If you weren't at Cove Manila inside Okada Manila last night, you missed something that was difficult to put into words.
The final stages of the APPT Manila Main Event had the entire venue locked in, with every big pot bringing a roar from the crowd and every all-in feeling like a moment that could change everything.
The energy, the noise, the supporters packed around the big screen and the reactions after every major hand made it feel less like a poker tournament and more like a World Cup final inside Cove.
There were genuine goosebumps in the room, especially as the field narrowed and two Filipino legends eventually battled for the title.
Mike Takayama - APPT Manila 2026 Main Event ChampionThe APPT Manila 2026 Main Event delivered the biggest edition in the festival's history, bringing a record 1,413 entries to the world-class Cove Manila at Okada Manila, a one-of-a-kind poker venue in Asia. The massive field built a PHP 97,666,560 (~USD 1.608 million) prize pool, comfortably clearing the PHP 60,000,000 guarantee (~USD 1 million) and surpassing both the 2025 and 2024 editions.
After days of action, the record-breaking Main Event returned for its final day with 16 players remaining and a new champion guaranteed. In the end, it was Mike Takayama who stood alone.
Takayama claimed his first APPT Main Event title, taking home the massive PHP 15,530,000 (~USD 252,595) top prize, an APPT Championship package, the APPT Shard Trophy, and the biggest APPT Manila Main Event title to date. He defeated fellow Filipino poker veteran Florencio Campomanes heads-up, denying Campomanes a second APPT Main Event title.
But before Takayama could lift the trophy, the final table produced one of the toughest lineups seen at APPT Manila.
APPT Manila 2026 Main Event Final Table| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MT Mike Takayama ![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small} Philippines | 15,530,000 | $252,595 |
| 2 | FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 9,700,000 | $157,770 |
| 3 | SJ Seunghyuk Jung ![South Korea [KOR]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/kr.svg "South Korea [KOR]"){kind=small} South Korea | 6,955,000 | $113,120 |
| 4 | FC Fernan Co Philippines | 5,350,000 | $87,015 |
| 5 | YY Yang Yung Mao ![Taiwan [TWN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/tw.svg "Taiwan [TWN]"){kind=small} Taiwan | 4,120,000 | $67,010 |
| 6 | HN Haresh Nathan ![Singapore [SGP]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/sg.svg "Singapore [SGP]"){kind=small} Singapore | 3,170,000 | $51,560 |
| 7 | SN Steve Ng Singapore | 2,430,000 | $39,525 |
| 8 | JK Joungsun Kim South Korea | 1,870,000 | $30,415 |
| 9 | JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 1,439,560 | $23,415 |
The final table started with Jaehyung Park as the first casualty. Yang Yung Mao found a one-outer on the turn, making a set of kings against Park's two pair with ace-king.
Joungsun Kim followed in eighth after getting ace-queen all in against Campomanes' ace-king and failing to improve. Campomanes then continued his run by eliminating Steve Ng in seventh, with his pocket queens holding against Ng's pocket fives.
Start-of-day chip leader Haresh Nathan was next to fall. Nathan got ace-king against Seunghyuk Jung's pocket tens and even improved to two pair on the flop, but Jung hit a set and stayed ahead through the river to send Nathan out in sixth.
Mike TakayamaThen came what may have been the defining moment of Takayama's tournament.
Takayama got his pocket queens all in preflop against Mao's ace-king. The king on the turn put Mao ahead and left Takayama with just one out. That one out arrived on the river.
The queen hit, and Cove erupted.
Takayama jumped from his chair as his supporters celebrated around the rail, the reaction more like a winning goal in a World Cup final than a poker hand.
It was the kind of moment that can change a tournament, and Takayama soon finished the job against Mao, eliminating him in fifth.
Fernan CoOne of the most unfortunate exits belonged to Fernan Co. Facing Seunghyuk Jung on the river, Jung announced all in and placed a plack of 500,000 into the middle.
Co snap-called, believing it was simply a 500,000-chip bet. The misunderstanding cost him his tournament life, and Co finished in fourth.
Seunghyuk Jung The final three was where the tournament really began to feel different.
Last year's APPT Manila Main Event reached its final three with a more amateur-leaning lineup. This time, the remaining players were among the most established professionals in the region: Mike Takayama, Florencio Campomanes and Seunghyuk Jung.
Jung had already shown what he could do at APPT Manila, winning the APPT Super High Roller just one week earlier. Campomanes had also finished deep in that event, while Takayama had failed to cash.
Now, all three were fighting for the biggest title of the festival.
Florencio CampomanesAt one point, Campomanes made what may have been one of the most important folds of the final table.
After more than an hour of back-and-forth action, Campomanes opened to 3,500,000, leaving just 125,000 behind. Jung moved all in for 4,400,000, and Takayama called. Campomanes looked down at Q♥ 4♠and somehow found the fold, protecting his stack for the pay jump.
Jung held A♣ 5♣ against Takayama's A♠4♦ and tripled up on the J♥ 8♠3♦ 9♦ 5♦ board, leaving Campomanes with just 125,000 chips - barely 0.15 big blinds.
What happened next was one of the best comeback stories of the tournament.
Florencio CampomanesCampomanes refused to go away.
Starting with just 125,000 chips, he doubled four times against Takayama before finding himself all in again, this time for 6,600,000 against Jung.
Campomanes held T♠T♥ against Jung's A♣ J♠. The T♦ 8♣ 4♦ flop put Campomanes firmly ahead, and the T♣ turn completed his quads.
The fifth double-up was secured.
In a matter of hands, Campomanes had turned 125,000 into around 14,000,000 chips and was suddenly back in contention.
Jung, meanwhile, was left short after the pot and eventually found himself all in against Takayama. His K♣ J♠could not get past Takayama's 8♦ 8♣ on the T♠4♥ 2♥ 4♠Q♦ runout.
Jung finished in third place, just one week after winning the APPT Super High Roller.
Florencio Campomanes (L) - Mike Takayama (R)That left an all-Filipino heads-up battle between two of the country's most decorated players.
Campomanes, the 2019 APPT Manila Main Event champion, returned with 13,000,000 chips. Across from him was Takayama, holding around 29,000,000 and positioned to reclaim the No. 1 spot on the Philippines' all-time money list.
The atmosphere inside Cove had become something else entirely.
Fans and supporters packed the venue and watched the final table on the massive screen. They could follow the action live, although the players' hole cards were hidden. Every time Takayama won a pot, his 100-strong rail erupted.
It made the final stages feel less like a poker tournament and more like a major sporting event.
Campomanes eventually got his 12,500,000 chips in with A♦ 7♠against Takayama's A♥ J♠. The K♣ 4♣ 3♣ K♦ T♠board brought no help, ending Campomanes' run in second place and denying him a second APPT Manila Main Event title.
Takayama, meanwhile, finally had his APPT Main Event victory.
Mike TakayamaAfter securing the biggest title of his APPT career, Takayama admitted just how much the long tournament had taken out of him. Asked how it felt to become the APPT Manila champion, he said, "Actually, I'm extremely... extremely happy because the field was so huge. I mean, it was a really long grind. Then I became a short stack, but I was able to recover again. So yeah, I'm extremely happy."
Takayama also explained that his relatively tight approach at the final table was deliberate. "Well, actually, this is how I really play. I maintain my stack and discipline myself because first of all, there were great players to my left, Flo (Florencio Campomanes) and a Korean player (Seunghyuk Jung). So it was really hard to make moves. Plus, I didn't have much of a stack. So I needed to maintain it until... I told myself I'd start battling hard at the final table once we were down to just five players."
Of course, the river queen against Mao was one hand everyone wanted to ask about. Takayama laughed when recalling the moment: "Actually, I usually have bad luck with that dealer, but I didn't think about that anymore. I just told myself, 'Hopefully, I hit it on the river.' By God's grace, the Queen hit on the river, so I was extremely happy. I was actually in shock."
Mike Takayama & FriendsAnd with a 100-strong rail behind him throughout the final table, Takayama made sure to recognize the people who helped carry him through the final stages. "Actually, they're really my close friends, they genuinely support me, they're all Team Takayama. So yeah, thank you all so very much."
From a record-breaking 1,413-entry field to a packed Cove Manila, a one-outer on the river, a comeback from 0.15 big blinds, and an all-Filipino heads-up battle, the APPT Manila 2026 Main Event produced a final chapter worthy of its record-setting numbers.
And this time, Mike Takayama was the last man standing.
Mike TakayamaMike Takayama - APPT Manila 2026 Main Event ChampionOut of a record-breaking 1,413 entries, Mike Takayama is the last player standing in the APPT Manila 2026 Main Event.
Takayama has claimed his first APPT Main Event title, along with the massive PHP 15,530,000 (~USD 252,595) top prize, an APPT Championship package, the APPT Shard Trophy, and the glory of winning the biggest APPT Manila Main Events ever held.
Congratulations to Mike Takayama and all the players who took part in the record-breaking event!
Stay tuned to Somuchpoker for the full recap of the APPT Manila 2026 Main Event.
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 15,530,000 | $252,595 |
Florencio Campomanes - 2nd PlaceAfter several hands of back-to-back raises and folds, Florencio Campomanes found himself all in for 12,500,000, with Mike Takayama making the call.
Florencio Campomanes: A♦ 7â™
Mike Takayama: A♥ Jâ™
The K♣ 4♣ 3♣ flop kept Takayama in front. The K♦ turn gave Campomanes some split outs, but the T♠river brought no help.
The check mark went beside Takayama's name, sealing the elimination.
Campomanes finished in 2nd place, falling just short of a second APPT Manila Main Event title.
Florencio Campomanes| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 42,390,000(53 BB) | 12,500,000 |
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | busted | -12,500,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 9,700,000 | $157,770 |
Florencio Campomanes (L) - Mike Takayama (R)From a record-breaking 1,413-entry field, the APPT Manila 2026 Main Event at Cove Manila, Okada Manila was down to its final two - and both were Filipino.
Two of the country's most decorated poker players were now heads-up for the title.
Florencio Campomanes, who won the APPT Manila Main Event in 2019, returned to the heads-up stage with 13,000,000 chips.
Standing across from him was Mike Takayama, holding the bigger stack with around 29,000,000 chips and set to reclaim the No. 1 spot on the Philippines' all-time money list after this event.
Two familiar names. One title. One massive prize.
History was in the making at Cove, and the poker world was watching.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 29,000,000(36 BB) |
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 13,000,000(16 BB) |
Seunghyuk Jung - 3rd PlaceShortly after, Seunghyuk Jung pushed his remaining 2,500,000 into the middle, and Mike Takayama made the call.
Seunghyuk Jung: K♣ Jâ™
Mike Takayama: 8♦ 8♣
The T♠4♥ 2♥ 4♠Q♦ runout brought no help for Jung, and Takayama's pocket eights held strong to score the elimination.
Jung exits in 3rd place, adding another deep APPT run just one week after winning the APPT Super High Roller.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 30,000,000(38 BB) | 4,100,000 |
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | busted | -2,500,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 6,955,000 | $113,120 |
Florencio Campomanes Left with just 125,000 chips (0.15 big blinds), Florencio Campomanes somehow managed to double up four times against Mike Takayama.
A few hands later, he was all in again, this time for 6,600,000 against Seunghyuk Jung.
Florencio Campomanes: T♠T♥
Seunghyuk Jung: A♣ Jâ™
Campomanes was flipping for his tournament life, but the T♦ 8♣ 4♦ flop almost secured the win. The T♣ turn was the perfect card, improving Campomanes to quads and giving him his fifth double-up, this time against Jung.
In a short span, Campomanes climbed from just 125,000 chips to 14,000,000.
From 0.15 big blinds and seemingly finished, Flo is suddenly right back in the game.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 25,000,000(31 BB) | -4,000,000 |
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 14,000,000(18 BB) | 13,875,000 |
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 2,900,000(4 BB) | -6,600,000 |
After more than an hour of back-and-forth action with just three players left, Florencio Campomanes opened to 3,500,000, leaving himself just 125,000 behind.
Small blind Seunghyuk Jung moved all in for 4,400,000, and Mike Takayama called. It was almost a three-way all in, but Campomanes managed to find the fold with Q♥ 4♠, protecting himself for the potential pay jump.
Seunghyuk Jung: A♣ 5♣
Mike Takayama: A♠4♦
The J♥ 8♠3♦ 9♦ 5♦ runout gave Jung the best hand, and he managed to triple up.
Campomanes was left with just 125,000 chips after the hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 42,390,000(53 BB) | -5,200,000 |
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 13,000,000(16 BB) | 8,700,000 |
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 125,000(0 BB) | -3,500,000 |
The final three players were making history, and the atmosphere inside Cove Manila reflected it.
Fans and supporters packed the venue, watching the final table live on the massive screen inside Cove. They could follow every hand, although the players' hole cards were not shown.
Every time Mike Takayama won a pot, his supporters erupted. He had a 100-strong rail behind him, turning every pot he won into a celebration and making the final three-way battle feel like a major sporting event.
Fernan Co - 4th PlaceThe board was showing A♦ Q♥ T♣ 3♦ 6♠when Seunghyuk Jung announced all in and placed a plaque of 500,000 in the middle.
Fernan Co snap-called, thinking Jung had only bet 500,000.
Fernan Co: 9♠9♦
Seunghyuk Jung: A♠T♦
Co's pocket nines were no good against Jung's two pair, and the costly misread left him with no way back.
That small mistake ended Co's run in 4th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 11,000,000(37 BB) | 4,450,000 |
FC Fernan Co Philippines | busted | -4,300,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | FC Fernan Co Philippines | 5,350,000 | $87,015 |
Yang Yung Mao - 5th PlaceYang Yung Mao was all in against Mike Takayama once again, after their previous clash saw Takayama score a massive double-up.
This time, it was Mao's tournament life on the line.
Yang Yung Mao: K♣ Q♥
Mike Takayama: Aâ™ 3â™
The J♥ 8♣ 8♠2♠6♦ board brought no help for Mao, and Takayama's ace-high held all the way.
Takayama collected the full stack and eliminated Mao in 6th place, further extending his lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 17,000,000(57 BB) | 3,400,000 |
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | busted | -2,800,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 4,120,000 | $67,010 |
Mike TakayamaMike Takayama opened to 600,000 from the cutoff before big blind Yang Yung Mao three-bet to 1,400,000.
Takayama came back with a four-bet to 3,000,000, and Mao responded with a five-bet all in. After some hesitation, Takayama called for his tournament life at 6,680,000.
Mike Takayama: Q♠Q♦
Yang Yung Mao: A♥ K♦
Takayama was safe on the J♦ 3♥ 3♣ flop, but the K♥ turn gave Mao the lead.
The screen showed Takayama with just one out, and the Q♣ was already out there with Fernan Co.
Then came the Q♥.
The crowd erupted as Takayama hit the one-outer, celebrating like a goal had just been scored in a World Cup final. Takayama himself jumped up from his chair, celebrating the river as if he had just won the tournament.
The queen gave Takayama a full double-up and pushed him into the chip lead at the final table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 14,000,000(56 BB) | 7,055,000 |
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 5,300,000(21 BB) | -6,930,000 |
Haresh Nathan - 6th PlaceHaresh Nathan got the remainder of his 4,095,000 chips from under the gun in the middle and was called off by Seunghyuk Jung in the cutoff. The two players tabled their hands:
Haresh Nathan: A♣ Kâ™
Seunghyuk Jung: T♠T♦
It was an action flop, and both got a piece when the dealer fanned A♠K♦ T♣, but it was Nathan still at risk, his two pair behind Jung's set of tens.
The 5♦ turn changed little, and neither did the 5♥ river, and Nathan, one of the chip leaders a few levels ago, found his run in the APPT Manila Main Event at an end.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 9,300,000(47 BB) | 4,595,000 |
HN Haresh Nathan Singapore | busted | -4,095,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | HN Haresh Nathan Singapore | 3,170,000 | $51,560 |
Fernan CoFernan Co found a huge double up to start his comeback, beginning with just 1,630,000.
His first all in came against chip leader Yang Yung Mao.
Fernan Co: 3♥ 3♦
Yang Yung Mao: K♦ 9♦
The 5♦ 4♥ 2♥ flop was safe for Co, but the K♥ turn gave Mao the lead. Co still had plenty of outs, and the 5♥ river was one of them, completing his flush and giving him the double.
A few hands later, Co was involved in another big pot against Seunghyuk Jung. Jung moved all in on the river with the board showing Q♣ 8♠6♣ 7♣ 4♣, and Co called with his remaining stack.
Fernan Co: Q♥ J♣
Seunghyuk Jung: K♦ 8♥
Co's jack-high flush was good, turning his stack from 1,630,000 into 6,200,000 in just a few hands.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 8,900,000(45 BB) | -4,100,000 |
FC Fernan Co Philippines | 6,200,000(31 BB) | 3,950,000 |
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 4,900,000(25 BB) | -2,500,000 |
Steve Ng - 7th PlaceFlorencio Campomanes opened to 400,000 from the button before small blind Steve Ng announced all in for 2,035,000. Campomanes quickly made the call.
Steve Ng: 5♠5♥
Florencio Campomanes: Q♣ Q♦
Ng needed to find a five, but the A♠3♥ 2♦ 7♦ 8♦ runout brought no help.
Campomanes' queens held, sending Ng to the rail in 7th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 8,600,000(43 BB) | 2,435,000 |
SN Steve Ng Singapore | busted | -2,035,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | SN Steve Ng Singapore | 2,430,000 | $39,525 |
Joungsun Kim - 8th PlaceJoungsun Kim got the remainder of his 2,330,000 chips in and covering stack Florencio Campomanes called it off, looking to score the knockout.
Joungsun Kim: A♥ Q♣
Florencio Campomanes: A♣ K♣
The South Korean player found no reprieve on the 2♠9♠T♥ flop, although the 8♦ turn did give him a gutshot, needing a jack to complete his straight.
The 7♥ river failed to save him, and Kim was sent to the rail as the second elimination of the final table, exiting in 8th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 5,500,000(34 BB) | 3,050,000 |
JK Joungsun Kim South Korea | busted | -2,330,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | JK Joungsun Kim South Korea | 1,870,000 | $30,415 |
Jaehyung Park - 9th PlaceOn the very next hand after losing most of his stack to Yang Yung Mao, Jaehyung Park moved all in for 480,000.
Mao raised to 1,000,000, forcing the other player to fold and leaving Park heads-up for his tournament life.
Jaehyung Park: A♥ T♥
Yang Yung Mao: A♣ Kâ™
Park was dominated from the start and couldn't find any help on the 9♠8♦ 3♣ Q♥ 7♥ runout.
Park was eliminated in 9th place, becoming the first casualty of the final table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 14,000,000(88 BB) | |
JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | busted | -540,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 1,439,560 | $23,415 |
Yang Yung MaoJaehyung Park opened to 320,000 with A♥ K♣, and Yang Yung Mao three-bet to 875,000 holding K♠K♥.
The A♠J♥ 7♠flop gave Park top pair, and Mao fired 500,000. Park called.
The K♦ turn was brutal for Park, giving Mao the one-outer for a set of kings. Mao bet 900,000, and Park called again.
The 5♥ river brought no change. Mao fired 2,000,000, and Park quickly called, only to see the bad news.
Mao dragged another massive pot and climbed to around 13 million, while Park was left short.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 13,000,000(81 BB) | 4,900,000 |
JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 540,000(3 BB) | -6,545,000 |
Steve NgAfter Mike Takayama doubled through Steve Ng, Ng got his remaining [X] chips in and Takayama called, looking to score the knockout:
Steve Ng: J♦ J♣
Mike Takayama: 9♥ 9♦
Takayama flopped extremely well, hitting a set on the A♣ 3♦ 9♠board.
The A♠turn improved him to a full house, but the A♦ river resulted in a superior full house for Ng, allowing him to claw back some of the chips he'd lost to Takayama earlier.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 7,000,000(44 BB) | -1,100,000 |
SN Steve Ng Singapore | 2,500,000(16 BB) | 1,300,000 |
Florencio CampomanesFlorencio Campomanes opened to 240,000 from the hijack with 9♠9♥, and Yang Yung Mao defended the big blind with K♣ 3♥.
The K♠9♣ 3♠flop was a cooler for both players. Mao flopped two pair, while Campomanes hit a set of nines. Campomanes fired 200,000, and Mao called.
The K♦ turn changed everything, giving Mao a full house. Campomanes still bet 390,000, only for Mao to check-raise to 850,000. Campomanes pushed the pressure further with a raise to 1,900,000, and Mao quickly called.
The Q♥ river brought no change. Mao checked again, and Campomanes checked back for value, only to see the bad news.
Mao had the bigger full house, leaving Campomanes with a much shorter stack after one of the biggest pots of the final table so far.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 8,100,000(51 BB) | 2,625,000 |
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 1,200,000(8 BB) | -2,750,000 |
Mike TakayamaMike Takayama jammed for 3,625,000 from early position and hijack Steve Ng stuck in the sole call, as the first all-in and call of the final table.
Mike Takayama: A♦ A♥
Steve Ng: Q♣ Q♥
There was a roar from the crowd, both at the final table and those watching the screens around the Cove, as the two hands were shown, with the local crowd giving their support to Takayama.
The 2♥ J♣ 2♠flop drew equal levels of excitement as no queen came to jeopardise Takayama's tournament life, and the Filipino pro stayed safe on the T♥ J♦ runout, scoring a full double and leaving Ng extremely short.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 8,100,000(51 BB) | 4,745,000 |
SN Steve Ng Singapore | 1,100,000(7 BB) | -5,300,000 |
APPT Manila 2026 Main Event Final 9 PlayersFrom a record-breaking 1,413-entry field, the APPT Manila 2026 Main Event is now down to its final nine players.
Everyone at the final table is guaranteed at least PHP 1,439,560 (~USD 23,415), but the number everyone has their eyes on is the PHP 15,530,000 (~USD 252,595) top prize and the APPT Manila Main Event title.
Jaehyung Park will lead the final nine with 7,085,000 chips (71 big blinds) after delivering the final elimination of the night on the final-table bubble.
Jaehyung ParkThe final table brings together a strong mix of players from across Asia. The Philippines has two of its most established names in Florencio Campomanes and Mike Takayama.
Campomanes already has an APPT Main Event title to his name, having won in 2019, while Takayama has multiple APPT titles and is now chasing another deep run. With this final-table finish, Takayama also has the chance to move back to the top of the APPT all-time rankings. Fernan Co is also in the mix, looking to turn this run into the biggest cash of his career.
Mike TakayamaSouth Korea is represented by three players, led by Seunghyuk Jung, who has been one of the hottest players at APPT Manila. Jung took down the APPT Super High Roller just last week and now finds himself back at another final table, with a second APPT title firmly within reach.
Seunghyuk JungSingapore has two finalists in Steve Ng and Haresh Nathan, both looking to make their mark on the biggest stage of the festival.
The lone Taiwanese player, Yang Yung Mao, also returns with a serious stack of 5,475,000 chips, putting him right in the middle of the fight.
The final table will also bring a change to the structure. Instead of playing by the clock, the action will now run on 24 hands per level, keeping the pace moving as the tournament heads toward its conclusion.
The Somuchpoker live report will resume at 11:00 PM local time, timed with the final-table livestream.
You can also follow the action live on the PokerStars Twitch & YouTube channel.
| Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 3,950,000(40 BB) | 1 | 1 |
SN Steve Ng Singapore | 6,500,000(65 BB) | 1 | 2 |
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 4,920,000(49 BB) | 1 | 3 |
JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 7,085,000(71 BB) | 1 | 4 |
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 5,475,000(55 BB) | 1 | 5 |
FC Fernan Co Philippines | 2,250,000(23 BB) | 1 | 6 |
JK Joungsun Kim South Korea | 2,250,000(23 BB) | 1 | 7 |
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 3,355,000(34 BB) | 1 | 8 |
HN Haresh Nathan Singapore | 6,515,000(65 BB) | 1 | 9 |
| Place | Payout (PHP) | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15,530,000 | $252,595 |
| 2 | 9,700,000 | $157,770 |
| 3 | 6,955,000 | $113,120 |
| 4 | 5,350,000 | $87,015 |
| 5 | 4,120,000 | $67,010 |
| 6 | 3,170,000 | $51,560 |
| 7 | 2,430,000 | $39,525 |
| 8 | 1,870,000 | $30,415 |
| 9 | 1,439,560 | $23,415 |
The final nine players are set and are now taking a 30-minute break.
The pause will give the team time to set up the final table livestream, prepare the player introductions, and confirm the official chip counts.
Play will resume shortly, with the final nine now ready to battle for the APPT Manila Main Event title.
Stay tuned as the live report continues.
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | TC Thanh Cao Nguyen ![Viet Nam [VNM]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/vn.svg "Viet Nam [VNM]"){kind=small} Viet Nam | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
| 11 | HH Hossein Haydari ![Australia [AUS]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/au.svg "Australia [AUS]"){kind=small} Australia | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
| 12 | SP Seunghee Park South Korea | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| 13 | TK Tomoya Kakihara ![Japan [JPN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/jp.svg "Japan [JPN]"){kind=small} Japan | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| 14 | HJ Hernan Jaybee Villa Philippines | 770,000 | $12,525 |
| 15 | WB Wonil Bae South Korea | 770,000 | $12,525 |
| 16 | TK Tomoyuki Kiyoyama Japan | 650,000 | $10,570 |
Thanh Cao Nguyen - 10th PlaceHijack Thanh Cao Nguyen, having just lost the majority of his stack when his pocket fives were cracked by Fernan Co's turned straight with ace-ten, got this last of his ~500,000 chips in and was called by small blind Jaehyung Park:
Thanh Cao Nguyen: 8♣ 7♦
Jaehyung Park: A♦ T♣
Nguyen found little in the way of help on the Q♦ 9♥ K♣ flop, improving only Park with some more outs.
The 4â™ turn was much of the same, and the Tâ™ river sealed the Vietnamese player's elimination as the Final Table bubble boy.
Fernan Co| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 7,085,000(71 BB) | 400,000 |
TC Thanh Cao Nguyen Viet Nam | busted |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | TC Thanh Cao Nguyen Viet Nam | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
Hossein Haydari - 11th PlaceFolded to the small blind, Hossein Haydari moved all in for his remaining 780,000, and big blind Jaehyung Park made the call.
Hossein Haydari: A♥ K♣
Jaehyung Park: J♦ T♦
The T♣ 8♦ 4♦ flop was a nightmare for Haydari. Park paired his ten and also picked up a flush draw, leaving Haydari with just four outs to stay alive.
The 9♦ turn was the card that ended the sweat, completing Park's flush and leaving Haydari drawing dead.
The 5♦ river changed nothing, and Haydari was eliminated in 11th place.
That leaves just 10 players in contention, with only one more elimination needed before the final table is set.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 7,400,000(74 BB) | 780,000 |
HH Hossein Haydari Australia | busted | -780,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | HH Hossein Haydari Australia | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
Seunghee Park - 12th PlaceSteve Ng raised to 200,000 from the button, and Seunghee Park, having just lost a considerable chunk of chips when his ace-jack lost to a runner-runner straight, got the remainder of his 1,100,000 chips in. Ng snapped it off:
Seunghee Park: K♦ T♣
Steve Ng: 9♦ 9♣
Park failed to hit any of his overcards on the 8♠7♦ Q♦ flop, but he still needed a king, ten, or running cards to stay alive.
The 8♥ turn did not help, nor did the A♦ river, and the South Korean's deep run in the APPT Manila Main Event came to an end.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SN Steve Ng Singapore | 4,800,000(48 BB) | 1,725,000 |
SP Seunghee Park South Korea | busted | -2,015,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | SP Seunghee Park South Korea | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
HN Haresh Nathan Singapore | 7,065,000(71 BB) | -1,600,000 |
JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 5,925,000(59 BB) | 3,075,000 |
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 3,540,000(35 BB) | -860,000 |
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 3,295,000(33 BB) | 110,000 |
JK Joungsun Kim South Korea | 2,020,000(20 BB) | 200,000 |
HH Hossein Haydari Australia | 1,230,000(12 BB) | -290,000 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 5,275,000(53 BB) | -25,000 |
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 4,470,000(45 BB) | 2,350,000 |
SN Steve Ng Singapore | 3,075,000(31 BB) | 1,725,000 |
FC Fernan Co Philippines | 2,800,000(28 BB) | -1,550,000 |
SP Seunghee Park South Korea | 2,015,000(20 BB) | -385,000 |
TC Thanh Cao Nguyen Viet Nam | 1,460,000(15 BB) | 170,000 |
Seunghee ParkUnder the gun, Yang Yung Mao opened before Seunghee Park, who started the day as the second-largest stack, three-bet to 400,000.
Mao wasn't backing down. He came back with a four-bet to 950,000, and after some thought, Park called.
The K♠9♥ 2♠flop hit the felt and Mao quickly fired 650,000.
Park used a time bank before eventually letting it go, surrendering another sizeable pot to Mao.
It's been a rough stretch for Park, who began the day with around 5,800,000 but has now fallen to approximately 2,400,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 5,300,000(66 BB) | 1,100,000 |
SP Seunghee Park South Korea | 2,400,000(30 BB) | -2,350,000 |
Tomoya Kakihara - 13th PlaceAfter a heavy preflop battle, Tomoya Kakihara found himself all in for 1,420,000 from the small blind, with Fernan Co making the call from the button.
Tomoya Kakihara: A♠Q♦
Fernan Co: A♦ 6â™
Kakihara looked in great shape with ace-queen dominating Co's ace-six and was in a strong position to double.
But the K♣ 9♥ 6♥ flop turned the hand around. Co paired his six, leaving Kakihara with just three outs to survive.
The 6♣ turn was the disaster card for Kakihara, giving Co trips and effectively sealing the result. The river brought no help, sending Kakihara out in 13th place.
While he collected the chips, Co couldn't resist a little table talk, joking, "I call because I know I get a full house."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FC Fernan Co Philippines | 4,350,000(54 BB) | 1,630,000 |
TK Tomoya Kakihara Japan | busted | -1,665,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | TK Tomoya Kakihara Japan | 920,000 | $14,965 |
Hernan Jaybee Villa - 14th PlaceSmall blind Hernan Jaybee Villa jammed for 1,600,000 and big blind Florencio Campomanes snapped it off to put Villa at risk:
Hernan Jaybee Villa: A♣ Q♥
Florencio Campomanes: J♣ J♥
Villa had a fighting chance going into the flip, but after the T♣ J♠3♣ flop gave Campomanes a set, things looked a little more bleak, leaving Villa needing a king to complete his straight.
The 3♥ turn, however, sealed it, giving Campomanes a full house, and Villa was out of his seat and heading to the payout desk as the 3♠landed on the river.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 4,400,000(55 BB) |
HJ Hernan Jaybee Villa Philippines | busted |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | HJ Hernan Jaybee Villa Philippines | 770,000 | $12,525 |
Hossein HaydariFolded to the small blind, Florencio Campomanes raised to 1,000,000. After looking at his cards, Hossein Haydari committed his remaining 730,000 and called all in.
Hossein Haydari: 2♣ 2♦
Florencio Campomanes: K♥ J♥
Haydari was in a flip for his tournament life, but his pocket deuces held through the A♠T♣ 6♥ 8♠4♦ runout.
No overcard or straight arrived to change the result, giving Haydari a much-needed double and keeping his final-table hopes alive.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 2,280,000(38 BB) | -705,000 |
HH Hossein Haydari Australia | 1,520,000(25 BB) | 580,000 |
Wonil Bae - 15th PlaceWonil Bae moved all in for his remaining 340,000, and both blinds came along, creating a three-way pot.
The A♠K♥ 3♣ flop saw small blind Steve Ng lead for 125,000, but big blind Yan Yung Mao raised to 500,000, forcing Ng to get out of the way.
Wonil Bae: A♥ T♣
Yan Yung Mao: Kâ™ 3â™
Bae had top pair, but Mao had flopped bottom two pair and was in control.
The 4♣ turn gave Bae a few more outs, but the 2♦ river wasn't one of them. Mao's two pair held, eliminating Bae in 15th place as the final field continued to shrink.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 4,200,000(70 BB) | 1,595,000 |
SN Steve Ng Singapore | 1,350,000(23 BB) | -575,000 |
WB Wonil Bae South Korea | busted | -490,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | WB Wonil Bae South Korea | 770,000 | $12,525 |
Tomoyuki Kiyoyama - 16th PlaceJoungsun Kim raised to 120,000 from the hijack before cutoff Tomoyuki Kiyoyama three-bet jammed for around 880,000. Once the action had folded around, Kim swiftly put in the call:
Tomoyuki Kiyoyama: A♣ K♦
Joungsun Kim: A♦ Qâ™
Short-stack Kiyoyama looked primed for the double, with Kim needing to hit only one of three immediate outs to score the knockout, and the 2♥ 5♥ 6♦ flop was safe too.
The Q♦ turn, however, completely flipped the switch, leaving the short stack needing a king to stay in the game.
The T♦ was of no help, and the Japanese player was sent to the rail as the first elimination of the day.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
JK Joungsun Kim South Korea | 1,820,000(30 BB) |
TK Tomoyuki Kiyoyama Japan | busted |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | TK Tomoyuki Kiyoyama Japan | 650,000 | $10,570 |
The final 16 players have taken their seats for the last day of the APPT Manila 2026 Main Event.
After days of action, the field is now down to the final contenders, all chasing the APPT Manila Main Event title and the massive top prize.
The cards are in the air, and the race to crown a new champion is officially underway.
| Place | Payout (PHP) | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15,530,000 | $252,595 |
| 2 | 9,700,000 | $157,770 |
| 3 | 6,955,000 | $113,120 |
| 4 | 5,350,000 | $87,015 |
| 5 | 4,120,000 | $67,010 |
| 6 | 3,170,000 | $51,560 |
| 7 | 2,430,000 | $39,525 |
| 8 | 1,870,000 | $30,415 |
| 9 | 1,439,560 | $23,415 |
| 10 | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
| 11 | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
| 12 | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| 13 | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| 14 | 770,000 | $12,525 |
| 15 | 770,000 | $12,525 |
| 16 | 650,000 | $10,570 |
Haresh NathanThe APPT Manila 2026 Main Event returns today for its final day of action, with 16 players remaining and a new champion guaranteed.
The record-breaking event attracted 1,413 total entries, building a PHP 97,666,560 (~USD 1.608 million) prize pool, comfortably clearing the PHP 60,000,000 guarantee and surpassing both the 2025 and 2024 editions.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
HN Haresh Nathan Singapore | 8,665,000(144 BB) |
SP Seunghee Park South Korea | 5,825,000(97 BB) |
FC Fernan Co Philippines | 3,245,000(54 BB) |
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 3,185,000(53 BB) |
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 2,985,000(50 BB) |
JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 2,850,000(48 BB) |
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 2,605,000(43 BB) |
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 2,120,000(35 BB) |
SN Steve Ng Singapore | 1,925,000(32 BB) |
JK Joungsun Kim South Korea | 1,820,000(30 BB) |
TK Tomoya Kakihara Japan | 1,665,000(28 BB) |
HJ Hernan Jaybee Villa Philippines | 1,435,000(24 BB) |
TC Thanh Cao Nguyen Viet Nam | 1,290,000(22 BB) |
TK Tomoyuki Kiyoyama Japan | 1,285,000(21 BB) |
HH Hossein Haydari Australia | 940,000(16 BB) |
WB Wonil Bae South Korea | 490,000(8 BB) |
Every remaining player is already locked into a payday north of PHP 567,000 (~USD 9,220), with the PHP 15,530,000 (~USD 252,595) top prize still up for grabs.
Leading the way is Haresh Nathan, who closed out Day 2 with a commanding 8,665,000. Seunghee Park sits second with 5,825,000, with Fernan Co rounding out the top three on 3,245,000.
With defending champion Justin Ong having failed to advance beyond the four starting flights, a new APPT Manila Main Event champion is guaranteed. Play resumes today as the remaining 16 players battle it out for the trophy and the top prize.
| Place | Payout (PHP) | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15,530,000 | $252,595 |
| 2 | 9,700,000 | $157,770 |
| 3 | 6,955,000 | $113,120 |
| 4 | 5,350,000 | $87,015 |
| 5 | 4,120,000 | $67,010 |
| 6 | 3,170,000 | $51,560 |
| 7 | 2,430,000 | $39,525 |
| 8 | 1,870,000 | $30,415 |
| 9 | 1,439,560 | $23,415 |
| 10 | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
| 11 | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
| 12 | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| 13 | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| 14 | 770,000 | $12,525 |
| 15 | 770,000 | $12,525 |
| 16 | 650,000 | $10,570 |
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
HN Haresh Nathan Singapore | 8,665,000(144 BB) |
SP Seunghee Park South Korea | 5,825,000(97 BB) |
FC Fernan Co Philippines | 3,245,000(54 BB) |
MT Mike Takayama Philippines | 3,185,000(53 BB) |
FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines | 2,985,000(50 BB) |
JP Jaehyung Park South Korea | 2,850,000(48 BB) |
YY Yang Yung Mao Taiwan | 2,605,000(43 BB) |
SJ Seunghyuk Jung South Korea | 2,120,000(35 BB) |
SN Steve Ng Singapore | 1,925,000(32 BB) |
JK Joungsun Kim South Korea | 1,820,000(30 BB) |
TK Tomoya Kakihara Japan | 1,665,000(28 BB) |
HJ Hernan Jaybee Villa Philippines | 1,435,000(24 BB) |
TC Thanh Cao Nguyen Viet Nam | 1,290,000(22 BB) |
TK Tomoyuki Kiyoyama Japan | 1,285,000(21 BB) |
HH Hossein Haydari Australia | 940,000(16 BB) |
WB Wonil Bae South Korea | 490,000(8 BB) |
| Place | Payout (PHP) | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15,530,000 | $252,595 |
| 2 | 9,700,000 | $157,770 |
| 3 | 6,955,000 | $113,120 |
| 4 | 5,350,000 | $87,015 |
| 5 | 4,120,000 | $67,010 |
| 6 | 3,170,000 | $51,560 |
| 7 | 2,430,000 | $39,525 |
| 8 | 1,870,000 | $30,415 |
| 9 | 1,439,560 | $23,415 |
| 10 | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
| 11 | 1,110,000 | $18,055 |
| 12 | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| 13 | 920,000 | $14,965 |
| 14 | 770,000 | $12,525 |
| 15 | 770,000 | $12,525 |
| 16 | 650,000 | $10,570 |
