APPT Manila 2025 Early Highlights; Main Event ₱58M (~$1M) Guaranteed Begins Today

The 16th Annual Asia Pacific Poker Tour is in full swing at Cove Manila inside the luxurious Okada Manila with a growing roster of champions already crowned. However today is the moment everyone has been waiting for as the highly anticipated APPT Manila Main Event takes center stage.

APPT Manila 2025 Main Event

For the first time in history, the APPT Manila Main Event features a massive ₱58,000,000 (~US$ 1.01 Million) guarantee, and for players to have a chance at securing a piece, a total of four entry flights have been scheduled. The first starting day gets underway at 12PM today. Buy in is ₱80,000 (~US$ 1,395).

Players begin with a 30,000 stack which is 300 times the opening blinds. Blinds escalate every 40 minutes. Registration closes at the end of Level 10 at approximately 7:10PM. From there, play continues until 15% of the field is reached or the end of Level 15.

Follow the action via the Live Updates.

• Dates: July 31 to August 4, 2025
• Buy in: ₱80,000 (~US$ 1,395)
• Guarantee: ₱58,000,000 (~US$ 1,013,970)
• ITM: approximately 15% of the field
• Flight A: Thursday, July 31, 2025
• Flight B: Friday, August 1, 2025
• Flight C: Saturday, August 2, 2025
• Flight D [20 min]: Saturday, August 2, 2025
• Day 2: Sunday, August 3, 2025
• Final Table: Monday, August 4, 2025

Leading up to the APPT Main Event opening day, already spotted in action and sure to be in attendance is reigning champion Xiong Cheng who won a seat to the main attraction via the APPT Super Qualifier. Also seen were past champions Yuanning Wu (2023) and Florencio Campomanes (2019).

APPT Manila 2025 Early Highlights

Youngtaek Lim Scores Maiden Title At APPT National

Yountaek Lim’s run at the APPT National was nothing short of dominant, and at times, downright surreal. Coming in as the Day 1A chip leader, he steamrolled through Day 2 to carry in the largest stack into the final table, and never loosened his grip. Lim’s path to victory felt inevitable, littered with a string of jaw-dropping knockouts that left not only his opponents in shock, but even Lim himself shaking his head in disbelief. For his stunning victory, Lim was awarded the first APPT shard trophy and a pocketful worth ₱3,340,000 (~US$ 59,900).

#8 APPT National (35,000 PHP)

Youngtaek Lim Reigns At APPT National

Just three short years in the game and Youngtaek Lim has already captured his first-ever live title. Lim outlasted a field of 600 entries at the APPT National, taking control of Day 2 and carrying the largest stack into the final table, where he never relinquished his lead.

I actually quit on my job before I decided to come to Manila and a lot of bad things have happened recently. So I'm really happy that I could achieve a really good result. This is my first time being a winner and also honored that I have a really awesome PokerStars trophy.

Read up on his commanding performance via the Live Updates.

Total Prize USD

$323,000

Total Prize

₱18,333,000

Guaranteed

₱10,000,000

Entries

600

ITM

90

#	Payout	Player
1	₱3,340,000 $58,810	YL Youngtaek Lim Korea (Republic of)
2	₱2,100,000 $36,975	MY Mc Yeldarb Mantos Philippines
3	₱1,510,000 $26,590	AJ Alvin Jeff Sembrano Philippines
4	₱1,160,000 $20,425	AL Andoni Larrabe Sanchez Spain
5	₱890,000 $15,670	RG Ryan Gebow United States of America
6	₱690,000 $12,150	XC Xiong Cheng United States of America
7	₱530,000 $9,330	MP Marko Puskadija Croatia
8	₱405,000 $7,130	NA Naohiro Arita Japan
9	₱322,000 $5,670	MR Maxwell Rosete Philippines

Check the 90 Payouts & Results ...

Leo Kamiya Clinches APPT Open Title

Australia’s Leo Kamiya hoisted the festival’s second shard trophy, and a well-earned ₱2,999,000 (~US$ 52,430) payout after conquering the festival’s APPT Open. In a final table full of swings, Kamiya entered heads up leading over Korea’s Gi Boum Kim but was knocked off course on a bad beat, and then roared back after delivering one of his own before sealing the win.

It feels great to win! I haven’t placed first in large field events before so happy to run well enough and finally win one.

#23 APPT Open (55,000 PHP)

Leo Kamiya Wins The Shard At APPT Open

Australia's Leo Kamiya captured his first ever PokerStars shard trophy after outlasting the 367 entry field of the APPT Open. At heads up, Kamiya suffered two setbacks to lose the advantage then recovered after delivering a bad beat of his own. To close it out, he called down Gi Boum Kim's triple barrel, denying the bluff as he clinched the title.

Read up on the action via Live Updates.

Total Prize USD

$307,800

Total Prize

₱17,621,505

Guaranteed

₱15,000,000

Entries

367

ITM

53

#	Payout	Player
1	₱2,999,000 $52,430	LK Leo Kamiya Australia
2	₱2,150,000 $45,120	GB Gi Boum Kim Korea (Republic of)
3	₱1,535,000 $27,030	FP Finn Penderak Germany
4	₱1,180,000 $20,775	ED Emmanuel Derecho Australia
5	₱910,000 $16,025	TS Tak Sin Alex Chong Hong Kong
6	₱700,000 $12,325	BY Benhur Ybarsabal Philippines
7	₱540,000 $9,510	JC Jihun Choi Korea (Republic of)
8	₱445,000 $7,835	CM Christopher Mateo Philippines
9	₱371,505 $6,540	EA Edgar Asehan Philippines

Check the 53 Payouts & Results ...

Maxwell Rosete Wins Okada Kickoff

Back in fine form, Maxwell Rosete emerged victorious at the Okada Kickoff, the first featured event of the series. This early win is a big boost for Rosete who recalls his third place finish at last year’s APPT Manila Main Event.

I finished 3rd last year and here we go again another chance to get the main shard. I plan to just play the best as I can and hopefully luck will be on my side.

#2 Okada Kickoff (16,500 PHP)

Maxwell Rosete Wins The Okada Kickoff

It feels good to win. I've been on a slump for months already and having this score brings back some confidence to my game though a lot should still be tweaked.

Maxwell Rosete came from behind at three-handed to eliminate the last two players in his path to clinch the first featured event title of the series.

I was familiar with the dynamics that was happening at three-handed, aggro on my left and a little bit passive on my right... I just tried to see the flop as cheap as possible versus my left and win small pots until I've built a stack that would make him fold once I get it in. Those added chips would then give a cushion versus the shorter stack. I was also lucky to win an all in preflop situation where I was behind, and won the flip where it mattered the most.

Read up on the action via the Live Updates.

Total Prize USD

$154,675

Total Prize

₱8,816,834

Guaranteed

₱3,000,000

Entries

626

ITM

92

#	Payout	Player
1	₱1,600,000 $28,170	MR Maxwell Rosete Philippines
2	₱1,000,000 $17,610	SK Sukwang Ko Korea (Republic of)
3	₱715,000 $12,590	MA Martin Astorga Philippines
4	₱550,000 $9,685	KK Kaoru Kishimoto Japan
5	₱420,000 $7,395	LD Lance De Vera Philippines
6	₱320,000 $5,635	JL Jaeil Lee Korea (Republic of)
7	₱250,000 $4,400	CP Clive Preece United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
8	₱190,000 $3,345	WU Wipat Udomkanjananan Thailand
9	₱149,834 $2,640	DF Dominick French Canada

Check the 92 Payouts & Results ...

Other Highlights

APPT Super High Roller

The APPT Super High Roller resumes today with only 14 remaining out of the 18 total entries. The top 4 get paid with first place earning ₱4,200,000 (~US$ 72,700)

PokerStars Red Dragon

The PokerStars Red Dragon is now down to the Final 9 players out of a field of 433 entries. At Day 2, Justin Ong bulldozed through the final two tables and enters today with 40% of the chips in play.

Follow the action via the Live Updates.

Big Field Winners

t’s not just the marquee events pulling in massive turnouts — the side events are smashing numbers too. Here’s a look at the latest champions who rose above stacked fields to claim victory.

#29 Sunday Million (15,000 PHP)

Total Prize USD

$57,490

Total Prize

₱3,265,020

Guaranteed

₱1,000,000

Entries

255

ITM

31

#	Payout	Player
1	₱666,920 $11,745	RK Ryunosuke Kajikawa Japan
2	₱450,000 $7,925	JP Jason Pereira Hong Kong
3	₱317,500 $5,590	PM Paul Milon France
4	₱257,500 $4,535	WJ Wendell Jhann Barte Philippines
5	₱203,500 $3,585	SD Siavasch Dastmalchi Germany
6	₱154,500 $2,720	AS Antonio Serrano Iii Philippines
7	₱113,000 $1,990	KS Kentaro Shigyo Japan
8	₱82,500 $1,455	HK Hyunkoog Koo Korea (Republic of)
9	₱68,500 $1,205	KY Kazuki Yoshimi Japan

Check the 31 Payouts & Results ...

#6 Deepstack (15,000 PHP)

Total Prize USD

$38,100

Total Prize

₱2,163,876

Guaranteed

₱1,000,000

Entries

169

ITM

23

#	Payout	Player
1	₱479,776 $8,450	GH Gwanghyeon Han Korea (Republic of)
2	₱301,000 $5,300	AJ Alvin Jeff Sembrano Philippines
3	₱215,000 $3,785	JP Jose Padilla Philippines
4	₱165,500 $2,915	JN John Niko Costiniano Philippines
5	₱127,500 $2,245	SS Sungho Seol Korea (Republic of)
6	₱98,000 $1,725	NP Nicholas Porta Australia
7	₱79,500 $1,400	RK Ryosuke Kobayashi Japan
8	₱66,500 $1,170	BK Beomhui Kang Korea (Republic of)
9	₱55,500 $975	PP Patsakorn Pradyatanetkul Thailand

Check the 23 Payouts & Results ...

#21 Survivor Knockout [₱30K Bounty] (15,000 PHP)

Total Prize USD

$65,605

Total Prize

₱3,725,964

Guaranteed

₱1,000,000

Entries

291

ITM

40

#	Payout	Player
1	₱382,364 $6,735	LH Lin Hao Hong Kong
2	₱240,000 $4,225	AX Andrew Xu Australia
3	₱170,000 $2,995	NI Naoaki Ishihara Japan
4	₱130,000 $2,290	GS Guillem Segarra
5	₱100,000 $1,760	KA Kevin Ayow Canada
6	₱75,000 $1,320	JW Joseph Welch United States of America
7	₱60,000 $1,055	AI Alvir Inocentes Philippines
8	₱50,000 $880	KF Kotani Fumiya Japan
9	₱44,000 $775	KD Kasuga Dai Korea (Republic of)

Check the 40 Payouts & Results ...

PokerStars LIVE APPT Manila App

For those just joining the festivities, if you haven’t yet downloaded the PokerStars APP, this is the time to do so. The app is the best way to be informed on all of the events. You can also use the app to register to events. Make sure to follow the instructions below.

• 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

Live Stream Schedule

The first livestreamed event will happen today at the APPT Super High Roller starting at 7pm local time. It will broadcast in the PokerStars YouTube channel. Players can also catch the action live at the venue and cheer on your hero from the sidelines.