APT Phu Quoc: Over US$ 4.1 Million in Paid Out; New Tour Mark Set

Through 78 trophy events spanning ten days, the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Phu Quoc, held at the Corona Resort and Casino, a grand total of VND 104,420,824,349 (~US$ 4,111,055) were handed out to the winners coming from 47 countries and regions, making this endeavor the most successful stop in the tour’s history in this island destination.

Biggest APT Phu Quoc Main Event In History

The APT Phu Quoc logged a total of 5,938 entries were logged and a staggering 840 unique entries were also noted making it an 86% increase in its attendance and payouts since the last edition in 2023. Almost a quarter of the prize money (24%) were up for grabs in (Event #20) the Main Event as 795 entries competed for a share of the VND 25 Billion (~US$ 1,000,000) prize pool and eventually China’s Hu Jinlong took down the top prize of VND 4.7 Billion (~US$ 185,000).

The second largest payout was in (Event #67) the APT High Roller, which had its original guarantee almost quadrupled and ended up having a VND 9,707,760,000 (~US$ 382,195) prize pool. That was triumphed by Jason Lau of Malaysia for VND 2,329,880,000 (~US$ 91,730).

Garnering ghe third biggest prize pool was (Event #29) the High Roller – Double Stack with a total prize pool of VND6,128,460,000 (~US$239,010) which was taken down by India’s Avneesh Munjal for VND1,541,930,000 (~US$60,981).

All told, the APT’s “Straddle” festival (transitioning from Manila to Phu Quoc in just days) was a huge success for both the organization and the players alike.

Here are the APT Events Breakdown by Prize Pool.

APT Phu Quoc Side Event Round-Up

Prior to Phu Quoc this year, Malaysia’s Jason Lau had his biggest single-event haul by finishing sixth in the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 for NT$1,221,000 (~US$37,974). Now, he tops that by triumphing in (Event #67) the APT Phu Quoc High Roller for VND 2,329,880,000 (~US$ 91,730) and the highly coveted Bronze Lion APT High Roller trophy. Lau survived a field of 139 entries and got the “lion’s share” of the VND 9,707,760,000 (~US$ 382,195) prize pool—the second largest prize pool after the Main Event.

Heads UP against Taiwanese sensation Nevan Chang only lasted 14 hands as Lau brought a 4-1 chip lead to the final duel.

Chang’s runner-up finish netted him VND 1,582,360,000 (~US$ 62,300) while Amit Kaushik of India ot third place for VND 1,043,580,000 (~US$ 41,085). In a post win interview with APT presenter Greg Liow, Lau shared,

“I mean, this event has been very special for me,” Lau said in hi post-win interview with APT Presenter Greg Liow. “This is my fifth final table for this event, and obviously the third one back-to-back from Taipei, Manila, and now Vietnam, which is my home, so it’s a much more special meaning for me to win it here.”

With Thailand slowly making inroads after the international success of Punnat Punsri, Runch Pornraksamanee etches hs name in poker lore by emerging victorious in (Event #66) the Mini Main Event. The win also came with the top purse of VND 600,354,000 (~US$ 23,635) and it was the Thai’s third cash in these proceedings.

Pornraksamanee topped a field of 284 entries that saw the prize pool inflate to VND 2,975,184,000 (~US$ 117,130) from its original VND 1,500,000,000 (~US$ 58,500) guarantee. The triumph was also his biggest career live bink.

Finishing in second was Nguyen Duy Anh Trung of the host nation for VND 381,370,000 (US$ 15,015) while third place went to Korea’s Oh Kitae for VND 285,870,000 (~US$ 11,255).

After his stellar performance to take down the APT Phu Quoc Super High Roller event, Jerome Tan of Malaysia ends his Phu Quoc stint with victory at (Event #76) the Last Chance High Roller for VND498,660,000 (~US$19,626). It was Tan’s third cash and it came off a deep run in the Zodiac Classic where he came in fourth place.

Hyper Turbo High Roller champion John Perry of Australia finished in second place for VND344,660,000 (~US$13,573) and third place went to Baby Super Challenge titlist Kunal Patni of India for VND220,000,000 (~US$8,661).

Besides the Thais, the Indians also left indelible mark at APT Phu Quoc with Kumar Kishor earning only his second live cash, but more importantly, his first ever title in (Event #75) the Micro Main Event, overcoming a field of 114 entries and snaring the top prize of VND146,892,400 (~US$5,783)—the most money he has ever gotten playing tournament poker.

Switzerland’s Remo Marti settled for the runner-up prize of VND99,260,000 (~US$3,907) while the third-place prize of VND64,520,000 (~US$2,540) went to Qi Shun Nian of China.

Winning his only cash in Phu Quoc came in a big way for Hong Kong’s Clement Lau, taking down (Event #77) the PLO High for VND45,163,600 (~US$1,778) and claiming his first cash in Vietnam since the 2023 Hanoi Billions—where he cashed twice.

Chen Zeyu of China picked his third runner-up finish in these proceedings and also pocketed VND30,120,000 (~US$1,186) while Korea’s Kim Jongyeon captured third for VND19,360,000 (~US$762).

Earning his first cash here and fourth title overall, Vietnam’s Nguyen Ngoc Thang triumphs in (Event #78) the Turbo Short Deck – Double Chance for VND45,163,600 (~US$1,778). Prior to Phu Quoc, Nguyen had taken down local titles in Hanoi but this is his first APT trophy after coming close in the 2023 APT Vietnam National Cup, where he finished in fourth place.

Valeriy Petuhov of Turkmenistan landed in second spot for VND 30,120,000 (~US$762) and third place went to Japan’s Nobuaki Sasaki for VND19,360,000 (~US$508).

Replicating his feat just a few weeks ago in APT Manila, Japan’s Kyosuke Nagami prevails in (Event #79) the Turbo – High Roller for VND167,620,000 (~US$6,596). Nagami, who also picked up his third here, bested 16 entries enroute to the victory.

Myron Pereira of India won second prize for VND111,740,000 (~US$4,398) and the third place payout of VND69,840,000 (~US$2,750) went to Cheng Ruihan of China.

After coming away with the win in (Event #14) the Omaholic Hi-Lo, Kentaro Hayashi of Japan added another title by ruling (Event #80) the PLO High—virtually bookending his Phu Quoc stint. Hayashi actually had three cashes in these proceedings, including a second place in (Event #2) the PLO Hi-Lo 5-Card. These represent the only cashes for the Japanese player in 2024. Hayashi also pocketed the top prize of VND45,802,000 (~US$1,804) in the process.

Ariunbold Ariuntsetseg of Mongolia finished in second place for VND31,560,000 (~US$1,242) while Thailand’s Vorakrit Vorakulsathian rounded out the podium finishers in third for VND20,110,000 (~US$791).

The last time Indian amateur Anurag Rawat experienced cashing in a poker tournament was in 2013 in a third-place finish during the Indian Poker Series. By winning (Event #81) the Hyper Turbo, Rawat achieved many firsts: his first trophy, his first cash in Phu Quoc and his biggest single day haul of VND66,748,000 (~US$2,628).

Finishing in second place was Fedor Mamaev from Russia for VND46,140,000 (~US$1,817) and third place went to Thailand’s Bun Uthaitirat for VND29,450,000 (~US$1,159).

The very last event staged at APT Phu Quoc will go down as a memorable one for the Thai contingent as Paul Nattapatsiri successfully navigated through a tough field of 32 entries to capture (Event #82) the Hyper Turbo – High Roller for VND155,040,000 (~US$6,104).

Chau Chan Sheung of Hong Kong picked up the second prize money of VND106,860,000 (~US$4,208) while third place went to Bach Quang Minh of the host nation for VND68,090,000 (~US$2,681).

That does it for APT Phu Quoc!