Cards in the Air! APPT Manila Championship 2025 Opens At Okada Manila feat. US$2.7M In Guarantees

The spotlight is back on the Philippines as PokerStars LIVE raises the curtain on its premier regional brand, the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), with the highly awaited APPT Manila Championship now underway! Running for the second consecutive year, the action takes place from October 16 to 27, 2025 at the Coral Lounge in world-class Okada Manila.

APPT Manila Championship - FULL SCHEDULE

Across the twelve days, the festival brings in an expanded lineup of 81 events and a record ₱155 million (~US$ 2.7 million) in guaranteed prizes - the largest offering in both APPT history and the Philippine poker scene this year. Buy-ins range from ₱2,500 (~US$ 43) to ₱1,000,000 (~US$ 17.3K), ensuring something for every type of player.

With cards flying, let’s have a look at what awaits players throughout the twelve days.

APPT Manila Championship - Guaranteed Events

Opening day sets the tone with the ₱8 Million GTD Okada Kick Off. This is the first of ten guaranteed events designed to get players warmed up for the days to come. Below is the full lineup of guaranteed events expected to draw the largest fields of the festival.

APPT Shard Trophies

For trophy chasers, there’s no shortage of hardware to aim for with a total of 63 events crowning champions. Most of them award iconic PokerStars spadies. Standing out are the prestigious APPT shards, reserved exclusively for the festival’s headline events listed below:

• APPT Championship

• APPT Open

• APPT National

• APPT Super High Roller

• APPT High Roller

APPT Manila Championship - FULL SCHEDULE

Players At The Scene

Once registration opened, a steady flow of players streamed in. Early sightings include a mix of PokerStars regulars, international pros, and newcomers. Among those spotted were Christian Lortie-Cloutier (Canada), Edgar Antezana (South Africa), Slaven Popov (Bulgaria), Katsuhito Kawai (Japan), Daniel Lei (USA), Frank Lillis (Ireland), Abhijeet Shetty (India), Alexandru Tudor (Romania), and homegrown stars Florencio Campomanes (2019 APPT Manila Main Event champion), Christopher Mateo (2024 APPT Cambodia Main Event champion), and Justin Ong (2025 APPT Manila Main Event champion) to name a few.

One player back at the APPT arena is Kwan Bin “Kevin” Song, South Korea’s THM All-time Money leader with nearly $4M in live tournament earnings. Apart from being a WSOP bracelet holder, Song is an APPT High Roller champion which he earned back in 2012 in Seoul.

Livestream Channels

The best way to stay on top of the action is through the official livestream. This year’s APPT Manila Championship will broadcast the Main Event Day 2, Day 3, and Final 6 on October 25, 26, and 27, available on PokerStars YouTube and Twitch channels. Streaming times will be announced soon so stay tuned!

• October 25 - APPT Championship Main Event Day 2

• October 26 - APPT Championship Main Event Day 3

• October 27 - APPT Championship Main Event Final 6

Other Festival Perks

While players battle it out on the felt, organizers have ensured there are plenty of perks beyond the tables. Starting October 18, Welcome Food and Drinks will be served from 9:00 PM to 9:40 PM at the Coral Lounge, accompanied by a live dance performance by OMEG to kick off the festivities in style. More perks are listed below:

*Keep in mind, the APPT Championship Main Event Food Spread and Buffet is only open to players with wristbands. To acquire a wristband, you must have entered the Main Event. 

PokerStars App

When the festival is underway, players can keep informed on all of the events via the PokerStars APP. Players can also use the app to register to events.

• Download the app (scan qr code below)

• Create a profile (for first time users, tap upper right corner)

• Verify your identity

• Once approved, tap upper right corner to view your PokerStars Membership Card Number and QR Code

• Use the QR Code to register

• Visit the Okada Rewards Counter to sign-up for a casino membership card

PokerStars LIVE Manila - Cash Games

For the second year in a row, the PokerStars LIVE room at Okada Manila was awarded the Best Poker Room IR by IAG.  For players interested in cash games, the room offers both No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.

Limits:

₱25/50: Buy-in ₱1,000 – ₱5,000
₱50/100: Buy-in ₱5,000 – ₱30,000
₱100/200: Buy-in ₱10,000 – ₱100,000
₱100/200/500: Buy-in ₱20,000 – ₱200,000
₱200/500/1,000: Buy-in ₱50,000 – ₱500,000
₱500/1,000: Buy-in ₱50,000 with no max

• The rake is 10%, capped at varying amounts depending on the table limits.

• For short-handed tables (5 players or fewer), the rake is 5%​.

Okada Manila

Spanning 30 hectares of pure luxury, Okada Manila stands as the Philippines’ premier integrated resort — a Forbes Five-Star destination with 1,001 luxury rooms and suites, ranging from the spacious Deluxe Rooms to the opulent Villa Collection - some of the most lavish accommodations. There are also 25 restaurants scattered throughout the facility. For entertainment, guests can marvel at The Fountain, a stunning spectacle of light and water choreography, or dance the night away at Cove Manila, the world’s largest indoor beach club and nightclub.

Newcomer Tips

Travel is also made easy. Many nationalities enjoy visa-free entry, with lengths of stay varying by country, so be sure to confirm with your local embassy. Most recently, players from Taiwan and India were added to the list. Taiwanese nationals enjoy 14 days visa-free, while Indian nationals with valid visas from the U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore, or the U.K. can extend up to 30 days.

For those flying in, Okada Manila is just 15-25 minutes from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). You must present an eTravel form which is best accomplished electronically online, or even through the eGOVPH App prior to arrival. To get to the venue, rideshare apps such as Grab, InDrive, or JoyRide offer more reliable service and better rates compared to airport taxis.