APT Manila 2024 Just Around The Corner
From October 28 until November 7, the Asian Poker Tour returns to the capital of the Philippines for APT Manila 2024 – the latest installment of the thriving live series. Manila has been one of the most-visited stops of the brand with the first appearance dating back all the way to May 2008. Since then, the APT Manila has taken place more than two dozen times but all of these took place under old ownership.
APT Manila 2024
Unlike past stops, the upcoming APT Manila will be held at the City of Dreams (COD) complex. A quick glance on Google Maps indicates that this is just a short trip from the international airport, but don’t be fooled by that. The traffic especially in the evening hours can be quite intense even for the ride from Ninoy Aquino to the five-star luxury resort.
Some good news before-hand. You don’t need to rely on getting scammed by the taxi drivers or wait long for a Grab driver to pick you up. Because City of Dreams actually has a Shuttle Bus available from the international Terminal 3 in case you are staying on property during the duration of the series. Only a short walk away from COD are also several large shopping malls such as the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) and Ayala Malls with plenty of eateries around.
All of these are situated by the bustling Manila Bay. If you want to see the famous walled city – Intramuros, it is nearby, however you will need to dedicate a couple of hours as there are plenty of tourist attractions around that area. If nightlife is more your speed, Makati is the place to be, whereas the trendy Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is the newest central business district with a lot of cool coffee shops and restaurants.
Tournament Schedule
Now let’s take a closer look at the tournament schedule which features an incredible 109 chances to win one of the APT trophies. In case you win more than one of them, delivery can almost certainly be arranged if they don’t fit into the carry ons.
In a nutshell, the 2024 APT Manila stop will be a feast for poker aficionados from the Philippines, South East Asia and international visitors. The Main Event alone has a guarantee of more than USD $1.7 Million while the entire festival boasts over PHP 170 Million (~ USD $3 Million) in guarantees. Read more about some of the key events right below.
APT Manila Main Event
On October 31, the live flights of the highly anticipated APT Manila 2024 Main Event kicks off. The price tag is set for PHP 85,000 (~USD 1,514) and Day 1A features a level duration of 60 minutes, whereas the subsequent heats have shorter levels. Day 1B on November has six 45-minute levels followed by four 60-minute levels. The last chance Day 1C and Day 1D on November 2 both include six levels of 30 minutes followed by four levels of 40 minutes each.
All Day 1 survivors will then return for Day 2 on November 3 when the race to the money unleashes. The registration remains open until the start with a mouth-watering PHP 100 Million guarantee (~US$ 1.7 Million) up for grabs, though, the final prize pool will likely be higher than that. Once the money has been reached, the OnLive qualifiers will enter the fray and un-bag the chips they earned in the virtual arena.
Other Events
The opening day of the series brings with it nine different tournaments including the Philippines National Cup, a low-stakes multi-flight event with a large guarantee. With an entry fee of PHP 12,000 (~ USD 214), it is quite affordable and three starting flights are available before the winner will be crowned one day later. Omaha and Triple Draw Side Events will be hosted as well, along with two High Roller tournaments.
On the very next day, the latest craze of the live poker industry will get all the attention and buzz in the Grand Ballroom as Event #10 Mystery Bounty Hunter sponsored by Natural8 kicks off. For a price tag of PHP 20,000 (~USD 356), players will be battling for their share of at least PHP 6 Million guaranteed and the golden envelopes. Two flights are scheduled, the bounties come into play on the final day on October 30.
Slightly more expensive is the next key event on the schedule, Event #20 Super Stack with a buy-in of PHP 30,000 (~USD 534). This one-day tournament comes with a guarantee of PHP 6 Million, which is ten times as much as the entry fee for Event #21 APT Super High Roller on the very same day. A small field of high-stakes contenders is expected to pay PHP 600,000 (~USD 10,688) and duel for at least PHP 15 Million in guarantees.
The most expensive tournament of the 2024 APT Manila stop runs from November 1 until 2, as Event #41 Superstar Challenge comes with a hefty price tag of PHP 1.5 Million (~USD 26,719). Slightly less expensive is the next higher stakes event on the schedule, Event #52 Single Day High Roller (PHP 120,000 / ~USD 2,138).
Another tournament sponsored by Natural8 is Event #74: Zodiac Classic, which features an elevated price tag of PHP 125,000 (~USD 2,227) with a guarantee of PHP 15 Million. November 4 and 5 will be the tournament days to determine a winner, while Event #81 Double Stack follows right on the heels with a buy-in of PHP 20,000 (~USD 356) and two starting days on November 5.
The penultimate day of the series is another busy one and includes the kick-off for Event #93 Mini Main Event as well as the APT High Roller. With the former costing PHP 25,000 (~USD 445) and boasting a PHP 5 Million guarantee, it should attract plenty of aspiring local poker players. The price tag for the High Roller is PHP 200,000 (~USD 3,563) and more geared towards the international audience.
Plenty of trophies in various mixed game variants will be up for grabs with the Ladies Event, Senior’s Event, Razzdugi, Omaha, Courchevel and Triple Stud all scheduled to take place. In case you have never heard of Atomic Pineapple, that will also be available as well.
One of the most iconic happenings on the schedule to release some tension is the APT Players Party, which starts at 10 p.m. local time on November 3. That’ll be after the money bubble in the Main Event has burst and you can either have a couple of drinks to forget about the pain or rejuvenate for more with a possible hangover in sight.
That wraps up all key events on the schedule, though, the final day of the series on November 7 has eight brand new tournaments and the conclusion of another two to end the APT Manila 2024 stop with a bang. Below, they can be found in a nutshell again.
APT Manila Highlight Events
Date | Event | Buy-In | Guarantee |
Oct 28 – 29 | Event #1 Philippines National Cup | PHP 12,000 (~USD 214) | PHP 4 Million (~USD 70,331) |
Oct 29 – 30 | Event #10 Mystery Bounty Hunter | PHP 20,000 (~USD 356) | PHP 6 Million (~USD 105,500) |
Oct 30 | Event #20 Super Stack | PHP 30,000 (~USD 534) | PHP 6 Million (~USD 105,500) |
Oct 30 – 31 | Event #21 APT Super High Roller | PHP 600,000 (~USD 10,688) | PHP 15 Million (~USD 263,743) |
Oct 31 – Nov 6 | Event #31: APT Main Event | PHP 85,000 (~USD 1,514) | PHP 100 Million (~USD 1,758,288) |
Nov 4 – 5 | Event #74 Zodiac Classic | PHP 125,000 (~USD 2,227) | PHP 15 Million (~USD 263,743) |
Nov 5 – 6 | Rvent #81 Double Stack | PHP 20,000 (~USD 356) | PHP 4 Million (~USD 70,331) |
Nov 6 – 7 | Event #93 Mini Main Event | PHP 25,000 (~USD 445) | PHP 5 Million (~USD 87,914) |
6 – 7 | Event #94 APT High Roller | PHP 200,000 (~USD 3,563) | PHP 15 Million (~USD 263,743) |