Flight C of the PHP60,000 APT Manila Classic 2025 Main Event is officially in the books after ten intense levels of play. The flight drew 266 entries (218 unique), with 119 players securing their spot in Day 2. Kwonhwan Mun from South Korea bagged an impressive 288,200 chips, making him the current chip leader.

With Flight D ongoing and late registration open until the start of Day 2, the total number of entries—including qualifiers—has already reached 956 and is expected to climb even higher.

Joining Mun at the top are three former APT Main Event champions: Henrik Tollefsen (202,200), Mike Takayama (173,600), and Moses Saquing (157,900). Takayama made waves when he entered late into the tournament yet managed to amass a massive chip stack in just two hands. With his vast experience, he and the other champions are strong contenders to claim yet another APT Lion Trophy.

Kunal Patni, fresh off his Mystery Bounty victory over the weekend, also secured his Day 2 spot with 184,000 chips. Other notable players moving forward include John Costiniano (80,600), William Teoh (67,300), Richard Marquez (64,900), and John Matsuda (48,800).

With one final flight to go, all eyes are on Flight D to see who else will join the field on Day 2 of the Main Event.

A full APT Main Event Flight C Survivor List can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Stay tuned for live updates on Flight D of the Main Event which is currently ongoing. Registration remains open until 12:10 AM local time and will have six 30-minute levels and four 45-minute levels of play.

Flight C of the APT Main Event has come to an end with the survivors now bagging up their chips for tomorrow's Day 2.

A full write-up of the day's action will follow shortly.

With the tournament down to the final seven hands, players were looking to double up or go broke, hoping to secure a spot in Day 2 or take one last shot by re-entering the final flight of Day 1.

Such was the case at Table #30, where action was picked up on a completed board, with Kim Enriquez at risk in an all-in showdown against Jeffrey Pamplona.

Kim Enriquez: Q♥ 9♥

Jeffrey Pamplona: 8♥ T♦

Board: 6♥ 5♣ 2♥ T♠ 5♥

Both players hit a flush on the river, but Enriquez held the superior hand, securing a crucial double-up at the expense of Pamplona's stack.

Wutikrai Phraikhieo raised to 3,000 from late position and got himself three callers: Jimin Lim on the button, Edgar Asehan and Nicola Montalbano from the blinds.

Four players checked through the flop of A♦ K♣ K♦ to see the turn show a K♥ . Asehan checked to Montalbano, who led out for 2,500, which Phraikhieo put in a raise to 7,000. Only Montalbano made the call.

The 4♥ fell on the river, where both players checked to a free showdown. Montalbano tabled invincible quads with K♠ T♦ to overcome a full house from Phraikhieo’s A♣ 7♣ .

Action was picked up with Gregory Liow deep in the tank over a completed board of Q♣ 6♣ 3♠ K♦ 9♠ , carefully considering his options. After a long pause, he finally announced all-in, putting his tournament life on the line. Hakamada Eisuke, the only remaining player in the hand, quickly made the call.

Gregory Liow: A♣ 7♣

Hakamada Eisuke: Q♦ J♣

Eisuke had connected with the flop, making a pair, while Liow, unfortunately, was left with a busted flush draw. With no way to recover, Liow hit the rails in the last level of the day.

Action was picked up with Vineet Kumar at risk on the button, facing off against Phurirat Phaosathianphan in the big blind in an all-in showdown.

Vineet Kumar: A♥ Q♥

Phurirat Phaosathianphan: A♦ 8♦

Initially dominating Phaosathianphan, the tides shifted when the flop revealed A♣ 2♠ 8♣ , giving Phaosathianphan a two-pair. Kumar held his breath, hoping for a reversal of fortune on the following streets.

The turn 7♠ brought no help, and the river 8♠ sealed Kumar’s fate, giving Phaosathianphan a full house and eliminating Kumar from the tournament.

Kim Enriquez raised to 3,000 from the hijack and received three callers: Thanapipat Peesanough on the button, Kwonhwan Mun and Anant Purohit from the blinds.

Four players read a flop of A♦ 8♠ 8♦ , and the blinds checked to Enriquez, who continued for 4,400, which only Mun dropped in a call to see the Q♣ fall on the turn. The action went check-check.

The 7♥ landed on the river, where Mun fired out 25,000. After tanking for a long time, Enriquez still couldn't make up his mind. Eventually, Mun had to call the floor for the time. Another one minute passed, Enriquez finally made the call. Mun revealed an unbeatable full house with 8♣ 7♠ , leaving Enriquez no choice but to forfeit the pot and muck his cards.

William Teoh made it 2,800 to go from under the gun and received three callers: Ish Agarwal from the hijack, Deepak Vansil on the button and Joseph Magnotti from the big blind.

A flop rolled off T♣ 6♠ 7♠ , and Magnotti checked it to Teoh, who made a continuation-bet of 5,500. Both the hijack and the button snap-folded. Magnotti shoved all in for 24,500, and Teoh dropped in ac all to put his opponent at risk.

Joseph Magnotti: Q♠ 8♠

William Teoh: 8♥ 7♥

Teoh picked up the lead for pairing a seven on the flop and Magnotti received straight and flush draw. The J♦ fell on the turn, and Magnotti still had many outs to win the pot. Unfortunately for Magnotti, the river brought the bricky 5♣ , sealing his elimination and shipping the sizable pot.

The action was picked up on the turn with a board showing 3♠ 6♦ K♦ T♥ and around 17,000 chips in the middle. Both Hakamada Eisuke from under the gun and Joonhee Yea and Joonhee Yea on the button checked through,

The 6♠ fell on the river, and the action went check-check again. Eisuke tabled pocket eights for two pair and it was enough to make Yea muck his hand.

Mike Takayama opened for 2,600 from middle position and was quickly met with a three-bet to 9,000 by Kwonhwan Mun in the cutoff. Takayama made the call, and they went to the flop.

The dealer spread 3♥ 9♥ K♦ flop, and Takayama check-raised to 16,500 after Mun continued for 6,000. Not backing down, Mun responded with a three-bet to 37,000, only to be met with an all-in shove from Takayama for his tournament life. Mun snap-called, and the cards were revealed:

Mike Takayama: K♠ J♣

Kwonhwan Mun: A♦ K♣

Both players paired the board, but Mun held the better kicker. However, the J♥ turn gave Takayama two pair, flipping the advantage in his favor. Mun still had outs, but the Q♣ river didn’t bring any help.

With that, Mun’s stack was crippled to about 20 big blinds, while Takayama secured a crucial double-up.

The action was picked up with Li Hsu all-in and at risk against Mike Takayama.

Li Hsu: J♣ T♠

Mike Takayama: Q♦ J♦

Although Hsu was crushed preflop, he spiked a pair on the T♣ 9♣ 4♥ flop, momentarily taking the lead. However, Takayama had an straight draw, giving him plenty of outs to send Hsu home

The 8♣ turn completed Takayama’s straight, but it also gave Hsu a flush draw, keeping his hopes alive for a potential comeback. Unfortunately for Hsu, the 3♥ river was a blank, failing to improve his hand.

With that, Hsu was eliminated, while Takayama raked in a massive pot and continued building his stack.

Yusuke Arima raised to 2,500 with Jessie Leonarez and Tanapatr Phanisharn calling from the blinds.

Three players saw the flop come 3♣ 7♦ 3♥ . Leonarez was first to act in the small blind, and decided to go all in for his last 2,000

With Leonarez all-in, the 6♥ turn and T♥ river checked were checked down.

Leonarez tabled K♣ Q♠ for just king-high, Arima turned over 2 2 for two pair, and Phanishsarn flipped up A 5 for ace-high. Arima took down the pot, and Leonarez left the table.

Oliver Serrie opened 1,200 from early position, and Katsuyiki Kondo shoved all in for his last 6,800 from the hijack, which Kiyoun Kim dropped in a call from the cutoff. Serrie then moved all in for around 130,000 and encouraged Kim to made the call. After few seconds, Kim decided to call off his last 26,000 chips.

Katsuyuki Kondo: K♣ J♣

Oliver Serrie: A♦ K♦

Kiyoung Kim: Q♦ J♦

Serrie dominated the lead on the flop of Q♣ 7♣ A♠ , offering him a high chance to collect a double elimination. When all was said and done, the clean runout came 5♣ 8♦ , shipping the pot to Serrie and sending two players out of the table.

Ricardas Lukauskas raised to 7,000 from the small blind and Winson Ho shoved all in for 15,500 from the big blind. Lukauskas snap-called.

Ricardas Lukauskas: K♦ J♣

Winson Ho: 8♠ 8♣

It was a classic coin flip, and Ho picked up the lead with pocket eight. However, the dealer quickly sent the bad news to Ho as the flop dealt K♠ 7♣ A♠ , improving Lukauskas to a pair of kings. The clean runout filled out 9♣ J♥ , showing Ho the way out.

Action was picked up with Anant Purohit all-in from the small blind for his tournament life, facing a call from Kwonhwan Mun on the button.

Anant Purohit: K♠ 9♣

Kwonhwan Mun: A♣ T♦

The dealer spread the 8♣ 8♥ Q♠ flop, keeping Mun in the lead with ace-high. However, the K♥ turn changed everything, giving Purohit a crucial pair, making a hue smile cross his face. Mun still had outs and was hoping to hit, but the 7♠ river didn’t improve his hand.

With that, Purohit secured the double-up and stayed alive in the tournament, happily scooping the pot.

Gedong Li opened to 2,000 under the gun and found a caller in Ricardas Lukauskas from the cutoff. However, Mark Dela Cruz had other plans, three-betting to 7,000 from the big blind.

Not backing down, Li responded with a four-bet to 17,000, forcing Lukauskas to fold. Dela Cruz moved all-in, and Li, at risk, snap-called, only for both players to reveal the exact same hand.

Gidong Li: A♥ K♦

Mark Dela Cruz: A♦ K♠

With no drama left, the dealer completed the 9♣ 7♠ 3♣ 6♣ 2♣ board, and the pot was chopped between the two players. Lukauskas, however, couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret, believing he had missed out on a chance to scoop a massive pot.

On a flop of A♣ 5♦ 6♦ , Kunal Patni checked from the big blind to Raiden Kan from under the gun, who sent a bet of 2,500. Edward Hatzakortzian on the button and Patni made the call.

The 8♦ fell on the turn, where Patni fired out 5,000 and Kan folded. Hatzakortzian the shoved all in. Patni snap-called.

Edward Hatzakortzian: A♥ 3♦

Kunal Patni: A♦ 7♠

Both players flopped an ace and received a straight draw, but Patni held the lead with a superior kicker. The dealer soon sent a board-pairing A♠ on the river, sealing Hatzakortzian’s elimination from the field.

Edward Hatzakortzian limped in from under the gun and Sergei Korzhenko three-bet to 3,500 from the hijack. Jianxian Ye from the big blind and Hatzakortzian made the call.

On the flop of J♠ 8♥ J♦ , Ye and Hatzakkortzian checked it to Korzhenko, who continued with a bet of 5,000. Only Ye dropped in a call.

The Q♠ hit on the turn and it went check-check. The 5♥ landed on the river, where Ye fired out 10,000, making Korzhenko snap-fold.

Action was picked up with Junghyun An all-in from the big blind for just over 3,000. Yusuke Arima was the player trying to send him to the rail

Junghyun An: 6♥ 7♠

Yusuke Arima: A♣ J♠

The flop ran out, keeping Arima in the lead with his overcards. However, the 6♣ turn delivered exactly what An needed—a crucial pair, bringing a smile to his face as his tournament life looked more secure. The 9♣ river did not improve Arima’s hand, allowing An to scoop the pot and stay in the game, hopeful that his short stack run would continue.

Players are on a 15-minute break.

Tetsuya Tsujisaka raised to 1,800 from the button and was quickly called by Jihwan Oh in the small blind. Aam Shriki, in the big blind responded with a squeeze to 6,100, forcing Tsujisaka to fold. Oh, however, made the call from out of position.

After the dealer fanned out a flop of K♠ 6♥ 3♠ , Oh checked, prompting Shriki to fire a continuation-bet of 3,000. Oh called, eager to see another card.

When the turn Q♥ arrived, Oh checked again and Shriki overbet the pot with a massive 21,000 wager. Oh, unable to continue, quickly folded, allowing Shriki to scoop the pot without a showdown.

Phuritat Phaosathianphan made it 1,600 to go from under the gun and received three callers. Randolph Acacio from the hijack, Neol Araniel on the cutoff, and Dmitrii Urban from the big blind.

Four players read the flop of 8♥ A♦ K♦ and checked through to see the A♥ turn, where Urban and Phaosathianphan checked to Acacio, who fired 3,000. Neol and Dmitrii folded, but Phaosathianphan put in a raise to 12,000, which Acacio dropped in a call.

The river carried out A♠ . Phaosathianphan shoved all in for 30,000 and Acacio snap-called. After Phaosathianphan tabled A 8 for quads to win the pot, Acacio flipped over 8 8 for a full house.

The J♦ 5♠ 4♦ flop was checked by Tada, allowing Sera to take the lead with a 1,500 bet. Tada opted to continue and made the call.

Both players checked the 4♥ turn, keeping the pot controlled. However, on the 2♥ river, Tada took the initiative, firing 6,000 into the middle. Sera, after a brief pause, opted for a flat call.

Sera revealed J♥ T♣ , showing top pair from the flop. Tada shook his head and tabled Q♦ T♠ face-up before mucking, conceding the pot.

A flop showed 3♥ 7♠ 4♦ with around 9,000 chips in the middle. Ionut Dragomir led out for 3,500 from under the gun and Yayun Liu put in a raise to 7,000. After the button and the big blind folded, Dragomir shoved all in. Liu snap-called to put Dragomir at risk.

Ionut Dragomir: Q♦ Q♠

Yayun Liu: K♣ K♠

Liu's Cowboys had Dragomir's Ladies dominated. The rest of the board ranout J♥ 2♦ , sending Dragomir out of the door, as Liu’s cowboys successfully lassoed him

Steven Smart raised to 1,600 from late position and received three callers: Junghyun An from the hijack, Geoffrey Tomes from the small blind, and Jessie Leonarez from the big blind.

Four players saw a flop come 7♣ J♣ 9♠ , and the action checked around to An. He bet 3,200, which was only called by Leonarez.

When the T♥ came on the turn, Leonarez check-called a bet of 6,000 from An.

The river brought the 6♥, and it went check-check. Leonarez showed a J♣ first and then looked over at An’s hand, which was a straight with T♥ 8♥ , leaving Leonarez to muck his other card and forfeit the pot to An.

Czardy Rivera opened for 1,300 from middle position and got called by Jun park in late position, and Jihwan Oh from the button. Tanawit U-snit queezed it up to 7,000 out of the big blind, and only Park called.

Heads-up to a flop of 9♣ 6♠ 5♣ , where U-Snit continued with a bet of 5,500. Park carved out the call.

On the 7♦ turn U-Snit slowed down with a check. Park bet 7,000 and U-Snit decided to see the last card and called.

The river produced a K♦ and U-Snit checked once more. Park didn’t hesitate to jam all in for 23,400. U-Snit, after some thought, put in the chips. Park tabled 5♥ 4♥ for bottom pair, and U-Snit showed A♣ K♥ for a pair of kings. U-Snit scooped the pot as Park hit the rails.

Tsujisaka who was on the table couldn’t help but comment, “Bad Call!” to which U-Snit replied, “I thought he had ace-queen.”

Czardy Rivera opened for 1,300 and got called by Jihwan Oh from the small blind. Topi Palenius, who had less than 4,000 chips remaining in his stack, jammed all in from the big blind. Rivera easily called, while Oh got out of the way.

Topi Palenius: K♠ 8♦

Czardy Rivera: A♣ Q♥

Palenius couldn’t help but feel a bit disheartened with a sigh of resignation after seeing Rivera’s cards but he calmly waited for the board to be dealt. The dealer put out a flop of T♥ 2♦ 9♠ keeping Rivera’s lead with Ace-high. The turn 7♣ gave Palenius more outs and bit of hope of surviving the hand. The river 8♠ evoked a small “Yay!” from Palenius as he made a pair of eights to stay in the Main Event.

The board showed A♥ 7♦ T♣ with around 7,000 chips in the middle. Kenneth Anthony bet 2,500 from the hijack and Masayuki Murata called on the button.

Both players saw a K♦ land on the river, where Anthony sent another bet of 8,000. Murata folded and Anthony pulled in the pot.

Andrei Vavilonskii made it 1,300 to go from under the gun and received three callers in Christian Lavares from the hijack, Masayuki Murata in the cutoff, and San Woo Chun out of the big blind.

Four-ways to flop of T♦ 6♦ 9♠ that checked through for the K♥ to appear on the turn. Chun checked again, and Vavilonskii fired out 3,200. Lavares then put in a raise to 7,500, which only got called by Vavilonskii.

The river brought a 7♥ . Vavilonskii checked it to Lavares, and he fired a bet of 25,500. Vavilonskii quickly folded, surrendering the pot to Lavares.

Luke Dainton made it 1,400 to go from early position and received two callers: Minwoong Jeong from the cutoff and Jae Geun Lim from the small blind.

Three players checked through the flop of 4♠ J♥ 3♠ to see an A♥ fall on the turn, where Lim checked to Dainton, who sent a bet of 2,500. Jeon then put in a raise to 12,500, and only Dainton dropped in a call.

The river revealed a board-pairing A♠ and it went check-check. Dainton showed K♣ Q♣ for king-high, and this was enough to make Jeong muck the hand.

Gedong Li opened to 1,000 and was three-bet by Jimin Lee on the button to 3,500. Nattawat Soontanont decided to four-bet jam for his tournament life out of the small blind. The initial raiser Li folded, while Lee called.

Nattawat Soontanont: J♥ J♦

Jimin Lee: A♠ A♦

Soontanont prayed he could crack Lee’s aces as he nervously waited for the deal. Flop came down 7♥ 4♣ 6♥ with no jacks to upset Lee’s lead. The 9♣ turn and 5♠ river dashed Soontanont’s hopes to stay in the tournament. Soontanont left the table as Lee scooped the pot.

With around 9,000 in the middle on a flop of 8♥ 6♣ J♥ , Kim Enriquez bet 6,000 from the cutoff, only to be immediately raised to 15,000 by Hua Han on the button. Kwonhwan Mun and Dmitri Urban folded, before Enriquez moved all in for his remaining chips. Han quickly called.

Kim Enriquez: A♠ J♣

Hua Han: K♥ T♥

Enriquez was ahead with top pair, while Han was chasing a flush. The turn 3♠ and river Q♦ failed to improve Han, securing a huge double-up for Enriquez as the dealer pushed the pot his way.

Jae Yi Chang raised to 1,200 from under the gun and Hsuan-Cheng Lai three-bet to 4,500 from the hijack. Chang dropped in a call.

The flop rolled off J♦ 3♠ 5♠ , bringing flush and straight draw possibilities. Both players checked through to see the 6♠ fall on the turn. It went check-check again. The J♣ hit on the river. The two kept the pace and checked to a free showdown. While Chang tabled A♥ K♠ , Lai also revealed A♣ K♣ , making it a chop hand.

The action was picked up on the turn with a board running out 9♣ Q♦ 6♠ A♠ and 17,700 chips in the middle. Mun Cheong checked from the big blind to Vladimir Egorov on the button, who then fired out 10,000. Cheong called.

The river showed a J♦ and it went check-check. Cheong tabled a flopped pair of nines with K♠ 9♠ , and failed to overcome a higher pair of jacks from Egorov’s K♦ J♥ .

Kim Enriquez raised to 1,000 from the cutoff and Randolph Acacio made the call from the small blind.

A flop ran out A♣ T♦ 7♦ , and Acacio Johnstone checked it to Enriquez , who continued for 1,200. Acacio called to see a Q♦ fall on the turn, where both checked through.

The river carried out 8♦ . Acacio check-called after Enriquez bet 1,500. After Acacio tabled a rivered flush with A♦ 6♥ , Enriquez sent his cards into the muck.

Players are having the first 15-minute break of the day.

Won You opened to 1,100 from middle postition and faced an all in shove for 22,000 from Tashi Harrower in the big blind. After a brief moment of thought, You made the call.

Tashi Harrower: A♠ K♥

Won You: J♥ J♦

It was a classic flip of pocket jacks versus Big Slick. The dealer spread the 2♥ 2♠ 5♠ flop, keeping You ahead while Harrower remained hopeful for his overcards to connect with two streets to come. His wish was granted when the A♦ landed on the turn, propelling him into the lead. The :10s: river sealed Harrower's double-up at the expense of You.

The flop filled out 9♠ 5♥ 7♦ with around 2,000 chips in the pot. All three players Luke Dainton from the small blind, Wisinee Tanpichai from the big blind, and Rishi Mirpuri from under the gun checked through.

The 3♦ hit on the turn, where Dainton bet 1,500 and only Tanpichai made the call to see the 2♥ river. Dainton sent a barrel of 3,000 and Tanpichai called.

Tanpichai showed a flopped pair of nines with A♥ 9♥ , but it wasn’t match for the pocket jacks from Dainton.

On a flop of K♦ 9♦ Q♥ , three players checked, leaving the action to Tetsuya Tsujisaka in the cutoff, who fired a 2,000 bet. Hao Huang, on the button, folded, while Oliver Serrie, in the small blind, made the call. Tanawat U-Snit, in the big blind, decided to let his hand go.

The turn brought the K♣ , and the river 2♠ , with both players opting to check it down to a showdown. Tsujisaka tabled Q♠ 6♠ , revealing a two-pair, while Serrie showed T♣ 9♣ , having flopped a pair. With U-Snit already out of the hand, Tsujisaka raked in the pot.

Immediately after that win, though still below the starting stack, Tsujisaka opened to 800. U-Snit once again called, but this time, Melchor Vasquez, now in the big blind, decided to turn up the heat with a three-bet to 3,500. Tsujisaka wasted no time and shoved all-in for around 26,000, forcing both opponents to fold and securing another pot.

Ben Loo made it 900 to go from the hijack and received two callers: Lebart Ecarma on the button and Linda Nguyen from the big blind.

The flop came 5♥ T♦ J♣ , and the action checked to Loo, who continued for 1,800. Only Nguyen called to see a turn.

The T♠ landed on the turn and the action went check-check for the J♥ to appear on the river. Nguyen checked, and Loo fired out 6,000, which forced Nguyen to toss her cards into the muck.

A flop of Q♠ 2♦ 6♥ had hit the baize with around 5,000 chips in the middle. Raphael Bulaong checked from the big blind to Hua Han in the hijack, who fired 1,500. Bulaong called.

The 4♠ fell on the turn, where Bulaong checked to Han again, who sent 3,000, which her opponent put in a raise to 7,700. Han then put a blue pile and re-raised 40,000. However, this didn’t deter Bulaong from calling off his remaining 20,600 chips.

Raphael Bulaong: Q♣ 4♦

Hua Han: Q♥ 9♣

Bulaong had taken the lead with a turned two pair and looked likely to scoop the huge pot. However, the river 9♠ improved Han to a superior two pair, sending Bulaong to the rail.

Tsz Yip opened to 800 and found a caller in Hyundong Lee from the hijack. Xin Lim, on the button, ramped up the action with a three-bet to 3,000. Yip made the call, while Lee opted to step aside.

The dealer fanned the flop J♦ 7♦ Q♠ , and after a check from Yip, Lim wasted no time firing a 2,500 continuation bet. The pressure was enough to force Yip to fold, as Lim scooped the pot without a showdown.

Tetsuya Tsujisaka raised to 700 from the hijack and received three callers: Mac Hoa called from the cutoff, Olivier Serrie and Tanawat U-Snit from the blinds.

Four players read a flop of 8♦ T♣ 9♥ , and the blinds checked over. Tsujisaka made a continuation-bet of 2,800. Only Serrie made the call. The A♠ hit on the turn, and it went check-check.

The 4♠ landed on the river, where both players checked to a free showdown. After Tsujisaka revealed Q♦ J♠ for flopped a straight, Serrie threw his cards back to the dealer.

Action was picked up with Zhifan Ye with 6,200 chips in front of him after Jungkyu Lee raised to 2,200 from the big blind. With the decision back on him, Lee took his time before electing to re-raise to 18,200. Ye wasted no time and moved all-in for his tournament life, prompting an instant call from Lee.

Zhifan Ye: Q♣ Q♦

Jungkyu Lee: A♥ A♣

The dealer fanned the flop 2♠ 3♥ Q♠ , giving Ye a set and leaving Lee groaning in frustration. Still holding onto hope, Lee watched as the 9♥ landed on the turn, followed by the 7♠ on the river—sealing the massive pot for Ye and dashing Lee’s chances of a comeback.

A♠ the APT Manila Classic 2025 Main Event heats up, let’s take a look back at one of the most unforgettable performances in APT Manila history.

The 2024 APT Manila Main Event shattered records with 1,081 entries, making it the largest APT Main Event ever held in the Philippines. The tournament also featured the biggest guarantee in Philippines' poker history — a massive PHP 100,000,000 (~$1.7 million) prize pool.

Emerging victorious was Daniel Lee from the United States, who claimed the PHP 15,060,000 (~$256,020) first-place prize after an incredible final table comeback. Lee started the day as the chip leader, but at one point, found himself down to just eight big blinds before mounting a stunning comeback. He ultimately defeated South Africa's Edgar Antezana in a heads-up battle after the two agreed to adjust the payouts.

"It feels so surreal," Lee said in his post-match interview. The former San Francisco-based software engineer, who left his job to pursue poker full-time, admitted he got a little lucky, but his determination and strategic play ultimately led him to victory.

"I love the game, I have a deep passion for it. This deep run makes it all worth it!" Lee shared, reflecting on his rapid rise in poker after less than a year as a full-time player.

The final table saw its fair share of dramatic moments, with Lee fighting his way back from near elimination. Ferdinand Lu, John Costiniano, and Edgar Antezana all had their moments, but in the end, it was Lee’s resilience and strategic execution that secured the title.

With APT Manila 2025 now in full swing, will we see another historic Main Event this year? Stay tuned as we bring you all the action live!

Kunal Patni made it 600 to go on the button, and Rahul Darak three-bet to 2,100 from the small blind. Patni called to see a flop.

The flop came down T♠ Q♦ 3♦ , and Darak slid out a continuation-bet of 1,800. Patni made the call.

The dealer put out the 9♣ on the turn and the action went check-check to see the 3♣ drop on the river. Both players were happy to check again and Darak took down the pot with A♠ Q♣ for a flopped pair of queens.

With the board showing 5♥ J♣ J♦ 4♣ J♥ and a pot of around 20,000, Oliver Serrie fired a bet of 6,000 from the small blind. Action was on Mac Thi Hoa, who was deep in thought with only 9,000 chips remaining.

After a long contemplation, she decided to call for the majority of her stack. Serrie table Q♥ Q♣ for a rivered boat. Hoa frustratingly mucked her hand as Serrie scooped the pot.

Kenneth Anthony made it 500 to go on the button and received two callers in Dale Townsend from the small blind, and Dale Johnstone out of the big blind.

The three player saw a monotone flop of 5♥ Q♥ 3♥ fall, which they all checked to see the 6♠ hit the turn. Townsend checked it to Johnstone, who fired 1,200. Anthony called, but Townsend folded.

The river brought the 7♣ . Johnstone checked this time and Anthony sent out a bet of 5,000. This didn’t deter Johnstone though, as he made the call. Anthony showed a rivered straight with 5♦ 4♣ , leaving Johnstone no choice but to toss his cards into the muck.

A flop of 6♠ 7♥ 5♠ came down with around 2,500 chips in the middle. Maurillo Bulauitan checked from the small blind, and Kaito Hashimoto led out for 500 from the hijack, only to be met with a raise to 2,500 from Yusuke Arima in the cutoff. Only Hashimoto called.

The board-pairing 6♠ hit the turn, and it went check-check. The river brought the 4♠ , and Hashimoto fired 5,000 into the middle, which was enough to get Arima to fold his hand.

Three players saw a flop of A♣ K♠ 2♦ , which checked through. When the J♦ hit the turn, the action was checked to Liangli Xu in cutoff, who bet 600. Vineet Kumar folded out of the small blind, but Xin Lim decided to call and see one more card.

On the 8♠ river, Lim checked, and Xu fired another bet. Lim opted to call, and the dealer requested Xu to show his hand. After a brief hesitation, Xu chose to muck. Lim followed suit, and the dealer pushed the pot in Lim’s direction without having to reaveal his cards.

Hakamada Eisuke opened 600 from the hijack and Jimin Lee defended from the big blind.

On the A♦ 3♣ K♣ flop, Lee checked to Eisuke, who continued with a bet of 1,500. Lee dropped in a call to see the 2♣ turn, where Lee checked over again. Eisuke then fired out 4,000. Lee stuck around.

The river came a T♥ . Lee checked and Eisuke sent a barrel of 15,000, which Lee shoved all in. Eisuke snap-called off his remaining chips. Lee quickly flipped pocket deuces, and it was no match for a Broadway straight from Eisuke’s Q♦ J♠ , which earned him a sizable pot and left Lee on the fumes with only 400 chips on hand.

Xin Ann Lim opened to 300 from under the gun and received two callers in Rahul Darak on the button and Vineet Kumar from the big blind.

The flop came down K♠ 9♦ 5♣ , and all three players checked. The turn brought the Q♥ , and once again it was checked around.

The T♣ peeled off on the river. Kumar and Lim checked to Darak, who changed his strategy and fired out 900. Darak's bet prompted two folds from his opponent and he pulled the pot.

Maurillo Bulauitan opened to 300 and was met with a three-bet from Yusuke Arima in the big blind. Bulauitan called.

The dealer fanned a 9♣ 5♠ 7♠ flop and Arima continued the aggression with a bet of 800. Bulauitan carved out the call.

The Q♦ landed on the turn, prompting Arima to fire again, this time for 1,200. Bulauitan, seemingly unfazed, called to see the river.

When the 6♠ completed the board, both players opted to check. Arima tabled Q♠ Q♣ , for an overpair to take down the pot.

There were around 800 chips in the pot when the flop came 4♥ A♥ J♥ . Kohei Suzuki checked from the small blind, and Hao Yuan Huang checked behind in the hijack.

The 8♦ hit on the turn, and Suzuki checked again. Huang bet 300, and Suzuki snap-called to see the 7♥ on the river, where the action went check-check.

Suzuki turned over T♦ 9♦ for the winning hand with a straight, as Huang showed 7♣ 6♦ for just a pair of sevens.

A flop came down 3♠ 5♥ T♠ with around 4,000 chips in the middle. Minwoong Jeong checked from the small blind, and Hua Han led out for 1,100 from the hijack. Reddy Karthikr made the call from the cutoff, and Jeong stuck around as well.

The turn revealed the A♦ and Jeong checked it to Han, who fired out 3,000. Karthikr dropped in a call, but Jeong tossed her cards into the muck.

Heads-up to the T♣ river where Han sent out a third barrel of 5,000. Karthikr snap-called, and was shown A♥ 9♣ by Han for a turned pair of aces. It was good as Karthikr mucked and Han dragged in a large pot early in the beginning level of Flight C.

Play has begun, and cards are in the air for Flight C of the APT Main Event. Players are now on their journey toward Day 2.

The last two flights of the PHP60,000 APT Manila Classic Main Event take center stage today! Flight C kicks off at 11 AM, with registration open until 5:30 PM, followed by Flight D at 6 PM, allowing late entries until 12:10 AM local time.

Players will start with 40,000 chips and battle through six 30-minute levels, followed by four 40-minute levels. Those looking for another shot at glory can forfeit their stack before registration closes to re-enter the tournament.

With Flight A drawing 218 entries and Flight B bringing in 270, the tournament has already amassed a total of 690 entries, plus 202 qualifiers. This is the final opportunity to join the action and take a shot at the PHP60,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool and the prestigious APT Lion Trophy.

Don't miss a moment of the excitement—stay tuned for live updates, thrilling poker action, and the reveal of who will emerge as the top contenders heading into Day 2!

Flight C begins at 11:00 local time on February 11, 2025.