APPT Manila Championship Highlights: Minwoong Jeong Reigns At APPT Championship For ₱11.85M (~$202K)

PokerStars LIVE wrapped up its second annual Asia Pacific Poker Tour - APPT Manila Championship at the newly renovated Coral Lounge inside the world-class Okada Manila. The twelve day festival, held from October 16 to 27, drew a powerhouse field of contenders from across Asia and beyond with contingents from Korea, Japan, India, Vietnam, and Russia all joining the strong local force, along with international players based in Thailand.

In numbers, a total of ₱225,328,848 (~$3,827,000) was paid out across the board and 58 champions crowned with the Philippines lifting the most trophies at 17 followed by Japan with 10 and Korea with 7. 

Stealing the headlines was Korea’s Minwoong Jeong, who steamrolled through the APPT Championship final table to seize the title — a triumph that has been eight years in the making. Among the list of other champions included Alex Chong, Jaesung Lee, Edgar Asehan, Fendy Kosasih, Emmanuel Segismundo, and Minseok Kim. Read about their victories and other festival highlights down below.

Minwoong Jeong Unstoppable At APPT Championship For Career-First Title

An emotional victory for Korea’s Minwoong Jeong at the festival’s crown jewel — APPT Championship ₱60M GTD. From the first shuffle of the final day to the last card dealt, Jeong was in complete command, sitting on a mountain of chips that no one was able to topple.

I am so happy! I am not a good player, just very lucky. It is not about winning the money, it is about pride. Poker is very challenging but I love poker. I have been trying to win for eight years and I was going to stop. Now, I don't know, I am so happy.

Luck or not, Jeong's journey to the top was far from easy. He had to navigate a minefield of 384 entries, majority of which were regional heavyweights and international pros. After a swingy Day 2, his momentum built late in Day 3, when he knocked out Daniel Lei in 9th place - a turning point that put him firmly in control. From there, Jeong gripped tight. He closed out the heat eliminating Ronald Haverkamp in 7th place to bag up nearly half of the chips in play heading into the finale.

Armed with a commanding lead, Jeong returned and utterly dismantled the final 6 round in a quick 59 hands. He eliminated his most feared contender, Aditya Agarwal in 4th place then outdrew Craig Jones at heads up to emerge as the tour's newest champion.

Livestream Channels

To relive the APPT Championship, tune in to PokerStars YouTube and Twitch. Start time is 15:00 GMT / 16:00 CET/ 11:00 EDT

• October 28 – APPT Championship Main Event Day 2

• October 29 – APPT Championship Main Event Day 3

• October 30 – APPT Championship Main Event Final 6

Other APPT Highlights

In addition to Jeong, the 2025 APPT Manila Championship crowned numerous other first time series winners, among them were Korea's Jaesung Lee, Minseok Kim, Hong Kong cash game player Tak Sin Alex Chong, Indonesia's Fendy Kosasih, who went on to win two series titles.

Fendy Kosasih: From High Roller Warm Up To APPT High Roller Champion

Jaesung Lee Wins APPT National

Cash Game Player Alex Chong Clinches PokerStars Red Dragon Title

Minseok Kim Wins APPT Mini Championship

Locals Making Noise

International players weren't the only ones up on the throne. Filipino players also earned the spotlight at several events.

Edgar Asehan Wins APPT Super High Roller

Emmanuel Segismundo Dominates Mystery Bounty

At the Mystery Bounty, Filipino pro Emmanuel Segismundo claimed the throne and much much more. Segismundo outlasted the 624 entry field and collected a staggering 13 bounties, including the biggest catch of the day worth ₱600,000. In total, he walked away ₱2,881,000 richer - ₱1,900,000 (1st prize) and ₱981,000 (bounties). 

Benhur Ybarsabal Wins Mini High Roller

Florencio Campomanes Most Final Table Cashes

Florencio Campomanes may not have walked away with a title but he did get close numerous times with four final table cashes earned. In total, he collected ₱3,927,000 (~$66,700). 

• 3rd - High Roller Warm-Up

• 2nd - Mini High Roller

• 4th - APPT Super High Roller

• 6th - APPT High Roller

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Up Next: Manila Megastack 23 - ₱27 Million GTD

Up next for the brand is the 23rd edition of the highly popular Manila Megastack taking place at the PokerStars LIVE hub in Okada Manila, awarded the Best Poker Room IR by IAG. Across the twelve days, running from November 27 to December 8, the festival features 69 events and over ₱27 Million (~$450,000) guarantees. 

Manila Megastack 23 - Schedule

Okada Manila

Spanning 30 hectares of pure luxury, Okada Manila stands as the Philippines’ premier integrated resort — a Forbes Five-Star destination with 1,001 luxury rooms and suites, ranging from the spacious Deluxe Rooms to the opulent Villa Collection – some of the most lavish accommodations. There are also 25 restaurants scattered throughout the facility. For entertainment, guests can marvel at The Fountain, a stunning spectacle of light and water choreography, or dance the night away at Cove Manila, the world’s largest indoor beach club and nightclub.