Ivan Govorov Takes Down Largest Ever APT Manila Main Event

It all started in the online streets of Natural8, then unfolded at the Crown Plaza Manila Galleria as of February 9, 2025. One week later, the crown jewel of the APT Manila Classic 2025 determined a winner in the largest-ever Asian Poker Tour Main Event in the Philippines.

Ivan Govorov Wins APT Manila Classic Main Event

Out of a total field of 1,202 entries in the PHP 60,000 (~USD 1,031) buy-in, the APT Manila Classic on the final day, nine players were left to battle for the largest piece of the PHP 62,311,680 (~USD 1,072,158) prize pool and it took 183 hands on the live streamed final table for Ivan Govorov to take home the title, trophy and an entry to the APT Championship Event in November worth TWD 350,000 (~USD 10,700). Govorov defeated Samuel Mullur in heads-up and that both would end up there seemed somewhat unlikely, considering that they entered the final table seventh and eighth in chips.

The victory for the Russian is even more remarkable as he had dropped to all but three big blinds before staging an impressive comeback, overcoming one of the new up-and-coming stars of the global poker scene. Despite his young age, Mullur already has nearly US$ 5 million in live tournament cashes including a gold bracelet during the 2023 WSOP Paradise on the Bahamas for more than ~USD 2.8 million.

#18 APT Main Event (60,000 PHP)

Russia's Ivan Govorov overcame the APT record field of 1,202 Main Event entries in the Philippines to take home the title, trophy and an entry to the APT Championship Event in November worth NTD 350,000 (~USD 10,700). Govorov defeated Samuel Mullur in heads-up play to claim the lion's cut of the PHP 62,311,680 (~USD 1,072,158) prize pool. He earned a career high payout of PHP 11,069,680 (~USD 190,201).

Total Prize

$1,070,941

Guaranteed

60,000,000

Entries

1,202

ITM

175

#	Payout	Player
1	$190,255 11,069,680 PHP	IG Ivan Govorov Russian Federation
2	$111,835 6,507,000 PHP	SM Samuel Mullur Austria
3	$78,665 4,577,000 PHP	DW Dylan Wayne Foster Australia
4	$58,950 3,430,000 PHP	OY Or Yaaqov Nezer Israel
5	$45,165 2,628,000 PHP	AU Alexander Ugay Russian Federation
6	$33,395 1,943,000 PHP	DB Dmitrii Belikov Russian Federation
7	$25,455 1,481,000 PHP	JZ Jie Zhang Hong Kong
8	$18,130 1,055,000 PHP	AP Adalsteinn Petur Karlsson
9	$14,075 819,000 PHP	HI Hiroya Iwamoto Japan

Check the 175 Payouts & Results ...

Main Event Final Table Recap

Japan’s Hiroya Iwamoto started the final table second in chips but wound up being the first casualty. He doubled Mullur and then ran ace-queen into the pocket queens of Alexander Ugay to see his promising spot turn into a nightmare. Iceland’s Adalsteinn Karlsson earned a ladder, but bowed out soon after when Mullur notched up his first knockout. Things got even sweeter for the Austrian when Or Nezer five-bet jammed ace-four suited into the pocket aces of Mullur, propelling the latter into the top spot.

Nezer recovered some of the losses when he flopped a flush to bust Jie Zhang and the start-of-the-day chip leader  Dmitrii Belikov was the next contender to run out of chips. He was flipped out by Mullur, who cemented his status as the table captain with half of the chips in play. Dylan Foster then came from behind to double through Govorov and leave the latter on fumes, but the story simply didn’t end right there. Govorov doubled, as did Foster once more through Mullur before Alexander Ugay followed fellow countryman Belikov to the payout desk.

Nezer then flopped quads to double through Foster, providing another shift in momentum before Govorov doubled three times in half a dozen hands. Mullur excelled with an outrageous hero-call to oust Nezer with fourth pair, sending the Israeli out in fourth place. A wild roller coaster ride ensued and Foster was eliminated by the now chip leader Govorov, who then also made quick work of Mullur to earn his biggest score on the live poker circuit to date.

The APT Manila Classic 2025 will finish today, February 16, with a winner to be crowned in the APT High Roller, among others. Side Event results and a festival recap will follow later on.

For all of the results, live reports, and schedule, be sure to head to the links provided below.

Links:

Event Results
Schedule
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