Mitsuki Sakimoto Wins APL Manila Main Event for PHP 9,650,000 (~USD 166,695)

yesterday at 12:33 AM

Mitsuki Sakimoto Clinches APL Manila Main Event

A mere Japanese university student new to the game, Mitsuki Sakimoto ventured out to the city of Manila with the idea of diving head first to explore his newfound hobby. Much to his surprise and everyone else in his circle, his passion for the game impressively turned into a PHP 9,650,000 (~USD 166,695) profit. The 22-year old beginner delivered a crushing performance at this season’s Ace Poker League (APL) – APL Manila Main Event, besting a field of 739 entries to capture the lion’s share of the PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000) prize pool.

I’m very happy. I couldn’t believe it because this is the first time for me to win a tournament, and I don’t have much experience playing poker, especially in another country. I was very nervous, but on day two, three, and the final day, I became more relaxed, and I was able to play my own game from day two onwards.

#15 APL Main Event (65,000 PHP)

Ace Poker League has closed another chapter in its books with this season's Manila Main Event seeing Japan's Mitsuki Sakimoto reigning in the glory. A total of 739 entries turned up for its latest showing, sizing up a grand prize pool of PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000). Stakes were high across the Final Day games with only 8 players returning on the hunt for the title. After just four hours of play, action capped with Sakimoto besting the field, earning him the largest series payout of PHP 9,650,000 (~USD 166,695).

Total Prize

$948,490

Guaranteed

55,000,000

Entries

739

ITM

111

#	Payout	Player
1	$166,695 9,650,000 PHP	MS Mitsuki Sakimoto Japan
2	$108,855 6,315,000 PHP	JY Jae Yi Chang Korea (Republic of)
3	$75,085 4,356,000 PHP	EA Edgar Asehan Philippines
4	$52,780 3,062,000 PHP	RM Reiner Magbutay Philippines
5	$37,770 2,191,000 PHP	RV Renato Villanueva Jr Philippines
6	$27,580 1,600,000 PHP	HJ Hoseung Jung Korea (Republic of)
7	$20,480 1,188,000 PHP	LS Lee Sunghak Korea (Republic of)
8	$15,565 903,000 PHP	JL Jeseok Lee Korea (Republic of)
9	$12,015 697,000 PHP	PZ Paul Zehetleitner Austria

Check the 111 Payouts & Results ...

Mitsuki Sakimoto Wins APL Manila Main Event

Stakes were high across the Final Day games with only eight players returning to Prime Poker Club on the hunt for the APL Manila Main Event title. Sakimoto entered the final rounds with an undeniable lead of 94 big blinds over his contenders and not once did he find himself at risk, nor did he relinquish the advantage.

I prepared. I called and messaged my friends, and they all gave me the same advice: ‘Don’t be afraid, just believe in yourself because if you’re afraid, you won’t win.’ It was really good advice for me. It was the best advice I could have received.

Final Table Recap

The first casualty of the day saw South Korea’s Jeseok Lee bow out within the first ten minutes, having entered the final rounds with only five big blinds. Local amateur Reiner Magbutay on the other hand, was off to a good start with an early double from Sakimoto seeing him ladder up the ranks. Magbutay was the only contender close to narrowing the gap between the table captain and the rest, more so when he sent Sunghak Lee out in 7th place, to trail Sakimoto just seven big blinds behind.

Another short stack, Hoseung Jung followed suit just a few deals later, having been grinded down to three big blinds, eventually falling to Renato Villanueva. Putting up a fight, Villanueva however, couldn’t escape his fate as his pocket queens failed to hold up against Sakimoto’s ace-king.

Sakimoto, still with a commanding lead at this point, was pushing everyone to the test, wielding his towering pile to the fullest. Magbutay, second in chips, finally took a stand, though it came at a wrong time after his four bet shove with ace-three suited cost him to lose his entire 47 big blind stack. Sakimoto looked him up with a better ace-queen and shipped the massive pot his way, to rack 85% of the total chips in play. The champ had this to say about the hand,

I was a little bit scared when he went all-in, even though I had ace-queen. His all-in was so quick, and I had such a strong hand. I was thinking, ‘How did he go all-in so quickly?’ I was thinking because there were two short stacks, too, so I couldn’t snap-call because I had him covered. I thought his hand wasn’t as strong as kings, so I called.

Edgar Asehan and Mitsuki Sakimoto at APL Manila Main Event — Edgar Asehan and Mitsuki Sakimoto

Both remaining Jae Yi Chang and Edgar Asehan were eyeing a PHP 3,000,000 (~USD 51,930) pay jump from second to third, and clashed just moments later, running a flip for a spot in the final match. Chang’s pocket pair held up, allowing him to advance to heads up play against Sakimoto, albeit at a 5:1 chip disadvantage. Sakimoto’s lead remained unchallenged as he closed out the victory in just four deals, with the final hand seeing him win a race for Chang’s last 21 big blinds, and secure the golden APL trophy.