Historic APT Manila Main Event sees 159 remain, Zhen Chen leads Day 3; Yu Tang Wang closes in on third series title; Lester Edoc shines once more

Past its halfway mark, the sought out APT Manila 2024 festivities currently underway at the City of Dreams, Manila, continue to be in full swing, with day seven of its lineup seeing the APT Main Event play down to the money. Armed with a PHP 100,000,000 (~USD 1,713,780) guarantee, the series headliner was destined to be a country record right from the start even before it hit the felt.

The brand’s return under its New Era drew in a total of 1,081 entries, more than enough to become the largest Philippine APT event. The Tour continues to make a mark stop after stop with its previous showing in 2022 at 380 entries for roughly a PHP 23 million pot (~USD 405K), a far stretch to what it brings to the table this season.

APT Manila 2024 – Schedule

Zhen Chen tops APT Main Event Day 3 Qualifiers

Day 2 of the APT Main Event welcomed 369 runners back on the felt, each vying for a share of the PHP 100,000,000 (~USD 1,713,780) prize pool just as payouts were posted. An eye-catching PHP 18,060,000 (~USD 309,430) top prize remained on everyone’s vision, with the day set to close once ITM was reached. By the seventh level of play, action wrapped up following the exit of Norway’s Mikal Blomlie as the stone cold bubble, having lost a flip for a 54 BB pot against Jae Wook Shin. Shin’s win propelled him right up the counts to bag one of the biggest stacks coming into Day 3.

China’s Zhen Chen on another note, will be the one to watch, being the sole player to amass a seven digit chip count to start the next round. Trailing behind him is Australia’s Vincent Huang, who likewise piled in a hefty pot right on bubble time, to take second in rank. Back to back APT Main Event titlist Lester Edoc, rounds up the top three spots as he guns for another major APT title across this season’s games. 

Action will recommence at Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante 6,000, where 159 players are geared to return, each locking up a PHP 167,000 (~USD 2,860) mincash. International notables still in the run include Ryan Hong (328,000), Gab Yong Kim (319,000), Renji Mao (302,000), Natural8 ambassador Nevan Chang (282,000), Joey Weissman (281,000), bracelet winner Carlos Chang (221,000), Ronald Haverkamp (124,000), and two-time APT Superstar Challenge winner Joseph Cheong (91,000). 

Local force remain to stand strong with Day chip leader Edilberto Gopez (743,000), APT champions Mike Takayama (495,000) and Moses Saquing (50,000), continue to be in play, along with regulars David Erquiaga (331,000), James Mendoza (303,000), and Christopher Mateo (243,000).

APT Main Event Review

• Date/s: October 31 – November 6, 2024
• Buy-in: PHP 85,000 (~USD 1,450)
• Guarantee: PHP 100,000,000 (~USD 1,713,780)
• Entries: 1,081 (639 unique)
• Prize pool: PHP 100,000,000 (~USD 1,713,780)
• ITM: 159 places

APT Main Event Day 2 Top Ten Survivors

Full List of Day 3 Qualifiers
Backtrack on all the day’s action via SMP Live Updates

Yu Tang Wang closes in on third series title

It’s three for three for Taiwan’s Yu Tang Wang with another APT title in the bag at yesterday’s 9 Game (NLH, Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw, PLO, Stud H/L, Limit Hold’em, NL 2-7 Single Draw, Stud, Omaha H/L) event. Yu has booked an incredible run at this season’s showing, having secured three coveted trophies in just over a week of games. The Taiwanese APT multi-winner is no stranger to winning mixed game side events, having also done so with three victories in the last APT series held in Taipei. Yu most recently claimed his biggest payday of the three at PHP 222,000 (~USD 3,800) for besting the 62nd trophy event’s 31-entry field.

• Event 9: Hyper Turbo – NL Single Draw A-5 – PHP 40,204 (~USD 685)
• Event 45: Limit Triple Draw – Dealer’s Choice (Badugi, A-5, Badacey, 2-7, Badeucey, High) – PHP 73,531 (~USD 1,260)
• Event #62: 9 Game (NLH, Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw, PLO, Stud H/L, Limit Hold’em, NL 2-7 Single Draw, Stud, Omaha H/L) – PHP 222,000 (~USD 3,800)

Lester Edoc ships 20th APT victory

Filipino pro Lester Edoc is probably used to claiming all the accolades, backed by an undeniable twenty APT titles under his belt. Edoc jumped in at the High Roller – Double Stack event just as bagging time over the APT Main Event finished, and secured another victory, adding PHP 1,452,080 (~USD 24,880) in winnings to his already extensive $2M live cash record. The highly skilled runner also previously won the Hyper Turbo – Win the Button event, and becomes the latest joiner of the series’ multi-winner circle.

• Date/s: November 3, 2024
• Buy-in: PHP 180,000 (~USD 3,080)
• Entries: 22
• Prize pool: PHP 3,457,080 (~USD 59,290)
• ITM: 4 places

High Roller – Double Stack Full Payouts