APPT Manila Main Event sees record breaking PHP 76M (~USD 1.3M) prize pool, 343 out of 1,354 runners return to battle

The sought after Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Manila Main Event is drawing down to its final days of play after three qualifying flights rounded up 13 levels of action each. Held in Okada, Manila, Philippines, the fourteenth edition drew a massive 1,354 entry field for a PHP 76,832,730 (~USD 1,382,368) generated prize pool swooning well over the guarantee.

This serves as the biggest APPT Manila Main Event to date, beating its record best 2018 APPT Main Event PHP 65M (~USD 1.1M) prize pool. Looking at the numbers entry-wise, the ongoing Main Event fell just ten entries short of the record with the 2018 festivities posting a slightly lower buy-in of PHP 55,000 (~USD 990).

With the qualifying rounds in the bag, Day 2 is set to play through today with 343 players returning to the felt. Still a sizable field to beat, tournament runners will have to be a bit more patient as the money begins to flow with 199 players left.

Remaining on the top spot is Day 1A chip leader Oleg Alex Kaminski with a healthy 426,000 – 142 big blind stack, followed closely by 2019 APPT Manila Main Event champion Florencio Campomanes. The local high roller, in search of another run at the trophy, packed a huge 423,500 bag after emerging as Day 1B’s chip leader.

Interestingly, Japan’s Hiroshi Irijimari would have ended up leading today’s charge with over 430,000 in chips if it weren’t for a bad beat to close yesterday’s action. Irijimari’s took a hit with four hands left in the game after China’s Zhang Hui spiked a lucky two outer with on board. Nonetheless, Irijimari still joins the top ten chip counts heading into Day 2 with a 113 big blind stack of 340,500.

Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Day 2 action resumes at 13:00, Level 14: 1,500 – 3,000 ante 3,000

APPT Manila Main Event Review

Dates: August 3-6, 2023
Buy in: PHP 65,000 (~USD 1,174)
Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 361,366)
Prize pool: PHP 76,832,730 (~USD 1,382,368)
ITM: 199 players

Day 1 Results

Day 1A: 395 entries / 91 advanced
Day 1B: 646 entries / 148 advanced
Day 1C: 313 entries / 113 advanced
Day 2: 343 players
Final Day: August 6, 2023, Sunday

APPT Manila Main Event Day 1A – Live Updates and Chip Counts
APPT Manila Main Event Day 1A Results
APPT Manila Main Event Day 1B and Day 1C – Live Updates
APPT Manila Main Event Day 2 Chip Counts