Shards And Spadies! Stage Is Set For APPT Cambodia Now Underway At NagaWorld

It’s that time of the year again! The Asia-Pacific Poker Tour‘s first event of the season has arrived, and for the first time, it takes place in Cambodia at the capital city of Phnom Penh. With cards now flying, players from all over have already been spotted in hopes of capturing one or more of the PokerStars shards and spadies on display.

In partnership with NagaWorld Integrated Resorts and Connaissance Management Limited, the annual APPT Cambodia is now in its fourth year. The festival runs from May 2-13 featuring 68 tournaments and over $1.5 million in guaranteed prize pools. Let’s have a look at what’s taking place today, who’s at the tables, and what to expect in the days ahead.

APPT CAMBODIA – SCHEDULE

Opening Day At APPT Cambodia

With cards now flying at APPT Cambodia, at the top of the menu is the NagaWorld Kickoff with a guarantee of US$ 50,000. It’s the first of six guaranteed events on the lineup, but as always, those numbers are just the beginning, with prize pools at this series consistently much larger.

Good news for players, in Cambodia the US Dollar is widely used, and at the festival, every tournament will be using that currency. Buy in for this event is US$ 500 with registration open for ten levels. Starting stack is 30,000 (150x opening blinds). Blinds go up every 30 minutes giving plenty of time to size up the competition and build a good stack. Only two flights are offered, both run today, and bag up at ITM of 15% of the field.

Flight A: Registration closes at 4:50pm
Flight B: Registration closes at 10:20pm

Among the players already spotted at the tables are PokerStars regulars Christian Cloutier and Joseph Magnotti, NagaWorld regulars Mohamad Abbouchi and Amir Abbas, and other notables Le Ngoc Khanh, Aladin Reskallah, Erik Rozhynskyi, Thi Xuan Ha Tran, Avneesh Munjal, and Adrien Berger.

The Warm Up High Roller is also up and running. Buy in is US$ 1,500 with registration closing at the end of Level 10 at 5:50pm. Evening warriors also are in luck with the Knockout Turbo [$100 Bounty] hitting the felt at 7pm. Buy in is US$ 300.

Highlights Up Ahead

• Main Event ($1,750 buy-in) – $1,000,000 guarantee (May 8-13)
• Mystery Bounty ($750 buy-in) – $100,000 guarantee (May 3–5)
• APPT National ($1,000 buy-in) – $150,000 guarantee (May 5-8)
• Survivor Knockout $600 buy-in) – $75,000 guarantee (May 11–12)
• APPT High Roller – $75,000 guarantee (May 11–12)

$1 Million Guaranteed APPT Cambodia Main Event

For the first time, the APPT guarantees seven figures for its flagship tournament which is already a record on its own for the brand in Cambodia. This bold offering doubles last year’s guarantee and features four starting flights, giving players ample opportunity to make it into the money. Additionally, there are cheaper roads to the top. The schedule offers numerous qualifiers for as low as $70.

• Date: May 8-13, 2025
• Buy in: US$ 1,750
• Guarantee: US$ 1,000,000
• Starting Stack: 30,000
• Flight A – Thursday, May 8 at 11:30 am
• Flight B – Friday, May 9 at 11:30 am
• Flight C – Saturday, May 10 at 11:30 am
• Flight D (Turbo) – Saturday, May 10 at 18:30
• Day 2 – Sunday, May 11 at 12pm
• Day 3 – Monday, May 12 at 12pm
• Final Day – Tuesday, May 13 at 12pm

Last year, Filipino Christopher Mateo finally took down the title after missing it by one spot the year prior in Manila. Mateo outlasted a field of 518 and locked up US$ 126,500. He has confirmed his attendance and will be arriving in a few days.

NagaWorld Turns 30

As an added treat, NagaWorld is celebrating its 30th anniversary. At the Naga1 lobby and Naga2 food pavilion, players get to experience the Khmer culture with artwork, fashion, displays, and cuisine. There is also a Lucky Draw every Saturday, starting May 3 until the end of the month where players can win a car or motorbike for a minimum spend of $100 at the gaming tables.

No Tax At APPT Cambodia

Perhaps one of the other major selling points from poker enthusiasts of the region is the  “NO TAX” to be paid. This means players receive 100 percent of their winnings.

PokerStars Silver Power Pass

In June 2023, PokerStars released the PokerStars Power Path program wherein online players are able to qualify for live and online events. It remains as one of the brand’s most popular incentives. Good news to players that have acquired the PokerStars Power Path Silver Pass – valued at $2,500 – this can be redeemed at the APPT Cambodia Main Event. This includes a seat worth US$ 1,750 and US$ 750 credit for expenses.

Aside from the pass, players can use their PokerStars account to buy into the tournaments.

Unlock Free Rooms At The Cash Game Tables

The upcoming stop at NagaWorld in Phnom Penh also provides additional rewards. While exclusive room rates during the festival start for as little as $55 per night, players can unlock free nights of accommodation by playing at least eight hours of cash games per day.

PokerStars LIVE APP

For those attending APPT Cambodia, be sure to download the PokerStars LIVE APP. It will serve as a real-time hub for fresh news, schedule, tournament results, and updates throughout the series, ensuring players stay informed every step of the way.