APT Main Event (60,000 PHP)

as the sun rose over Manila this morning, 48 hopefuls returned to the tables inside the Crowne Plaza Galleria with one shared mission—securing a seat at the APT Main Event final table. After eight levels of play, that number has been slashed to just nine, each now shifting their focus to the ultimate prize: the PHP 11,069,680 (~$190,201) first-place payout.

The player in the best position to capture the title is Russia’s Dmitrii Belikov, who ran hot throughout the day and closed out with an impressive 8,890,000 in chips. Japan’s Hiroya Iwamoto wasn’t far behind, building his stack to 8,225,000, while Or Nezer secured the third spot on the leaderboard with 6,660,000, keeping himself in striking distance of the leaders.

When they return tomorrow for the fifth and final day, the remaining nine players will battle for the prestigious APT Main Event title and their share of the massive PHP 62,311,680 (~$1,070,647) prize pool—the biggest APT Main Event ever held in the Philippines. Each has already secured at least PHP 819,000 (~$14,072) for reaching the final table, but with the payouts getting progressively bigger, the stakes couldn’t be higher as they chase history and a career-defining victory.

With a healthy stack of 6,615,000, Dylan Foster is well-positioned to make a run at the title. A familiar face on the APT circuit, Foster has already racked up eight final table appearances in APT events, but a trophy has eluded him outside of his home country of Australia.

Now, with a career-best payday within reach, Foster will be looking to leverage his experience and navigate his way up the payouts—all the way to the PHP 11,069,680 (~$190,201) top prize and his first international title.

The most decorated player at the final table is undoubtedly Samuel Mullur. The Austrian bracelet-winner boasts nearly $5,000,000 in live tournament earnings and currently sits third on Austria’s All-Time Money List—a resume that speaks for itself.

However, Mullur faces an uphill climb with just 2,150,000 in chips, leaving him as one of the short stacks heading into Day 5. But with his experience and deep-run prowess, few would be surprised to see him mount a comeback and battle for the title as the tournament reaches its final stages.

Rounding out the final table are Jie Zhang (5,320,000), Alexander Ugay (4,720,000), Ivan Govorov (3,390,000), and Adalsteinn Karlsson (1,700,000). While Zhang and Ugay sit comfortably in the middle of the pack, Govorov has some ground to make up, while Karlsson enters as the short stack, needing an early double-up to stay in contention.

Day 4 Action

Among those who started the day, Javier Zarco had the steepest hill to climb, entering with just a single big blind. While he hoped to spin up a miracle run, his journey ended in 45th place. Terry Gonzaga (39th), Rishi Mehra (33rd), Jayden Zalac (24th), and Vlada Stojanovic (21st) also fell before the pay jumps started to get a little juicier.

One of the standout stories of the tournament was Gemmy Quach, who described her deep run as “magical” after bagging at the end of Day 3. But as fate would have it, the deck had other plans.

Quach's troubles began in Level 26, when Belikov’s ace-queen rivered her ace-king, but she managed to recover and battle on. However, in Level 29, it was déjà vu—this time, Quach four-bet shoved with king-jack, only to once again find herself at risk against Belikov’s ace-queen.

A king on the flop offered hope for a crucial double-up, but in a cruel twist, the river brought an ace, officially ending her Main Event journey at the hands of the same opponent who cracked her earlier. A magical run, but sometimes even fairy tales get a bad ending.

Belikov vaulted to the top of the chip counts after winning a massive flip, holding strong with pocket jacks against Egidijus Digrys' ace-queen in the tournament’s biggest pot so far. The crucial hand catapulted Belikov into the lead while leaving Digrys on life support with just a handful of big blinds.

Still reeling from the loss, Digrys found himself flipping again just a few hands later, this time with pocket eights against Hiroya Iwamoto’s ace-jack. Unfortunately for him, the board brought an ace on the flop, dashing any hopes of a comeback and sending him out in the unlucky 13th place.

Niklas Warlich (12th) and Jeoffrey Sibal (11th) came agonizingly close to the final table but still walked away with solid paydays for their deep runs. However, it was Japan’s Michikiko Matsuda who suffered the toughest blow, finishing as the final table bubble boy after his stack was slowly ground down to dust.

In his final hand and down to just a few big blinds, Matsuda shoved with nine-eight over an open from Iwamoto, who called with six-three suited. The flop brought Iwamoto a flush draw, and the turn completed it, leaving Matsuda drawing dead and his tournament dreams officially over in tenth.

Play resumes at 11 AM on Saturday, February 15, where the final nine players will battle until one is crowned APT Main Event champion. There’s one minute remaining in Level 30, and with the average stack around 5,300,000, every decision will be magnified as the blinds continue to rise.

as always, the final table will be streamed with a 30-minute delay, ensuring fans can follow the action without spoilers. Live updates will remain in sync with the broadcast to provide a seamless experience. To watch the stream: To watch the stream: Click here.

With PHP 11,069,680 (~$190,201) up top, the pressure is at its peak. The stage is set, the chips are counted, and by the end of the day, a new APT Main Event champion will be crowned. Buckle up—it’s going to be a thrilling finale!

That's a wrap on Day 4, which ended with one minute remaining in Level 30.

Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action and those all-important chip counts.

Short-stacked for much of the day, Michikiko Matsuda was desperate for some tinder to reignite his tournament hopes, and when Hiroya Iwamoto raised to 240,000 from the cutoff, he took his stand, shoving for 365,000 from the big blind. Iwamoto quickly called.

Michikiko Matsuda: 9♠ 8♣

Hiroya Iwamoto: 6♥ 3♥

Matsuda was ahead, but Iwamoto had live cards—and more importantly, hearts. The 4♠ K♥ 4♥ flop brought a flush draw, and the T♥ on the turn sealed Matsuda’s fate, leaving him drawing dead.

A meaningless K♣ landed on the river, officially ending Matsuda’s run in 10th place, just shy of the final table.

Or Yaaqov Nezer raised the cutoff to 240,000, and Jeoffrey Sibal shoved all in for 1,210,000. Nezer made the call to put Sibal at risk.

Jeoffrey Sibal: K♦ T♦

Or Yaaqov Nezer: K♣ Q♣

Nezer was ahead with the queen kicker. A flop came down 2♣ 8♠ 9♣ , giving Nezer a flush draw.

The turn revealed a 6♦ and Sibal received a straight draw. The Q♦ hit on the river, pairing Nezer’s queen and sending Sibal to the rail in eleventh place for a payday of PHP 679,000 (~$11,667).

Nicholas Warlich made the most of his remaining time banks before he finally pushed his last 40,000 in, which wasn't enough to match the small blind.

Action went to the blinds. Small blind Jie Zhang matched the big blind and Samuel Mullur checked his option.

The flop came T♥ 9♠ K♣ Zhang and Mullur checked it down to see a 7♣ turn and a J♠ river.

Zhang led for 125,000 and Mullur called.

Zhang showed Q♠ 2♦ and Mullur showed Q♥ 5♦ Both players making a straight.

Meanwhile, Warlich showed a 6♠ 7♠ for the losing hand, giving up his Main Event seat to finish 12th.

Action folded to Niklas Warlich on the dealer button, who made a huge raise to 1,000,000 - leaving 160,000 chips behind. Big blind Ivan Govorov defended with a call.

The flop came 7♥ 7♦ 5♠

Govorov fired 120,000 and Warlich called, leaving only 40,000 chips in his stack.

Both players checked the 9♦ turn and the T♥ river.

Govorov revealed an A♠ 4♣ and apparently that was enough to win the huge pot and put Warlich on the brink of elimination.

After losing a crucial flip for the chip lead, Egidijus Digrys found himself on the ropes and desperately needed a double-up.

When Hiroya Iwamoto opened to 240,000 from the cutoff, Digrys shoved his remaining 500,000 on the button, and Iwamoto quickly called.

Egidijus Digrys: 8♥ 8♦

Hiroya Iwamoto: A♥ J♣

Digrys was hoping the Snowmen would bring him back to life, but instead, his Main Event dreams melted away as the board ran out 7♠ A♣ Q♦ J♠ 2♥ , giving Iwamoto top pair and sending Digrys to the rail.

A brutal back-to-back flip loss spells the end of his run, as Iwamoto adds more chips to his growing stack.

Jie Zhang opened the cutoff to 240,000 and Niklas Warlich three-bet to 700,000 from the small blind, only to be jammed by Zhang for 1,740,000. It only took Warlich a few seconds to announce a call.

Niklas Warlich: A♠ K♣

Jie Zhang: 8♦ 8♥

Warlich was behind with his Big Slick facing off Zhang’s snowmen, which was even improved to a set on the flop of 3♠ 8♠ J♦ .

The 6♦ dropped on the turn, leaving Warlich drawing dead. The board-pairing 6♣ landed on the river, blooming Zhang’s set into a full house.

With the Main Event final table approaching, a monster pot erupted after a flurry of action.

Adalsteinn Karlsson opened to 250,000 from the hijack, with Alexander Ugay calling from the cutoff and Hiroya Iwamoto peeling on the button. In the small blind, Egidijus Digrys decided to squeeze to 1,200,000, but the real fireworks began when Dmitrii Belikov shoved for 4,800,000 from the big blind.

After taking a count and burning through several time banks, Digrys made the call, creating a 10,000,000-chip pot—the biggest of the tournament so far!

Dmitrii Belikov: J♥ J♣

Egidijus Digrys: A♦ Q♦

A huge flip with Belikov at risk, but his jacks stayed ahead on the 5♦ T♣ 7♣ flop. The 9♥ on the turn added an unnecessary gutshot for Belikov, while Digrys still needed an ace or a queen to flip the script.

But Belikov’s heater continued as the 6♥ bricked on the river, securing him a massive double-up and the chip lead! Meanwhile, Digrys was left crippled, his stack reduced to just 500,000.

Or Yaaqov Nezer opened the cutoff to 240,000, only to be jammed by Ivan Govorov on the cutoff. Nezer dropped in a call to put Govorov at risk.

Ivan Govorov: A♠ 9♦

Or Yaaqov Nezer: J♠ 8♠

Govorov was ahead with ace-nine, and the flop came down A♣ T♣ Q♥ , pairing Govorov's ace and offering Nezer a straight draw.

The 4♥ landed on the turn. Nezer was still looking for a nine. However, the river brought a 6♠ , awarding another double-up. This time to Govorov instead.

Hiroya Iwamoto limped in from the small blind with Q♣ 3♣ and Edigijus Digrys checked his option from the big blind holding 9♦ 7♦ .

On the Q♥ T♥ 4♦ flop, Iwamoto led out for 120,000 and Digrys raised to 400,000. After a brief pause, Iwamoto called.

A 3♥ brought in the flush draw and both players knuckled the table to see the K♠ on the river. Iwamoto then grabbed chips and fired out 550,000, and Digrys finally let his hand go.

Jie Zhang open-jammed for 1,280,000 from the cutoff and was called by Or Yaaqov Nezer in the big blind to put him at risk.

Jie Zhang: A♠ 7♣

Or Yaaqov Nezer: 6♣ 6♠

Zhang was behind with ace-seven facing off the pocket sixes from Nezer, but he took over the lead on the flop of 9♠ A♦ 7♥ , improving him to two pair.

The turn showed a T♥ , and Nezer hoped to receive an eight or six to collect one elimination. Unfortunately for Nezer, the J♠ hit on the river, sending Zhang a crucial double-up.

Hiroya Iwamoto opened to 200,000 from under the gun, and Alexander Ugay defended his big blind.

The flop came down J♠ 8♥ 5♥ , and both players opted to check.

The Q♠ landed on the turn, where Ugay checked, Iwamoto fired 175,000, and Ugay responded with a check-raise to 425,000. After a brief pause, Iwamoto shoved, and Ugay snap-called for his tournament life with 2,200,000.

Alexander Ugay: Q♦ J♣

Hiroya Iwamoto: A♠ K♠

Ugay had turned top two, but Iwamoto had a Royal Flush draw, needing a spade or a ten to steal the pot. The dealer burned a card and revealed the 5♣ —a total brick—locking up the massive pot for Ugay, who catapulted his stack to nearly five million.

A huge moment, but not quite the fairytale finish Iwamoto was hoping for.

Short stacks have one move at this point - All-in of Fold.

Ivan Govorov with around 1 Million chips shoved all-in from the cut-off and successfully scooped some blinds.

In the following hand, It was Jeoffrey Sibal's turn to shove from the cut-off for around 1,600,000. Sibal also bagged some blinds.

At this point, every win and every blind counts.

Short-stacked Ivan Govorov pushed all-in for 960,000 on the button and was called by Dylan Foster on the big-blind for a showdown.

Ivan Govorov K♥ Q♦

Dylan Foster K♠ J♣

Flop came 4♥ 4♠ 6♠

Foster started cheering "Six! Six!"

The turn came 7♠ and still Foster kept cheering "Six!" and would you believe - the river gave a 6♣

Foster cheered, saying "See! I'm not selfish I could've asked for a spade or a jack" as both Foster and Govorov split the pot and the small blind.

Adalsteinn Karlsson opened to 200,000 from under the gun, and Tetsuya Tsujisaka moved all in for around 740,000 from the small blind. After getting a count, Karlsson made the call.

Tetsuya Tsujisaka: A♣ K♥

Adalsteinn Karlsson: A♦ Q♦

Tsujisaka had just doubled up and was looking for the McDouble-double, but he had to fade a few outs as the flop landed 6♦ 8♦ 7♠ . Karlsson, however, wasn’t made to wait—the 4♦ on the turn gave him the nuts, leaving Tsujisaka drawing deader than a forgotten side of fries.

A meaningless J♦ completed the board, sending Tsujisaka to the rail with no extra sauce.

Tetsuya Tsujisaka shoved from early position for almost 500,000 and Michikiko Matsuda three-bet to isolate from the hijack.

Tetsuya Tsujisaka: T♠ T♦

Michikiko Matsuda: A♣ K♥

Tsujisaka needed to win a flip to remain in contention, and his pocket tens managed to stay in front as the dealer ran a board of 7♦ 8♦ 4♥ J♥ 4♠ .

Dylan Foster raised to 200,000 from the hijack and was defended by Or Yaaqov Nezer from the big blind.

Both players checked through a flop of 2♠ 2♥ 6♦ to the 9♦ turn. The action went check-check again.

The river showed Q♦ . Nezer checked it to Foster, who fired 275,000, which Nezer called to take it to a showdown. Foster tabled king-high with K♥ J♦ while Nezer flipped ace-high with A♦ 5♥ to collect the pot.

It's the end of the road for Gemmy Quach.

After Quach opened to 225,000 from the cutoff, Dmitrii Belikov three-bet the button to 500,000. The blinds quickly got out of the way, and with the action back on Quach, she moved all in for 1,500,000. Belikov took just ten seconds before making the call.

Gemmy Quach: K♥ J♦

Dmitrii Belikov: A♦ Q♠

Quach was all in and behind but had already escaped from a similar spot earlier in the day. She hoped history would repeat itself.

The flop came K♠ 3♦ 4♣ , pairing Quach’s king and leaving Belikov with just three outs. The turn 9♥ was a blank, but the river A♠ delivered a heartbreaking end to Quach’s Main Event run.

Action folded to the short-stacked Ivan Govorov on the button, who raised to 200,000. Small blind Jeoffrey Sibal, also with a short stack, pushed all-in for 1,200.000. Govorov surrendered.

Samuel Mullur raised to 200,000 from the cut-off and Niklas Warlich called on the button. Both players entered a flop of 6♦ 5♠ 3♥

Mullur check-called the 200,000 bet of Warlich to open a 6♥ on the turn. Both players checked to see a Q♠ river.

Mullur led out for 260,000 and Warlich made the call. Mullur showed 7♣ 7♦ for two pair sevens-sixes while Warlich flipped over Q♣ T♣ for a better two pair.

After an hour dinner break, the cards are back in the air!

Players have been sent on a 60-minute dinner break.

Here's a peek at the counts while the players fuel up.

Big, big pot for Hiroya Iwamoto right before dinner!

Alexander Ugay opened the hijack to 160,000 and Iwamoto three-bet to 500,000 in the cutoff. When it got back to Ugay, he called.

They both saw a flop of 6♦ Q♣ 7♣ where Ugay check-called a bet of 350,000 from Iwamoto to the K♠ turn. Ugay tapped the table once again and Iwamoto continued firing, this time with a sizing of 600,000. Ugay quickly moved all in, and Iwamoto called off his stack of around 2,300,000.

Hiroya Iwamoto: A♦ K♦

Alexander Ugay: K♣ J♥

That turn was the worst in the deck for Ugay, who now only had three outs to win the pot. Iwamoto was a big favorite to become the chip leader, and climbed to the summit of the counts when the 3♠ landed on the river.

Or Yaaqov Nezer raised to 160,000 from under the gun and received two callers: Dylan Foster from the cutoff and Niklas Warlich in the big blind.

Three players checked through the K♠ 3♣ Q♦ flop to see a 6♠ fall on the turn, where Warlich fired 300,000, which only Foster made the call.

The river showed a 9♦ . Warlich sent another barrel of 800,000 and took down the pot as Foster threw his cards into the muck.

Dylan Foster limped in from the small blind and Jie Zhang three-bet to 120,000. Foster dropped in a call.

Both players saw a flop of T♣ 8♠ 4♣ and checked through to the Q♥ turn. The action went check-check again.

The 3♦ fell on the river. Foster fired our 525,000, sending Zhang into the tank. After a long time, Zhang eventually tossed his cards into the muck.

Sangbum Kim raised to 200,000 and Or Yaaqov Nerez re-raised to 500,000. Kim then moved all-in for his last 1,600,000. Nerez made the snap call.

Sangbum Kim 9♦ 9♥

Or Yaaqov Nerez K♦ K♥

The board ran 5♥ 6♣ A♥ 5♠ 4♣ with the kowboys of Nerez holding up to send Kim to the exit in 16th place. Kim earned PHP487,000 (~USD 8,368) for his efforts.

The remaining 16 players are having a 15-minute break.

Future posts will now be delayed by 30 minutes to be synchronized with the live stream.

Dmitrii Belikov raised to 160,000 from under the gun, only to be jammed by Jeoffrey Sibal for 745,000 from the cutoff. After some consideration, Belikov dropped in a call to put Sibal at risk.

Dmitrii Belikov: A♦ K♦

Jeoffrey Sibal: K♠ K♣

Sibal held the lead with the pocket kings on the flop of 3♣ 6♠ J♣ .

The 7♦ hit on the turn, leaving Belikov drawing dead.

A bricky 8♦ fell on the river, shipping Sibal a double-up.

Shinya Matsuda raised to 130,000 from under the gun. When action reached Or Yaaqov Nezer in the big blind, he moved all-in, threatening the shorter stack of Matsuda.

Matsuda made the call and put his tournament life at risk.

Shinya Matsuda Q♠ Q♦

Or Yaaqov Nezer A♦ T♠

The flop came 6♦ A♠ 7♠ giving Nezer the lead with a pair of aces.

Nezer held the lead all the way after the 2♥ turn and K♦ river did noting to save Matsuda, sending him to the rail.

Shinya Matsuda opened the button to 160,000 and Michihiko Matsuda three-bet to 500,000. Shinya called.

On a flop of 4♥ 2♣ 9♥ , Michikiko checked to Shinya, who led out for 250,000. Michikiko made the call to see an A♥ fall on the turn, where both players checked through.

The Q♣ hit on the river. Michikiko changed his pace here and fired out 600,000, which successfully took down the pot.

Ivan Govorov made it 305,000 to go from the cutoff and Dmitrii Belikov shoved all in from the big blind for 4,580,000. Govorov called off his last 30,000 chips.

Dmitrii Belikov: Q♣ 5♣

Ivan Govorov: Q♥ T♦

A Q♠ 4♥ 2♠ flop improved both players into a pair of queens but Govorov was still ahead with his kicker.

The 3♦ hit on the turn, and Belikov was looking for a five, ace or 6 to bust Govorov.

The J♦ landed on the river, securing a much-needed double up for Govorov.

Dylan Foster just padded out his stack a little after he eliminated Donavan Chu.

Foster opened the button to 160,000 and then called the shove of Chu, who moved all in from the big blind for around 700,000.

Donavan Chu: 6♠ 6♣

Dylan Foster: A♠ T♠

Chu instantly fell behind on the K♣ A♦ 4♠ flop and couldn't find the six he needed as the J♣ 3♣ runout meant he was eliminated.

Jeoffrey Sibal had his last 600,000 chips at risk against Dimitri Belikov.

Jeoffrey Sibal K♣ K♠

Dimitri Belikov A♦ K♥

The board ran 3♣ 6♠ J♣ 7♦ 8♦ giving SIbal's kings a crucial double-up.

The action was picked up on the river with a board showing J♣ T♥ J♦ 3♥ 5♦ and around 650,000 chips in the middle.

Lars Kamphues, from under the gun, checked to Dmitrii Belikov on the button, who shoved all in for around 2,000,000. After tanking for a long time, Kamphues called off his remaining 750,000 chips.

Belikov tabled A♣ J♥ for a flopped pair of jacks to beat the two pair from Kamphues’ K♠ T♣ .

Belikov raked in the sizable chips and bust Kamphues out of the tournament.

17 players remain with one more out to go before the Main Event breaks into the final two tables.

Among the recent eliminations were Noppen Taengrun, Po-Shuo Huang, Lars Kamphues, Ivan Govorov and Donovan Chu. The 17 players who remain are guaranteed a payout of at least PHP 487,000.

Vlada Stojanovic is no longer in the Main Event after clashing with Egidijus Digrys.

Digrys made it 125,000 to go from early position and Stojanovic defended his big blind to see a 5♥ A♥ 7♣ flop. Stojanovic checked, Digrys bet 75,000, Stojanov made it 285,000, and Digrys called.

An 8♣ fell on the turn and brought in a second flush draw, and Stojanov shoved for almost 1,200,000. Digrys snap-called.

Vlada Stojanovic: Q♥ 6♥

Egidijus Digrys: 7♠ 7♦

Stojanovic had a huge combo draw, but only one chance to spike it. Digrys set was well in the lead and the Q♣ river didn't bring any surprises.

Huge result for Digrys! Showers for Stojanovic.

Sangbum Kim and Ivan Govorov were staring at a flop of T♦ 7♣ 9♥ beside a pot of over 800,000 chips.

The all-in arrow was pointed to Govorov. Kim's stack was covered and he used up a time bank token before making the call.

Sangbum Kim 3♠ 3♣

Ivan Govorov Q♠ J♠

Kim was ahead but Govorov had an open-ended straight draw along with two live overcards. However, the 2♣ on the turn and the 4♠ on the river didn't improve Govorov's hand, and he had to pay off 870,000 more to Kim.

Jie Zhang and Samuel Mullur were staring at a board of 7♥ T♥ 2♦ 9♥ with a little over 500,000 in the pot.

Zhang led out from the big blind with 80,000 and Mullur raised it to 360,000 from the hi-jack. Zhang went to deep thought and made the call to see a 3♣ on the river. Zhang checked and Mullur wisely checked behind.

Zhang showed Q♥ 3♥ for a flush while Mullur mucked his hand.

After two shoves, Gemmy maintained her aggression in the following hand

Quach open-jammed for 235,000 from under the gun and was called by Lars Kamphues from the hijack to put her at risk.

Lars Kamphues: K♣ J♣

Gemmy Quach: 8♦ 8♣

Quach picked up the lead with pocket eight and it was improved to a set on the flop of 8♥ 7♣ A♠ , leaving Kamphues a small chance to win.

The turn came a 6♣ , and Kamphues drew dead. The inconsequential J♥ hit on the river, giving Kamphues a pair, but it was no match for Quach’s set.

Dylan Foster opened up the action with a raise to 120,000 from early position and Vlada Stojanovic three-bet to 300,000 from the hijack. Taengruen Noppon then shipped his stack of just over 600,000 into the middle from the cutoff, and only Stojanovic called.

Taengruen Noppon: A♥ J♥

Vlada Stojanovic: K♥ Q♥

Noppon's hand was in the lead, but it didn't stay there for long as the 4♣ 8♦ K♦ flop saw Stojanovic pair his king. A T♥ on the turn added a Broadway draw for Noppon, but the 6♠ river bricked out, ending his Main Event run.

Gemmy Quach open-shoved for 820,000 from middle position and Po Shuo Huang also moved all in for 620,000 from the hijack to put himself at risk.

Gemmy Quach: A♦ K♠

Po Shuo Huang: J♠ J♦

Huang was slightly ahead with pocket jacks as the dealer swiftly dealt the board: 4♦ Q♦ 9♥ 2♣ 2♠ claiming Quanch's recently earned double-up from the last hand.

Dimitri Belikov raised to 120,000 from early position and Gemmy Quach shoved all-in the next seat over for her last 270,000 chips. Small blind Lars Kamphues threw in a time bank token before finally deciding to make the call. Belikov stood down and left the two players for a showdown.

Lars Kamphues 9♣ 9♥

Gemmy Quach A♣ 4♣

The flop came T♥ Q♦ 3♥ keeping Kamphues in the lead.

The turn showed a 5♥ and gave Quach more outs with a gutshot.

The poker gods threw in a 2♠ on the river to award Quach a straight and keep her Main Event championship dream alive.

Dmitrii Belikov opened the cutoff to 50,000 and Gemmy Quach shoved all in for 235,000 on the button. Belikov dropped in a call to put Quach at risk.

Gemmy Quach: K♦ 9♥

Dmitrii Belikov: A♦ 4♥

Belikov held the lead with an ace, but Quach soon took it over as the flop ran out 2♦ 9♠ 5♠ , improving her to a pair of nines.

The turn 8♥ and river T♥ couldn’t send help to Belikov, shipping a double-up to Quach.

Following the break, a new set of players have taken their seats at the Main Event featured table. Showing off their skills for the camera are Donovan Chu, Egidijus Digrys, Tetsuya Tsujikasa, Hiroya Iwamoto, Dylan Foster, Alexander Ugay, Vlada Stojanovic and Noppon Taengruen.

Alexander Ugay enters the featured table as the tournament chip leader with the largest stack of over 5,000,000.

You can catch the delayed livestream at the APT Official YouTube Channel

Players are on short 15-minute break.

22 players still remain after Jayden Zalac and Chuning Tan busted. So far Alexander Ugay sits as tournament chip leader with 5,095,000 chips. At a near second is Dylan Foster with 4,900,000. The third spot belongs to Egidijus Digrys with 4,135,000. Jie Zhang, who started the day as the chip leader, is ranked fourth with 3,930,000.

Everything Dmitrii Belikov touches right now turns to gold!

Chuning Tan opened to 105,000 from under the gun and Belikov three-bet from the next seat to 260,000. It got back to Tan, who then four-bet to 425,000, only for Belikov to five-bet rip for around 1,900,000. Within a second, Tan called off his stack of 1,800,000.

Chuning Tan: K♥ K♦

Dmitrii Belikov: A♥ A♣

Tan found himself on the wrong end of the ultimate cooler and couldn't find any reprieve from the 6♦ 6♥ 4♥ 2♠ Q♣ runout, which meant he was eliminated.

Belikov, however, rockets up the counts and is closing in on four million!

Delight for Dmitrii Belikov, but dismay for Gemmy Quach after a brutal river card!

Belikov opened to 500,000 from the hijack, leaving himself just 400,000 behind. Quach, sitting in the cutoff, shoved for around 1,600,000, and when the action folded back to Belikov, he called for his tournament life.

Dmitrii Belikov: A♠ Q♥

Gemmy Quach: A♥ K♦

Quach had Belikov dominated and on the verge of elimination, with her Big Slick holding firm through the 2♠ T♥ J♥ flop. The 4♣ turn erased any chop possibilities, leaving Belikov down to a single out—a king for Broadway.

Just when it looked like Quach was about to claim a massive pot and thin down the field, the cruel K♠ landed on the river, flipping the script in dramatic fashion. A hammer blow for Quach, but pure elation for Belikov, who let out a smirk as he raked in the pot.

Tetsuya Tsujikasa raised to 100,000 and Alexander Ugay called from the cut-off. Both players were shown a flop of 7♣ J♥ 4♥

Tsujikasa bet 100,000 and Ugay made the call to show a 6♦ on the turn. Both players checked to show a 3♠ on the river. Tsujikasa bet 325,000 and Ugay just called.

Tsujikasa showed Q♣ Q♥ for an overpair while Ugay showed 3♦ 3♥ for a set of threes.

In the following hand, Ugay raised to 125,000 with Tsujikasa defending the big blind. The flop came K♠ 6♠ J♥ Tsujikasa led out for 100,000 and Ugay called.

The turn came J♦ and both players checked to reveal a free 9♠ on the river. Tsujikasa checked and Ugay bet out 125,000. Tsujikasa called.

Ugay flipped over A♠ 2♠ for the nut flush while Tsujikasa mucked.

Dylan Foster raised to 100,000 from middle position and Noppon Taengruen called on the button.

Both saw a flop come 2♥ 2♦ 7♣ and Foster continued for 175,000, to which Taengruen put in a raise to 350,000. Foster made the call after thinking for a while.

The 4♦ hit on the turn, where Foster check-called another barrel of 500,000 from Taengruen.

The 8♦ dropped on the river and it went check-check.

Foster tabled 8♣ 8♠ for a rivered full house, leaving Taengruen no choice but to muck the cards.

Taengruen has less than one million chips now.

Noppon Taengruen raised to 125,000 from early position and Alexander Ugay called on the button.

Both saw a flop of K♠ 6♠ 5♠ and checked through to see the J♠ turn, where Ugay checked to Taengruen, who bet 60,000. This was enough to make Ugay open-muck A♣ 9♣ .

Alexander Ugay made it 100,000 to go from middle position with Ejidijus Digrys and Tetsuya Tsujisaka calling from the blinds.

Three players saw a flop of 4♠ 2♠ A♠ and checked through to the 9♥ turn, where the blinds checked over and Ugay fired out 125,000. Only Digrys made the call.

The river brought a K♥ and it went check-check. Digrys tabled 6♣ 6♦ , but it was no match for the pair of tens from Tsujisaka’s T♣ T♠ on the clean board.

Short-stacked Dmitrii Belikov committed himself with a raise to 450,000 from the cutoff, leaving himself just 15,000 behind. The action got to Po-Shuo Huang in the small blind and he moved all in for around 830,000. Once the big blind folded, Belikov put in his last few chips.

Dmitrii Belikov: A♦ T♦

Ph-Shuo Huang: 9♦ 9♥

Belikov was flipping for his tournament left and took a step towards elimination after he whiffed the 3♥ 8♠ 7♥ flop. However, a T♠ on the turn propelled him into the lead, but also gave Huang an open-ended straight draw.

Fortunately for Belikov, the 7♦ river was a brick, and he managed to double up, effectively swapping stacks with Huang.

Michikiko Matsuda raised to 110,000. Action folded to Or Yaaqov Nezer on the big blind who liked his cards and announced "All-in!". Michikiko Matsuda reviewed his hand before returning it to the dealer.

In the next hand, pre-flop action folded to Sangbum Kim at the cut-off, who also liked his cards enough to declare "All-in" but found no customers, scooping up the blinds to add a bit more to his stack.

In the following hand, Shinya Matsuda raised to 100,000 on the button and Jayden Zalac defended the big blind. The dealer peeled a flop of 4♦ 8♥ 7♥

Zalac check-called the 125,000 bet of Shinya Matsuda to show a T♠ on the turn. Zalac check-called again, but this time for 350,000.

The river showed a 4♠

Zalac checked and Shinya Matsuda spent a time bank token for dramatic effect before announcing "All-in" and put his last 810,000 at risk.

Zalac counted off the chips and made the call.

Shinya Matsuda showed 7♦ 7♣ for a full house. Zalac mucked his hand, but the table requested for him to show. Zalac flipped T♦ 6♦ to show two-pair.

Tetsuya Tsujisaka made it 120,000 to go from middle position and was defended by Noppon Taengruen from the big blind.

On a flop of 9♣ 9♦ 4♦ , Taengruen check-called after Tsujisaka continued for 75,000. The 2♣ came on the turn and it went check-check.

The river brought a 3♣ . Taengruen then made a bet of 125,000, and Tsujisaka put in a raise to 425,000. Taengruen called for a showdown.

Tsujisaka flipped trips of nines with K♠ 9♥ to rack in the sizable pot as Taengruen returned his cards back to the dealer.

Chuning Tan opened to 80,000 from under the gun and Niklas Warlich defended from the big blind.

The two went to a flop of A♠ 6♣ 4♠ where Warlich check-called a bet of 65,000 from Tan to see the 5♦ land on the turn. Here, Warlich switched up his strategy and elected to lead out for 90,000, which Tan called.

A 2♥ on the river saw Warlich throw in a time bank before he bet 400,000. Tan didn't seem too confident and threw away his A♣ J♠ , and Warlich scooped in the pot.

Ivan Govorov raised to 90,000 on the button and Jie Zhang defended the big blind.

The flop showed 7♥ Q♥ 6♠ . Zhang checked and folded when Govorov bet 80,000.

In a following hand Michikiko Matsuda raised to 85,000 and Govorov three-bet to 230,000. Matsuda thought for a moment and decided to fold.

With the field down to the last 24, the Main Event held a re-draw to change up the seating. Thus, a new set of players have been assigned to the Main Event featured table for the livestream.

The cast includes: Jeoffrey Sibal, Lars Kamphues, Adalsteinn Karlsson, Niklas Warlich, Chuning Tan, Dimitri Belikov, Gemmy Quach and Po-Shuo Huang.

You can catch the delayed livestream of the Main Event featured table at the APT Official YouTube Channel

Japan’s Tetsuya Tsujisaka raised to 80,000 from the small blind and his compatriot Hiroya Iwamoto defended from the big blind.

On a flop of 8♠ 7♣ 3♥ , Tsujisaka continued with a bet of 85,000, and Iwamoto put in a raise to 250,000. Tsujisaka dropped in a call.

The 4♠ landed on the turn, where Tsujisaka checked over and Iwamoto sent another chunky barrel of 300,000. Tsujisaka snap-called to see the 6♠ drop on the river. Tsujisaka checked and Iwamoto shoved all in for 420,000, sending his countrymate into the tank.

After long deliberation, Tsjisaka eventually threw his cards into the muck with an 8♣ showing.

“Five?” asked Tsjisaka. Iwamoto replied with one smile only.

Nobuaki Sasaki and Adalsteinn Karlsson were all-in before the flop.

Adalsteinn Karlsson Q♠ Q♥

Nobuaki Sasaki T♦ T♣

Board ran K♠ J♣ A♣ 4♦ T♠

Karlsson thought he lucked out on the river when Sasaki made a set, but the table quickly pointed out that he had made a straight. It took a while to register that he won and had to take a double-take before it finally sank in. Karlsson took down the huge pot and eliminated Sasaki from the Main Event.

Following Sasaki's bust, play was stopped to re-draw seats for the final 3 tables. Karlsson was still shaking while stacking his chips.

Gemmy Quach made it 95,000 to go from under the gun with Jie Zhang and Michihiko Matsuda calling from the blinds.

Three players checked through the flop of K♠ 3♠ 5♠ to see the 4♠ fall on the turn, where Zhang checked over and Matsuda fired out 150,000. Quach folded and Zhang made the call.

The board-pairing 4♥ hit on the river. Zhang checked to Matsuda, who sent another barrel of 400,000, which successfully to make Zhang muck the hand.

Sangbum Kim made it 90,000 to go from the hijack and was defended by Nikas Warlich from the big blind.

On the flop of 5♦ 7♠ T♦ , Warlich checked it to Kim, who continued with a bet of 90,000, which Warlich put in a raise to 260,000. Kim then shoved all in for around 1,030,000 and Warlich called off his 870,000 to put himself at risk.

Niklas Warlich: A♣ A♠

Sangbum Kim: T♠ T♣

Warlich picked up the lead with a set of tens against pocket aces from Warlich. The Q♣ slid on the turn, improving nothing to both players, and Warlich was still looking for an ace to stay alive.

Asked and you should receive, the river brought help with the A♦ , giving Warlich a superior set to keep his tournament run.

Egidijus Digrys raised to 80,000 from the cut-off and Alexander Ugay three-bet to 240,000 on the button.

Both players were shown a flop of 8♦ 4♥ 9♦

Digrys check-raised the 130,000 bet of Ugay to 425,000. Ugay mateched to open a 2♦ on the turn. Digrys check-called the 800,000 bet of Ugay to show a A♥ on the river. Digrys checked. Ugay shoved all-in and Digrys made the instant call.

Ugay showed A♦ J♥ for a pair of aces.

Digrys showed 7♦ 6♦ for a flush.

Digrys took down the huge pot plus another 1,015,000 for the all-in. What a monster pot!

The action was picked up on a flop showing 8♥ 4♣ T♦ with around 500,000 chips in the middle. Both Siddharth Karia and Egidijus Digrys checked through from the blinds.

The 3♦ fell on the turn, where Karis moved all in by throwing his last one blue chip. Digrys called to put his opponent at risk.

Siddharth Karia tabled K♥ J♦

Egidijus Digrys T♥ T♠

Digrys held the lead with pocket tens and needed to fade a king or jack to bust Karia. Unfortunately for Karia, the river brought a bricky 2♠ , officially announcing his end in the tournament.

A new set of actors are at the Main Event featured table, ready to show their poker faces for the cameras and the livestream.

Among the players are Ivan Govorov, Samuel Mullur, Donovan Chu, Or Yaaqov Nazer, Dimitri Belikov, Lars Kamphues and Jeoffrey Sibal.

The slightly delayed livestream can be watched at the APT Official YouTube Channel

29 players have returned from the first break of the day to continue to fight for 9 final table slots. The remaining survivors are guaranteed a payout of PHP 257,000. Of course, the big dream is to catch the championship prize of PHP 11,069,680 (~USD 190,201).

Some of the recent eliminations include Luke Dainton, Terry Gonzaga, Anusorn Asiralertsiri, Xuan Huy Dinh, Cheli Lin, Daehyung Lee, Padipan Photha, Rishi Mehra, Geno Gendrano, Bonifacio Mondalo Jr. and Cheng Zhou.

Players are currently on a 15-minute break. After just two levels of play, the field has been reduced to 29 players.

Nobuaki Sasaki made it 60,000 to go from middle position and Sangbum Kim shoved all in for 325,000 after tanking for a long time. Sasaki called off himself at risk.

Sangbum Kim: J♥ T♥

Nobuaki Sasaki: A♦ T♦

Sasaki held the lead with an ace. A clean board swiftly dealt 8♠ 3♦ 3♠ K♠ 7♠ , securing Sasaki a double-up.

Dimitri Belikov raised to 60,000 from under the gun. Gemmy Quach re-raised to 130,000 on the button. Belikov threw in a time bank token for effect before shoving all-in. Quach made the immediate call.

Gemmy Quach A♦ A♣

Dimitri Belikov J♥ J♠

Board ran 8♦ Q♣ T♦ 4♦ 4♠

Quach was nervous at the flop, but was elated when the river came to secure her the win.

Or Yaaqov Nezer raised to 60,000 then Dimitir Belikov three-bet to 155,000. When action came back to Nezer, he shoved all-in. Belikov immediately folded, giving Nezer a decent scoop to push his stack past the million mark.

In a following hand, Rishi Mehra raised to 60,000 and Nezer defended the big blind. Both players were given a flop of 4♠ 4♣ 9♠

Nezer check-called the 45,000 bet of Mehra to open a J♠ on the turn. Nezer check-called again for 120,000 to open a Q♥ on the river. Both players checked. Nezer peeled open 9♥ 7♦ with the pair of nines giving him a decent pot to build his stack even more.

The very next hand after Lee’s elimination, Alexander Ugay just found himself in another all in pot and collected one more knockout.

Padipan Photha shoved all in from the cutoff and was snap-called by Ugay.

Padipan Photha: K♥ Q♠

Alexander Ugay: 8♥ 8♠

Ugay was ahead with his pocket eight and it was improved to a set on the flop of 8♦ 2♣ T♠ , offering Photha a backdoor straight draw.

Unfortunately for Photha, the 6♦ turn and 6♠ river couldn’t help him at all and show him the exit.

Alexander Ugay made it 75,000 to go from the small blind and Daehyung Lee three-bet to 225,000. Ugay made the call.

On the flop of 2♠ 4♥ A♠ , Ugay checked it to Lee, who continued for 150,000, only to be jammed by Ugay for around 2,800,000. Lee sanp-called off his last 550,000 chips.

Daehyung Lee: K♠ K♣

Alexander Ugay: A♣ T♣

Lee’s pocket king was not enough to face off a flopped pair of aces from Ugay. The turn showed the J♦ , leaving Lee drawing dead. The river came a board-pairing 4♦ , sealing Lee’s elimination from the table.

Samuel Mullur raised to 60,000 from under the gun and Ivan Govorov defended the big blind.

Both players were shown a flop of 7♣ 4♠ T♠

Govorov check-called the 110,000 bet of Mullur to open a K♠ on the turn. Both players checked to see a J♥ river. Action checked again.

Govorov showed his A♥ T♥ with a pair of tens good enough to take down the pot as Mullur mucked his hand.

The action was missed out, but the Vietnamese blogger Gemmy Quach enthusiastically shared her crucial hand, delivering elimination to Anusorn Asiralertsiri with us.

Quan raised from early position and was jammed by Asiralertsiri on the button, which she dropped in a call.

Anusorn Asiralertsiri: A♥ J♦

Gemmy Quach: 6♠ 6♦

In the classic coin flip, Quagn held the lead with pocket sixes. Asiralertsiri was improved into the top pair on the flop of 4♦ A♦ 6♣ , but it was not enough to face off a set of sixes from Quan. The female player’s set even further bloomed into a full house with the 5♠ turn and river 4♠ coming down.

Asiralertsiri was sent out of the tournament by the handsome Vietnamese blogger, who started Day 4 with just over six hundred thousand chips and has now crossed the one-million milestone.

Alexander Ugay raised to 60,000 when Daehyung Lee raised all-in for 625,000. No one called and Lee scooped some extra blinds to keep his stack just a little above the danger zone.

Luke Dainton raised to 50,000 and Rishi Mehra defended the big blind.

The flop came K♠ Q♦ J♥

Mehra tapped the action over to Dainton, who continued with a 70,000 bet. Mehra matched to open a 6♥ on the turn.

Mehra checked to Dainton, who put in an almost all-in 225,000, leaving just. a single 25,000 denomination chip.

Mehra respected the bet and folded to give Dainton the pot and earn some breathing space.

48 players began Day 4 and within 30 minutes of the start, there have already been 6 exits. Among those who ended their Main Event run are Yi-Feng Hsieh, Seungmook Jung, Hayama Miei, Emmanuel Segismundo, Tirajad Sirimueanphong and Javier Zarco.

Danavan Chu raised the small blind to 60,000 and was defended by Noppon Taengruen from the big blind.

Both players saw the 7♠ 4♠ 7♥ flop and checked through to see the J♣ land on the turn, where Chu fired out 55,000, which Taengruen made the call.

The river showed a 3♠ . Chu was determined to take down the pot and sent another chunky barrel of 200,000. Taengruen eventually threw his cards back to the dealer after some consideration.

Javier Zarco pushed his last 20,000 in the middle and Dimitrii Belikov raise all-in to isolate.

Javier Zarco A♠ 8♥

Dimitri Belikov K♦ 9♠

The board ran J♠ 9♣ Q♥ 8♦ 5♥

The pair nine of Belikov was enough to end Zarco's APT Main Event run.

Samuel Mullur raised to 50,000 from under the gun and Xuan Huy Dinh three-bet to 115,000 on the next seat. Mullur matched the bet to open a flop of 3♠ A♠ T♥

Mullur checked his option to Dinh, who continued with a 75,000 bet. Mullur surrendered.

A flop rolled of 8♣ 7♦ Q♣ , bringing flush and straight draw possibilities, with around 120,000 chips in the middle. Jiaqi He checked over from big blind, and Jayden Zalac led out for 40,000 from the hijack. He dropped in a call.

The Q♦ hit on the turn, where He check-called to a barrel of 180,000 from Zalac. The river showed a T♣ and it went check-check.

He immediately turned over a flush with 7♣ 3♣ , leaving Zalac no choice to muck his cards and forfeit a pot.

A delayed livestream of the Main Even featured table here on day 4 is now available for viewing at the APT Official YouTube Channel

Currently seated at the featured table under the camera and lights are Hyundong Lee of South Korea, Shinya Matsuda of Japan, Jie Zhang of Hong Kong, Michikiko Matsuda of Japan, Cheli Lin of Taiwan, Hiroya Iwamoto of Japan, Vlada Stojanovic of Serbia and Adalsteinn Karlsson of Iceland.

Jie Zhang is the table chip leader and tournament chip leader entering Day 4.

Alexander Ugay raised to 80,000 from the small blind and Daehuyng Lee peeled from the big blind.

A flop came down 8♥ 9♠ 7♥ , Ugay led out for 25,000 and Lee called to see a 2♥ fall on the turn, where both players checked through.

The river brought the board-pairing 9♦ . The two took no time and checked to showdown. Ugay tabled a flopped pair of sevens with K♠ 7♠ to collect the pot as Lee tossed his cards into the muck.

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has long been a beacon for poker enthusiasts across Asia, and its commitment to inclusivity has never been more evident than in the recent APT Manila Classic 2025. This year's series not only showcased top-tier poker talent but also marked a significant milestone in promoting women's participation in the game.

A Quantum Leap in Women's Events

In a groundbreaking move, the APT Manila Classic 2025 featured a women’s event every single day of the 10-day festival, a first in the tour's history. This initiative was headlined by the brand-new APT Women's Championship, underscoring the tour's dedication to fostering a welcoming environment for female players.

APT’s Matthew Ooi emphasized the growth of women’s poker in Asia in the recent Poker Queens feature, stating, "Make no mistake; the women’s game is growing in Asia. A♠ the biggest poker tour in Asia, the APT is seeing more and more women taking to the felt at every tour stop."

The numbers back this up. In 2024, 560 female players competed in APT events, making up 8.6% of the total field, nearly double the industry average of around 4%. With daily women’s tournaments now a core part of the schedule, that number is expected to rise even further.

Women Making Waves in the Main Event

Women didn’t just shine in the exclusive ladies' events—they made deep runs in the APT Manila Classic 2025 Main Event as well. Several female players navigated through a massive field, proving their skills on poker’s biggest stage.

Hua-Wei Lin, a Natural8 Ambassador, led the charge for much of the tournament before ultimately finishing 84th, earning a well-deserved cash. Nattamon Kaweesorasak (146th), Wipawadee Kanaraksapong (165th), Seina Asagiri (139th), and Cai Xin Wong (156th) also put up strong performances but fell short of making it deeper into the event.

Now, only Ngoc Huyen Quach, better known as “Gemmy”, and Hayama Miei aka Miyoung Cho remain in the hunt, making them the last two women standing in the Main Event. APT had a chance to catch up with Gemmy after Day 3 ended, where she described her deep run as “magical,” as she had never come this far in a tournament before. Having played only her second-ever Main Event, she expressed her excitement about the challenge ahead.

“I never thought I could come this far,” she admitted, adding that she was thrilled to be competing at this level. “I come here, you know, I win the event [Beat The Pros], and I come to this event by the ticket,” she shared, highlighting her journey to the Main Event by winning the Beat The Pros tournament earlier in the series.

She also spoke about the importance of confidence for women entering poker, advising, “Just take a deep breath, observe your opponents, and don’t be intimidated by their past results. Everyone has a chance.” She emphasized staying focused and believing in oneself as key factors in deep tournament runs.

Quach’s deep run is even more impressive considering how she earned her spot in the Main Event—by taking down the Beat The Pros tournament earlier in the series – you can watch her in action via the Beat The Pros live stream on the official APT YouTube Channel.

Her ability to navigate tough fields has already been proven, and with a $50,000 bonus prize awaiting her if she becomes the Main Event champion, she remains highly motivated to push forward and achieve the biggest milestone of her poker career.

“If I become the Main Event champion, I will get the bonus for $50,000 USD, and that can help pay for the trophy—it’s very heavy!” she joked.

Celebrating Success Stories

Beyond the Main Event, the rise of women in poker was evident throughout the entire series. Saori Tokunaga from Japan took down a Women’s Event at APT Manila 2024, claiming PHP 140,091 (~$2,473), while the Philippines' Ma Arlene Rivera won another Women’s Event, pocketing PHP 225,168 (~$3,974).

In another historic moment for the APT, the first-ever APT Women's Championship took place, showcasing the immense talent in the field. The event culminated in a thrilling comeback victory for Yotaka Phutiya, who staged an unbelievable recovery from less than one big blind to claim her first APT title.

Phutiya outlasted a 44-entry field (31 unique players), securing the largest cash of her career with PHP 387,480 (~USD 6,587). Her resilience was even more impressive considering she had less than one year of poker experience before entering the Women's Championship.

The Philippines’ Kristine Flores finished runner-up, earning PHP 268,000 (~USD 4,556), while Thailand’s Wisinee Tanpichai rounded out the podium with a third-place finish for PHP 171,000 (~USD 2,907).

Another notable performance came from Linda Nguyen, who had already won one of the Women’s Events earlier in the series and added another deep run to her resume by finishing fifth.

Numbers Reflecting Growth

The growth of women’s participation in poker is evident in the numbers, with 94 female players competing in the APT Manila Classic 2025 so far, making up 8.4% of the total player pool. These women have accounted for 447 tournament entries, showing a strong presence across multiple events.

Comparatively, throughout all APT festivals in 2024, a total of 560 women took part, representing 8.6% of the overall field with 3,750 total tournament entries. While the percentage remains consistent, the increase in dedicated women’s events in 2025 suggests a growing engagement, and with more opportunities to play, participation is expected to rise even further in the future.

A Bright Future Ahead

The rise of women in poker is no longer just a trend—it’s a movement. With more tournaments, more opportunities, and more standout performances, the APT is setting the standard for inclusivity in the industry.

And as Gemmy and Miei fight on as the last two women standing in the Main Event, they carry the torch for all the women proving that they belong at the highest levels of the game. Whether they make a historic final table run or not, one thing is clear—women’s poker in Asia is stronger than ever, and it’s only getting bigger.

Day 4 of the APT Manila Classic 2025 Main Event is set to get under way at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria with the last 48 players playing down to a final table of 9. The returning 48 players are guaranteed a payout of PHP 190,000 from the PHP 62,311,680 ( ~USD 1,064,000) prize pool. Of course, the focus is on the champion's prize of PHP 11,069,680 ( ~USD 190,201) and the prestigious APT Lion trophy.

Hong Kong's Jie Zhang returns to Day 4 as the chip leader with 3,930,000 after a dominant performance in yesterday's Day 3 session. Zhang was responsible for a handful of eliminations that saw him build his stack to the top of the leaderboard. Russia's Alexander Ugay is at a distant second place with 2,335,000 chips. WSOP bracelet winner Samuel Mullur takes the third spot with 2,065,000. So far, only those three have surpassed the 2 Million mark and look to maintain their standing as Day 4 plays to the final table.

APT history is set to be made with a new champion waiting to be crowned. Day 3 saw the elimination of former APT Main Event champions Yohn Paredes, Mike Takayama and Moses Saquing, leaving the door open for a new face as the next champion.

Other notable players returning to Day 4 include the likes of Chuning Tan of China, Ivan Govorov of Russia, Serbia's Vlada Stojanovic, Lars Kamphues of Germany and Terry Gonzaga of the Philippines. Gemmy Quach of Vietnam and Hayama Miei of Japan are the last two women still in contention.

The livestream of the Main Event featured table can also be seen through the APT Official YouTube Channel



Good luck to all the players!