APPT Manila Championship 2024: Czardy Rivera wins Okada Kick Off for PHP 1,870,000 (~USD 32,510)

APPT Manila Championship 2024 – Okada Kick Off

Following ten hours of play across Day 2, APPT Manila Championship’s opening key event, Okada Kick Off wrapped up with local pro Czardy Rivera claiming his career first PokerStars win for PHP 1,870,000 (~USD 32,510). Rivera outlasted the highlight’s 468-entry field and bagged the largest cut of the PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475) prize pool.

“Of course, I feel overwhelmed, I’ve been waiting for this win for quite some time. This is actually my first spadie, and I made a promise to my brother’s (Marc Rivera) father in law. I said I will give my next trophy to him. He has been waiting for a long time, a couple years. I’m very happy not only with the money, but also for my Uncle Jun.”, commented Rivera following his win.

“I’ll celebrate with my family, this is like an advanced birthday to myself since my 46th birthday is coming up this 31st. I hope my run good will continue to APT Manila.” [translated]

Day 2 welcomed 71 survivors back on the felt, each guaranteed a minimum payout of PHP 40,000 (~USD 690). By the first break, more than half of the field had already fell out of the running. The final table was eventually set following six hours of play with Obaidullah Habibi and John Matsuda in command. While Rivera entered the final table rounds middle of the pack, the Metro Team Pro patiently waited for the right spots to chip up. Down to seven big blinds at one point, Rivera only managed to recover after sending Kenneth Galola out in 7th place with the rockets against the latter’s ace-queen.

“I got a couple of good hands going into the final table. Good timing as I started the day on a different note. Started with 600,000 then all of a sudden, I was down to 300,000. When blinds were starting to get bigger, I started to pick up premium hands. By the last two tables, that’s where pocket kings and aces finally arrived.”, Rivera added.

With ammo, the Filipino runner went on to overtake the lead at four handed play, having flopped a straight against Jessie Leonarez to amass nearly half the total chips on the table. Rivera carried this momentum all the way to the end, chipping slowly off his final opponents, remaining in full control. Just fifteen minutes later, Rivera secured the final victory, having finished Mike Takayama for the title. Along with his winnings, Rivera earns an APPT Championship entry, valued at PHP 165,000 (~USD 2,860).

• Date/s: October 18-20, 2024
• Buy-in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 430)
• Guarantee: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)
• Prize pool: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)
• Entries: 468
• ITM: 71 places

Okada Kick Off Final Table Payouts

*The top 2 receive ₱165,000 APPT Championship entry taken from the prize pool. 

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APPT Manila Championship – Player eGuide
APPT Manila Championship – Festival Results