Biggest APL Manila Main Event Hits the Scene with ₱55 Million (~US$ 1M) Guarantee

The Ace Poker League – APL Manila – festivities at Prime Poker Club in Pasay city, Manila, Philippines is in full swing with thirteen trophies out of its 34-event lineup already taken down on display. While several players have already achieved early successes, the grandest event is yet to come as today marks the beginning of the highly anticipated Main Event. With more than half of the festival’s prize pool up for grabs, this season boasts a massive ₱55,000,000 (~USD 1 million) pot, sure to bring a feast for both local and international runners alike.

Established in South Korea, APL continues to make waves in the Asian poker scene with another captivating offering right at the bustling capital of the Philippines. Several prominent Korean players are expected to compete in the Main Event, including Won Gyu Kang, Eosoo Lee, Tommy Kim, and Soojo Kim. While the international flair will present some of its finest, local pros are already steaming up the felt with highly decorated Filipinos Marc Rivera, John Tech, Lester Edoc, and Vamerdino Magsakay, already in full battle gear.

APL Manila Main Event $1M GTD

The APL Manila Main Event qualifiers are up and a total of five will be taking place through Friday, February 28th, marking a busy week to come for those up to the challenge. For a buy-in of PH₱ 65,000 (~US$ 1,120), players will kick off the games with a starting stack of 40,000, 200 times the opening blinds.

Varying blind structures have been set for the Day 1 rounds, with the initial flight providing the most room for play while the latter two – Day 1D and Day 1E, will run in a turbo format. Best Stack Forward will be in play across all the Day 1 heats, allowing players to advance with their largest stack onto the next round. All international qualifiers will join in Day 2, where the money is expected to trickle in, and narrow the field down to 54 players remaining for the Day 3 charge.

The previous APL Manila festivities back in December 2023 left a lasting impression with local grinder Vivencio Nachor clinching the Main Event title for ₱3.2 million (~US$ 58K). Expect this season’s figures to be more than double in value with the stakes higher than ever. While the buy-in has also seen a significant increase, the upcoming games are poised to surpass its tour record by miles, with heightened competition and bigger action slated for its grand return.

APL Manila Main Event Schedule

• Dates: February 26 – March 3, 2025
• Buy in: PHP 65,000 (~USD 1,120)
• Guarantee: PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000)
• Day 1A: Wednesday, February 26
• Day 1B: Thursday, February 27
• Day 1C: Thursday, February 27
• Day 1D: Friday, February 28
• Day 1E: Friday, February 28
• Day 2: Saturday, March 1
• Day 3: Sunday, March 2
• Final Day: Monday, March 3

While some runners may find the entry fee a bit too steep, a number of Main Event satellites remain available for as low as ₱6,500 (~US$ 110) up to the 27th. This gives recreational players and those with smaller bankrolls a chance to turn a modest investment into a potentially humongous profit.

APL Manila 2025 – Full Schedule

Early APL Manila Winners

Two key event winners have already been crowned, overcoming larger fields to secure seven-figure top prizes. Russia’s Sergei Korzhenko kicked off the festivities with a strong showing at the APL Kick Off, where he clocked in a ₱1,053,600 (~US$ 18,200) payday. 

#2 APL Kick Off (16,000 PHP)

With PHP 5 million (~USD 86,250) on the line at the opening event, APL Kick Off, the Final Day brought 51 players out of the 341-entry field back to the tables, each guaranteed a minimum payout of PHP 34,100 (~USD 590). Russia's Sergei Korzhenko, who began the action at the bottommost of the qualifier list, had a momentous day after turning it around 360 to ultimately become the last man standing. In a truly impressive display of skill and resilience, Korzhenko claimed the top spot and secured the lone seven-figure payout on the list of PHP 1,053,600 (~USD 18,200).

The Russian runner triumphed over a final table stacked with local talent, defeating Filipino pro Renniel Galvez in the final heads up to earn his first APL title and largest live cash to date. Korzhenko has been on a hot streak since the start of the year, already with three trophy wins under his belt, adding another to his collection with this latest victory.

Total Prize

$86,250

Guaranteed

5,000,000

Entries

341

#	Payout	Player
1	$18,200 1,053,600 PHP	SK Sergei Korzhenko
2	$11,865 688,300 PHP	RG Renniel Galvez Philippines
3	$7,945 460,800 PHP	MG Michael Gabby Concepcion Philippines
4	$5,450 316,300 PHP	KM Kozo Miyamoto Japan
5	$3,845 223,200 PHP	RB Raphael Bulaong Philippines
6	$2,790 161,800 PHP	JG Jonald Garcia Philippines
7	$2,075 120,500 PHP	MM Michihiko Matsuda Japan
8	$1,590 92,200 PHP	RJ Rick Jason Ambata Philippines
9	$1,260 73,000 PHP	JC Jose Colada Philippines

Check the 51 Payouts & Results ...

Meanwhile, local grinder Jason Kyle Magbanua also emerged as one of the standout performers, claiming victory at the Prime Poker Mystery Bounty event. Magbanua matched his ₱650,000 (~US$ 11,230) top prize with an even bigger loot in bounty winnings, having captured the largest ticket on the list amounting to ₱1,000,000 (~US$ 17,265) right on his very first draw. With the season still far from over, more prizes are yet to be awarded as the festivities continue to unfold.

#5 Prime Poker Mystery Bounty (20,000 PHP)

Adding another layer of thrill, the Prime Poker Mystery Bounty packed in a ton of fun with 34 players out of the 280-entry field heading back into the scene, all guaranteed a share of the PHP 5 million prize pool. Filipino pro Jason Kyle Magbanua came out on top of the Final Day charge and banked the PHP 650,000 first place prize following his skillful display. In addition to his payout, Magbanua also cashed in five bounty tokens including the largest PHP 1 million ticket, bringing his total haul to a mammoth PHP 1,737,000 (~USD 29,980). Over the past year, Magbanua has been sweeping the local live poker scene with a string of impressive finishes, and locked in another notable victory just before the APL Main Event festivities are about to begin.

Total Prize

$86,215

Guaranteed

5,000,000

Entries

280

ITM

34

#	Payout	Player
1	$11,230 650,000 PHP	JK Jason Kyle Magbanua Philippines
2	$7,380 428,000 PHP	JC Jose Colada Philippines
3	$4,965 288,000 PHP	SH Seoung Hyun Ohn
4	$3,430 199,000 PHP	JY Jeongyeol Yu Korea (Republic of)
5	$2,450 142,000 PHP	MJ Minsu Jun
6	$1,810 105,000 PHP	DT Diana Tan Philippines
7	$1,360 79,000 PHP	RS Ryuki Shirase Japan
8	$1,070 62,000 PHP	BY Benhur Ybarsabal Philippines
9	$880 51,000 PHP	KE Kim Enriquez Philippines

Check the 34 Payouts & Results ...

Other Highlights

#6 Late Night Madness II (3,000 PHP)

The second edition of Late Night Madness attracted a significantly larger crowd, with 61 entries - more than triple the previous day's turnout. Eight players secured a share of the $2,725 prize pool, with South Korea’s Hangeul Lee taking home the largest payout of $985, padding his bankroll for the upcoming games. The final table was a truly international affair, featuring only one local player while the majority of the competitors were from neighboring Japan and Korea.

Total Prize

$2,725

Entries

61

ITM

8

#	Payout	Player
1	$985 57,000 PHP	HL Hangeul Lee Korea (Republic of)
2	$575 33,400 PHP	KK Keito Kawakami
3	$360 20,900 PHP	MK Minku Kim Korea (Republic of)
4	$245 14,200 PHP	JP John Paul Bayobo Philippines
5	$190 11,100 PHP	YY Yau Yin Lun
6	$150 8,700 PHP	AZ Aleksei Zhukov Russian Federation
7	$120 7,100 PHP	DO Daizo Ogawa
8	$100 5,700 PHP	KI Kenjiro Iha

#11 Speed Racer II (5,000 PHP)

India's Idnani Gaurav emerged victorious at the late night Speed Racer II, coming on top of the 48-entry field to take the PHP 79,100 top prize. Gaurav worked his way through a final table dominated by Filipino and South Korean contenders and clutched the top spot to earn his career maiden win. The PHP 202,800 prize pool was distributed among five additional players, with Gaurav taking the largest share alongside the prestigious APL trophy.

Total Prize

$3,500

Entries

48

ITM

6

#	Payout	Player
1	$1,365 79,100 PHP	GI Gaurav Idnani India
2	$805 46,600 PHP	EK Elmer Kalaquian Philippines
3	$490 28,400 PHP	JP Jeffrey Pamplona Philippines
4	$350 20,300 PHP	KL Kunmo Lee
5	$280 16,200 PHP	JT Jun Tae Yang
6	$210 12,200 PHP	MI Mark Israel Philippines

High Roller Events Not to Miss

High tier buy-in enthusiasts will likewise have their hands full for the next seven days ahead, with several high roller key events – focusing on entries upwards of PHP 35,000 (~USD 605), still yet to play down. One of the standout events is the Super High Roller, which takes place from March 1st to 2nd. The ₱180,000 (~US$ 3,105) buy-in tournament boasts the largest side event guarantee, likely to draw in a crowd with at least ₱15,000,000 (~US$ 258,705) in prizes at stake.

Here’s the schedule:

Getting There

For those traveling from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Prime Poker Club Manila, the most convenient option is via Grab, the most frequented ride-hailing service in the country. Taxis are also readily available at designated stands outside all three terminals at NAIA, making it easy to hop into one as soon as you exit the airport. Typically, the journey takes about 15 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic conditions, with fares ranging from PHP 200 to PHP 400 (~USD 3.50 to USD 7).

Accommodation

Nestled in a prime location, Prime Poker Club Manila is just a stone’s throw away from several luxury five-star hotels, including Solaire Resort, City of Dreams, Okada Manila, and Conrad Manila. For those seeking more budget-friendly options, there are also several affordable hotels within the vicinity such as Hotel 101, Microtel by Wyndham, and Citadines Bay City Manila. All these are located within a ten minute ride, offering convenient and cost-effective lodging options without compromising comfort or accessibility.

With such a wide range of nearby hotels, players can easily find the ideal place to stay while enjoying the excitement of the APL festivities, giving both luxury and budget-conscious travelers nothing to worry about.

About Prime Poker Club Manila

Located in the heart of HK Sun Plaza in Parañaque, Prime Poker Club Manila offers poker enthusiasts a premier venue for exciting gameplay and unparalleled service. The venue is designed with players in mind, offering spacious poker tables and high-end facilities to enhance everyone’s overall gaming experience.

Serving as the host of Ace Poker League, Prime Poker Club (previously 2Ace Poker Club) has long been a hub for competitive poker in the country. In addition to local and international events, a variety of poker games are offered on a daily basis, from beginner-friendly cash games to private VIP sessions, keeping the action running 24/7.

Address: Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, Pasay, Metro Manila
Phone: 0917 165 3003