APPT Manila 2026 Main Event Sets Records With 1,413 Entries, PHP 97.6M (~USD 1.6M) Prize Pool; Joungsun Kim Leads 269 Survivors

Cove Manila has been packed almost every day. Since the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Manila 2026 festival got underway at Okada Manila , the tournament area has been filled with players, railbirds and poker fans from across Asia and beyond, creating the kind of atmosphere that makes a major poker festival feel like a real gathering rather than just another series of tournaments.

Record-Breaking APPT Manila 2026 Main Event

That turnout reached its biggest point yet in the APPT Manila 2026 Main Event , where the PHP 80,000 (~USD 1,300) buy-in attracted an impressive 1,413 entries across four starting flights. The turnout built a PHP 97,666,560 (~USD 1.608 million) prize pool, making this the biggest Main Event in APPT Manila history in both entries and prize money.

It is a significant jump from the previous editions. The 2025 Main Event drew 1,246 entries and generated around PHP 87 million, while the 2024 edition recorded 1,304 entries and approximately PHP 91 million. This year’s field has now moved past both numbers, with the prize pool also clearing the original PHP 60 million (~USD 1 million) guarantee by more than PHP 37 million.

Four Flights, 1,413 Entries

The size of the field was built flight by flight, with every starting day adding another large group of hopefuls looking to secure a Day 2 seat.

• Day 1A : 300 entries / 47 survivors
• Day 1B : 348 entries / 56 survivors
• Day 1C : 527 entries / 94 survivors
• Day 1D Turbo: 238 entries / 72 survivors

Day 1C was the standout flight, attracting 527 entries, while the other three flights also comfortably passed the 200-entry mark. By the time the last bag was sealed, 1,413 entries had been recorded and 269 players had earned their way into Day 2.

That number alone tells the story of how much the Main Event grew this year. What started as a PHP 60 million guarantee ended with nearly PHP 100 million in the prize pool.

For the seat draw, full payout details, and live updates from the felt, tune in to Somuchpoker for all the latest action.

Joungsun Kim Leads 269 Survivors

Among those 269 players, Joungsun Kim has the best starting position. Kim topped Day 1A with a massive 855,000 chips (171 big blinds), putting himself well ahead of the rest of the field.

Wesley Zikai Huang and Cezar Quiambao sit next with 484,000 (121 big blinds) each, meaning Kim returns with almost twice the stacks of the two players immediately behind him. With the bubble still ahead, that lead gives Kim plenty of room to work with as the field comes together for the first time.

Top 10 Chip Counts

62 Players From the Money

For all the attention surrounding the record numbers, the immediate concern for the returning players is much simpler: survive. Of the 269 players returning for Day 2, only 207 will make the money, leaving 62 players to be eliminated before the bubble bursts.

Once in the money, every surviving player will lock up a minimum payout of PHP 128,000 (~USD 2,100). With the field getting closer to the finish line, the payouts start to become serious money. The ultimate prize awaits at the top, where the eventual champion will take home a huge PHP 15,530,000 (~USD 255,800).

A New Champion Will Be Crowned

This year’s record-breaking field will also produce a new champion. Defending champion Justin Ong was unable to advance through any of the four starting flights, ending his title defense before Day 2.

There is still some APPT Manila history in the field, however. Xiong Cheng , who won the first APPT Manila Main Event held at Cove Manila, remains in contention with 221,000 chips.

The most recent APPT Championship winner, Minwoong Jeong , also survived the opening flights and returns with 120,000, putting him below the current average but still within reach of the money.

PokerStars LIVE Manila Keeps the Players Close

During the festival, PokerStars LIVE Manila has continued to give back to the players who came to support the event, including the Player’s Party and additional food, drinks and entertainment during tournament breaks. With a field this large and players spending long hours at the tables, those moments have become part of the APPT Manila experience.

Before Day 2, Levy Castillo, one of the APPT tournament directors, welcomed the remaining players and acknowledged the record turnout. He also invited everyone to continue following the tour at APPT Korea 2026 , scheduled for September 3 to 14 at Paradise City Casino .

The Record Field Now Has One Goal

Day 2 features 60-minute levels, beginning with the race to eliminate the final 62 players outside the money. Once the bubble bursts, the focus will shift from simply surviving to building a stack capable of carrying a player all the way to the final table.

Follow Somuchpoker throughout Day 2 for the bubble hand, major eliminations, chip leaders, big hands and the road to a new APPT Manila Main Event champion.