straight to the registration desk while Bonanno raked in a healthy pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	160,100(133 BB)	130,100
JK Jaehyuk KimSouth Korea	busted

Level 9: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 125/232

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 8:15:00 AM

Big Slick, Big Sick

Level 8: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

Aleksei Zhukov

Under the gun, Aleksei Zhukov opened to 2,000 and picked up one caller. From the big blind, William Ysmael squeezed to 11,000.

Back on Zhukov, he responded with a four-bet to 25,000, forcing the caller out of the pot. Ysmael then committed his remaining 27,000 chips.

William Ysmael: T♥ T♣

Aleksei Zhukov: A♠ K♣

It was a flip, with the A♣ 7♥ 2♣ flop immediately favoring Zhukov after pairing his ace.

Ysmael was left with just two outs to survive. The 6♠ turn offered no help, and the K♥ river improved Zhukov to two pair, sending Ysmael to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
AZ Aleksei ZhukovRussia	125,100(125 BB)	95,100
WY William YsmaelPhilippines	busted	-30,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 8:05:00 AM

Australia's Michael Whykes Leads APPT National

Level 8: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

Michael Whykes

Australia's Michael Whykes has surged to the top of the leaderboard on Day 1B of the APPT National, sitting on a massive stack of 210,000 chips (210 big blinds).

Whykes has put distance between himself and the rest of the field as play continues, building a formidable advantage to set the pace in the room.

Player	Chips	Progress
MW Michael WhykesAustralia	210,000(210 BB)	180,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 7:55:00 AM

Watanabe's Ace-Queen Outpaves Pocket Pairs

Level 8: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

Tomohisa Watanabe

Action opened in early position with Edgar Asehan raising to 2,200 before Tomohisa Watanabe bumped it up from the cutoff to 7,000. Short-stacked in the big blind, Jaehyuk Kim pushed his remaining 4,600 into the middle.

Back on Asehan, he shoved all in with the covering stack, and Watanabe snap-called his remaining 13,500 to set up a three-way showdown.

Jaehyuk Kim: 3♠ 3♥

Tomohisa Watanabe: A♠ Q♦

Edgar Asehan: T♣ T♠

The A♥ K♦ 7♣ flop hit Watanabe hard, pairing his ace and leaving both Kim and Asehan hunting for just two outs each.

The 6♣ on the turn brought no help for either player, and the A♣ on the river improved Watanabe to trips. Watanabe scooped a huge three-way pot for a near-triple up, while Kim was sent to the rail.

Edgar Asehan

Player	Chips	Progress
TW Tomohisa WatanabeJapan	33,100(33 BB)	3,100
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	13,800(14 BB)	-16,200
JK Jaehyuk KimSouth Korea	busted	-30,000

Level 8: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 133/216

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 7:39:00 AM

Korzhenko Outflopped as Calingasan Doubles

Level 7: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

Sergei Korzhenko

Heavy action post-flop saw Carlo Calingasan end up all in for his remaining 29,000 chips on an A♦ Q♣ 4♣ board. Sergei Korzhenko, holding the covering stack, made the call to put Calingasan at risk.

Carlo Calingasan: A♥ 4♠

Sergei Korzhenko: A♣ T♥

Although behind preflop, Calingasan found help on the flop by smashing two pair, against Korzhenko’s top pair with a ten kicker.

The 6♣ on the turn brought out a counterfeiting threat with potential chop outcomes, but the J♠ on the river bricked out completely, securing the double-up Calingasan needed to stay alive.

Player	Chips	Progress
CC Carlo CalingasanPhilippines	63,500(64 BB)	33,500
SK Sergei KorzhenkoRussia	34,100(34 BB)	4,100

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 7:30:00 AM

Complimentary Food & Drinks Offered at Venue

Level 7: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

To make sure everyone stays fueled up for the grind, complimentary food and beverages are available at the venue for all players taking part in the APPT Manila.

The spread is served on-site as registration for Day 1B of the APPT National nears its close, giving competitors a convenient break to recharge before settling into the later stages of the flight.

A big shoutout goes out to the APPT staff and organizers for going above and beyond to provide world-class player hospitality, delivering one of the best player experiences on the regional circuit.

Level 7: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 143/207

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 7:15:00 AM

Four-tunate River Leave Tan Frustrated

Level 6: 400 / 800 ante: 800

Tamayo Zufia

Tamayo Zufia managed to find a late lifeline, doubling through Ivan Tan in a tense hand that left Tan shaking his head.

Zufia pushed his remaining 36,400 chips into the middle and found a call from Tan, who had him covered.

Tamayo Zufia: A♦ 4♦

Ivan Tan: A♥ J♦

Zufia was dominated preflop, but the K♦ K♥ 7♦ flop gave Tan a massive sweat by opening up a diamond flush draw for Zufia. The 8♥ on the turn missed both players, keeping Tan in the lead with his better kicker.

However, the 4♠ landed on the river, giving Zufia a pair of fours to overtake Tan and score a crucial double-up. Tan was visibly frustrated as the pot was pushed away from him.

Player	Chips	Progress
TZ Tamayo ZufiaSpain	74,600(93 BB)	44,600
IT Ivan TanSingapore	68,100(85 BB)	-36,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 7:05:00 AM

APPT National Smashes Guarantee

Level 6: 400 / 800 ante: 800

The PHP 8,000,000 (~USD 130,000) guaranteed prize pool for the APPT National has officially been surpassed. It is also the first APPT Shard Trophy event of the series, adding even more prestige to the tournament.

With 190 entries already recorded and registration only halfway through, the prize pool is expected to continue climbing. Players still have several levels to enter Day 1B, while Day 1C Turbo gets underway later today at 6:00 PM.

The trend continues at APPT Manila 2026, where every event so far has comfortably exceeded its guarantee. The Okada Kickoff generated more than 2.5 times its initial guarantee, and the APPT National now looks well on its way to potentially doubling its PHP 8,000,000 guaranteed prize pool before registration closes across all starting flights.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 6:55:00 AM

Chip Leaders!

Level 6: 400 / 800 ante: 800

Federick Cruz

Player	Chips	Progress
FC Federick CruzPhilippines	150,500(188 BB)	120,500
IT Ivan TanSingapore	104,100(130 BB)	-29,800
MG Marc GagneCanada	82,200(103 BB)	52,200
AR Andrew RodgersUnited States of America	79,900(100 BB)	49,900
VM Vamerdino MagsakayPhilippines	79,800(100 BB)	49,800
YN Yuki NishioJapan	79,600(100 BB)	49,600
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	78,100(98 BB)	48,100
PS Pradeep SinghIndia	76,300(95 BB)	46,300
RA Ryan AntigPhilippines	75,600(95 BB)	45,600
RM Ryan MillingtonUnited Kingdom	71,200(89 BB)	41,200

Level 6: 400 / 800 ante: 800

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 145/183

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 137/173

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 6:27:00 AM

Tan Wins Monster Pot to Grab Chip Lead

Level 5: 300 / 600 ante: 600

Ivan Tan

Early position player Ivan Tan kicked off the action with an open to 1,500. Sitting directly to his left, Seung Hyun Han raised the stakes with a three-bet to 4,500. Tan called, bringing out a flop of 9♥ 8♦ 8♣.

Tan checked over to Han, who fired a continuation bet of 3,500. Tan quickly check-raised to 10,000, but Han re-raised to 25,000. Things escalated fast from there, Tan announced he was all in for 61,700, and Han made the call to create a massive pot.

Ivan Tan: T♥ 8♥

Seung Hyun Han: Q♦ Q♥

Han was crushed to see Tan flip over flopped trips. The 9♠ on the turn upgraded Tan to a full house, though it gave Han a few extra outs for a higher full house. The 7♠ on the river missed Han completely, sending the huge pot to Tan and vaulting him into the chip lead.

Seung Hyun Han

Player	Chips	Progress
IT Ivan TanSingapore	133,900(223 BB)	103,900
SH Seung Hyun HanSouth Korea	8,800(15 BB)	-21,200

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 6:10:00 AM

Day 1B Tops Day 1A

Level 5: 300 / 600 ante: 600

Just halfway through the registration period, Day 1B has already reached 152 entries, surpassing Day 1A's total of 140 entries.

With late registration still open for several more levels, the PHP 8,000,000 guaranteed prize pool is now just moments away from being surpassed, with the field expected to continue growing before registration closes.

Level 5: 300 / 600 ante: 600

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 126/152

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 5:59:00 AM

Justin Ong Reloads Again

Level 4: 200 / 500 ante: 500

Justin Ong

Known for his aggressive style and willingness to build a stack early, Justin Ong was down to 10,300 when he open-shoved from early position.

Action folded to the small blind, where Alexis Lim reshoved to isolate the pot.

Justin Ong: K♥ J♦

Alexis Lim: A♥ K♣

Ong was dominated heading into the showdown and found no help on the 9♥ 4♥ 3♦ 2♣ Q♠ runout, sending him to the rail once again.

The elimination didn't keep him away for long. Moments later, Ong was back in the field, firing his fourth bullet and taking a new seat at Table 42, Seat 6.

Player	Chips
AL Alexis LimPhilippines	46,500(93 BB)
JO Justin OngPhilippines	30,000(60 BB)

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 5:50:00 AM

Flop Saves Tamilsilvam

Level 4: 200 / 500 ante: 500

Arvin Tamilsilvam

Hijack Arvin Tamilsilvam opened the action before calling a 3,500 three-bet from cutoff Yasuhiro Hadaki.

The flop came A♠ 9♦ 8♣, and Hadaki fired a 3,500 continuation bet. Tamilsilvam responded by check-raising all in for 11,600.

Hadaki wasted little time before making the call.

Arvin Tamilsilvam: A♦ 8♦

Yasuhiro Hadaki: A♣ T♠

Although dominated preflop, Tamilsilvam connected with the flop to make two pair and move in front.

The K♣ turn and Q♥ river failed to improve Hadaki, allowing Tamilsilvam to secure the full double up.

Yasuhiro Hadaki

Player	Chips	Progress
AT Arvin TamilsilvamSingapore	31,400(63 BB)	1,400
YH Yasuhiro HadakiJapan	8,500(17 BB)	-21,500

Level 4: 200 / 500 ante: 500

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 109/121

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 5:25:00 AM

Okada Kickoff Champion Returns

Level 3: 200 / 400 ante: 400

Renato Villanueva Jr

Fresh off his victory last night, Renato Villanueva Jr. is back in action, taking his seat in Day 1B of APPT National.

Villanueva Jr. captured the Okada Kickoff title after topping a stacked field, earning PHP 820,184 (~USD 13,340), the coveted trophy, and an APPT Championship 2026 package.

The win marked the biggest title of his poker career. Prior to this breakthrough, Villanueva Jr. made a deep run in the inaugural Philippine Poker Millions in August 2025, finishing 7th for PHP 1,600,000 (~USD 27,600).

Less than 24 hours after lifting the trophy, the newest APPT champion is already back at the tables, looking to carry his momentum into another deep run.

Want to relive his championship run? Read the full Okada Kickoff Final Day recap, featuring every elimination from the final table, the biggest hands, complete payout list, and how Villanueva Jr. captured the first title of APPT Manila 2026.

Player	Chips
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	30,000(75 BB)

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 5:10:00 AM

New Chip Penalty System Implemented

Level 3: 200 / 400 ante: 400

APPT Manila 2026 has officially introduced the chip penalty system, following the updated rules discussed during last month's TDA Summit.

The new format replaces the traditional hand penalty system with penalties issued through tournament chips. For minor violations such as acting out of turn, players will receive a chip penalty instead of losing hands.

A one-hand penalty is equivalent to the current small blind, while a one-round penalty equals 2.5x the current big blind. The final penalty will still depend on the severity of the violation and the tournament staff's decision.

The penalty chips will be removed from play and taken out of the tournament.

The positive change for players is that after paying the minimum penalty of one small blind, they will still have the chance to participate in the hand instead of automatically sitting out.

Level 3: 200 / 400 ante: 400

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 87/94

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 4:55:00 AM

Riga Scoop Pot Off Garife

Level 2: 100 / 300 ante: 300

Jannodin Riga

Action started with Jose Garife opening to 1,100 from the hijack position. Over in the small blind, Jannodin Riga bumped it up with a three-bet to 3,600, which Garife called to bring out a flop.

The dealer laid out A♦ J♥ 7♣. Riga checked his option, prompting Garife to fire out a bet of 3,100. Riga made the call.

Both players tapped the table and checked through the A♠ turn as well as the 2♦ river.

Riga was first to open, turning over Q♥ Q♣ for two pair, aces and queens. Garife could only show T♠ T♦ for a lower two pair, allowing Riga to rake in a healthy pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
JR Jannodin RigaPhilippines	35,100(117 BB)	5,100
JG Jose GarifePhilippines	30,400(101 BB)	400

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 4:40:00 AM

Cove Manila King Returns

Level 2: 100 / 300 ante: 300

Justin Ong

The King of Cove Manila, Justin Ong, has taken his seat on Table 37 Seat 6 for Day 1B of APPT National.

Ong earned the nickname “The King of Cove Manila” after a remarkable stretch of victories at the venue, becoming one of the most successful players at Okada Manila’s poker scene.

Last year, Ong made headlines by winning back-to-back Shard Trophy titles. First, he captured the PokerStars Red Dragon title for PHP 4,680,585 (~USD 81,605).

Just days later, he conquered the APPT Manila 2025 Main Event, outlasting a massive field of 1,246 entries to claim PHP 14,800,000 (~USD 256,370), his biggest live tournament cash to date.

With two major titles already secured at Cove Manila, Ong returns to the felt looking to add another chapter to his impressive run and chase another APPT Shard Trophy.

Player	Chips
JO Justin OngPhilippines	30,000(100 BB)

Level 2: 100 / 300 ante: 300

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 67/70

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 4:25:00 AM

Enriquez Back For Another Title

Level 1: 100 / 200 ante: 200

Kim Enriquez

One of the most recent champions at Okada Manila has joined the early action of Day 1B of APPT National.

Kim Enriquez, the winner of the record-breaking Okada Millions, the micro-stakes festival of PokerStars LIVE Manila, has taken his seat and is looking for another deep run.

Enriquez outlasted a massive field of 2,387 entries in the event, turning his PHP 8,000 (~USD 130) buy-in into a massive PHP 1,874,700 (~USD 30,979) payday, more than 230 times the buy-in.

Fresh off that victory, Enriquez is back at Okada Manila, chasing another title and adding another achievement to his growing poker resume.

Player	Chips
KE Kim EnriquezPhilippines	30,000(150 BB)

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 4:15:00 AM

Early Bird Players

Level 1: 100 / 200 ante: 200

Player	Chips
KY Kazuki YamashitaJapan	30,000(150 BB)
TP Tony PhaysithUnited States of America	30,000(150 BB)
YC Yongseok ChoiSouth Korea	30,000(150 BB)
EN Eundong NohSouth Korea	30,000(150 BB)
MC Michael ConfosAustralia	30,000(150 BB)
MW Michael WhykesAustralia	30,000(150 BB)
TZ Tamayo ZupiaSpain	30,000(150 BB)
SM Sidney MoakUnited States of America	30,000(150 BB)
JR Jesus RiveraPhilippines	30,000(150 BB)
DE Daniel EvensBelgium	30,000(150 BB)
RM Ryan MillingtonUnited Kingdom	30,000(150 BB)
MT Marlon TranFrance	30,000(150 BB)
SS Satwaki SarkarIndia	30,000(150 BB)
JR Jannodin RigaPhilippines	30,000(150 BB)
DS Dishant SoniIndia	30,000(150 BB)
FC Federick CruzPhilippines	30,000(150 BB)
JE Joseph EricksonUnited States of America	30,000(150 BB)
JG Jose GarifePhilippines	30,000(150 BB)
SY Shuhei YamagamiJapan	30,000(150 BB)
GG Gary GuerreroPhilippines	30,000(150 BB)

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 4:03:00 AM

Shuffle Up And Deal!

Level 1: 100 / 200 ante: 200

Cards are in the air for Day 1B of APPT National, with a strong start as 33 entries were already recorded before the clock officially started.

Players are now taking their seats at Cove Manila inside Okada Manila, beginning their journey toward securing a spot in Day 2 and joining the growing list of survivors from the opening flights.

Level 1: 100 / 200 ante: 200

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 33/33

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/30/2026, 12:09:33 AM

APPT National Action Continues with Day 1B

The action keeps rolling at APPT Manila 2026, with Day 1B of the APPT National getting under way today at Cove Manila inside Okada Manila. Players are battling for their share of the PHP 8,000,000 (~USD 130,000) guaranteed prize pool in this PHP 30,000 (~USD 485) buy-in tournament. Cards got in the air at 12:00 PM local time.

Everyone starting today gets a 30,000 stack, playing through 30-minute blind levels. Late registration is open until 5:30 PM local time, with the field playing down to the money, where the top 15% of entries will advance and lock up a guaranteed payout.

Day 1A Recap

The opening flight set a solid pace, drawing 140 entries. By the time the final bag was sealed, only 21 players made it through to Day 2 with a guaranteed payout already in hand.

Juhyung Son - Day 1A Chip Leader (595,000)

Korea's Juhyung Son set the mark to beat, finishing at the top of the stack counts with 595,000 chips (119 big blinds). Right on his heels was Malaysia's Chee Chuan Chea, making a great first impression in his debut at Okada Manila, who bagged 566,000 chips (113 big blinds). Jaecheol Lee finished out the top three after bursting the bubble to end with 504,000 chips (101 big blinds). These three were the only players from the first flight to build stacks over 100 big blinds.

Stay locked right here as Somuchpoker brings you live updates, key hands, chip counts, and all the action from the floor throughout the day.

Event starts 12:00 local time..