APT Main Event (60,000 PHP)

Only three former Main Event champions remain in the field, each sitting behind vastly different chip stacks.

Yohn Paredes, who claimed his Main Event crown right here in Manila in 2019, currently has around 135,000 chips in front of him. That year, he conquered a 515-entry field to take home PHP 4,369,400. Paredes has a strong track record in the Main Event, having reached multiple final tables over the years. He finished fourth at APT Manila 2016, fifth at APT Cebu 2016, and ninth at APT Jeju 2017, proving his consistency on the APT circuit.

Another former champion still in the mix is Christopher Mateo, who won the 2019 APT Manila Main Event, narrowly edging out Paredes' prize with a PHP 4,376,000 payday. Mateo has also built an impressive resume, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 2022 APT Manila Main Event, where he fell just short to Moses Saquing — who, incidentally, is still in the running today. Mateo also has another final table to his name, finishing seventh at APT Manila 2016.

With past champions still in the fight and plenty of action ahead, this Main Event is shaping up to be another thrilling chapter in APT history.

Burke Kenny raised to 1,200 and was called by Thijs Hilberts from the cut-off, Yohn Paredes on the button and Beng Hong Ker on the big blind.

Four players were shown a flop of J♣ K♥ K♠

All checked to see a 2♥ turn and checked again to see a Q♠ river. Ker led out with a 2,000 bet. Kenny and Hilberts folded by Paredes made the call.

Ker already knew he got rivered when he showed A♥ J♥ for a pair of Jacks. Paredes showed A♦ T♦ for a straight.

From under the gun, Yohn Paredes fired 1,000 on a 4♣ J♦ 9♠ flop. He found calls from both Rajeev Kanjani, and Tirajad Sirimueanphong in the big blind.

The A♣ turn arrived, and Sirimueanphong checked. Paredes kept up the aggression with a 2,000 bet, and both opponents called once again.

On the K♠ river, the action checked to Paredes, who ramped up the pressure with a 10,000 bet. Kanjani opted to fold, but Sirimueanphong responded with an all in shove for about 25,000, putting his tournament life on the line.

Paredes snap-called and confidently tabled J♣ J♠ for a set of jacks, leaving Sirimueanphong disgusted as he revealed A♥ 4♥ for a turned two pair. With that, Paredes scooped the pot while Sirimueanphong hit the rail.

Tirajad Sirimueanphong and Yohn Paredes limped in from early position, but Rajeev Kanjani decided to raise it up to 1,300. Thijs Hilberts called, as did Sirimueanphong and Paredes called, creating a four-way pot.

The flop came 9♣ T♥ K♥ . The action checked to Kanjani, who continued with a 2,800 bet. Hilberts folded, while Sirimueanphong and Paredes called.

Three players saw the 5♣ turn. The action was checked over to Kanjani again, and he fired 5,600. Sirimueanphong tanked before making the call, while Paredes also tanked but ultimately folded, leaving it heads-up to the river.

The river brought the A♠ . Sirimueanphong eyed Kanjani’s stack and took so much time that eventually, the clock was called on him. He opted to check, and Kanjani checked behind.

Sirimueanphong tabled 6♥ 5♥ for a pair of fives, but Kanjani showed A♥ K♣ for top two pair to claim a healthy-sized pot.