Philippines Poker 2025 SPI Review: Top Ten Filipino Poker Players
The 2025 poker season has served as a powerful testament to the rising dominance of the Southeast Asian circuit, with the top ten Filipino poker players establishing themselves as some of the most disciplined and high-performing tactical minds in the industry. According to the Somuchpoker Poker Index (SPI) , the 2025 leaderboard highlights a year where Filipino professionals combined massive volume in regional stops with high-stakes surgical precision on the global stage.
The following table showcases the top ten Filipino poker players of 2025, detailing the consistency and raw earning power that defined their seasons.
2025 SPI Score: Philippines Top Ten
| Rank | Player | 2025 SPI Score | Total SPI Earning | ITM | Festivals | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Erquiaga | 24,461 | $305,998 | 56 | 24 | 81 |
| 2 | Vamerdino Magsakay | 18,724 | $517,155 | 36 | 14 | 48 |
| 3 | Edgar Asehan | 18,138 | $372,697 | 35 | 14 | 50 |
| 4 | James Mendoza | 16,814 | $2,346,885 | 16 | 8 | 19 |
| 5 | Mike Takayama | 15,803 | $254,804 | 38 | 18 | 54 |
| 6 | John Niko Costiniano | 14,831 | $883,250 | 25 | 12 | 34 |
| 7 | Joshua Figuerres | 13,724 | $120,445 | 34 | 20 | 51 |
| 8 | Lester Edoc | 13,549 | $504,210 | 22 | 14 | 35 |
| 9 | Alvir Inocentes | 12,997 | $63,474 | 50 | 13 | 61 |
| 10 | Benhur Ybarsabal | 12,668 | $115,425 | 36 | 12 | 59 |
Player Profiles
1. David Erquiaga
Finishing at the summit of the top ten Filipino poker players is David Erquiaga , whose 2025 season was a masterclass in relentless volume. Erquiaga accumulated a massive 2025 SPI Score of 24,461 by navigating a grueling schedule of 81 events across 24 festivals.
With nearly $2.5 million in total live earnings, Erquiaga’s peak in 2025 came from the APT Taipei 2025 , where he secured a 2nd-place finish in the Double Stack event for TWD 2,289,000 (~$74,020). His efforts resulted in SPI earnings of $305,998. Currently ranking 6th on the Philippines All Time Money List, his best live cash remains $137,008, achieved during a dominant victory in the 2022 WPT Prime Cambodia Main Event.
2. Vamerdino Magsakay
Ranked second among the top ten Filipino poker players is Vamerdino Magsakay . He reached a 2025 SPI Score of 18,724 by demonstrating incredible efficiency in high-stakes fields. Magsakay recorded SPI earnings of $517,155 in 2025 alone.
Widely recognized as one of the Philippines’ most successful and consistent competitors on the global stage with over $1.5 million in total live earnings, Magsakay’s best live cash of $201,811 was earned through his spectacular 4th-place finish in the 8 Handed event at the 56th World Series of Poker 2025 . While around the Asian circuit, his highlight was from the Triton One High Roller .
3. Edgar Asehan
Edgar Asehan secures the third spot in the top ten Filipino poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 18,138. Asehan proved his consistency by securing 35 cashes, leading to SPI earnings of $372,697. Currently holding nearly $1 millin in total live earnings and ranks 8th on the Philippines All Time Money List, Asehan’s career-best score stands at $87,085, which he captured during a high-stakes championship run in the APPT Manila Championship 2025 . He outlasted a field of 32 heavy-hitters and claimed the ultimate victory in the APPT Super High Roller event, setting a new career-high cash and capping off his year in sensational fashion.
4. James Mendoza
Occupying the fourth position in the top ten Filipino poker players, James Mendoza recorded a strong 2025 SPI Score of 16,814. Mendoza focused on elite festivals, turning just 19 entries into massive SPI earnings of $2,346,885. He ranks 1st on the Philippines All Time Money List with nearly $4.5 million in total live earnings. His best live cash of $1,515,000 came from a massive podium finish at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju in 2025 , where he claimed the title in the WPT Global Slam , marking a stunning highlight of his year.
5. Mike Takayama
The legendary Mike Takayama holds the 5th spot in the top ten Filipino poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 15,803. As the country’s first WSOP bracelet winner, Takayama continues to dominate, recording 38 cashes for SPI earnings of $254,804.
Takayama sits in 3rd position on the Philippines All Time Money List with over $4 million in total live earnings. His best live cash remains $198,568 from his outstanding win in the Super Turbo Bounty at the 49th World Series of Poker 2028. His 2025 highlight came from the APT Championship with his deep run in the High Roller Championship event for a payday of TWD 879,100 (~$28,078).
6. John Niko Costiniano
John Niko Costiniano ranks 6th among the top ten Filipino poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 14,831. Costiniano focused on high-value festivals, resulting in SPI earnings of $883,250. With total live earnings over $1.2 million, his career-best cash of $729,491 was achieved during a podium finish in the festival held by the Asian Poker Tour in 2025.
His career-defining moment was from his exceptional performance in the APT Championship 2025, where he secured the runner-up position in the APT Championship Main Event Freezeout for a payday of TWD 22,862,700 (~739,895).
7. Joshua Figuerres
Joshua Figuerres takes the 7th position among the top ten Filipino poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 13,724. Figuerres was one of the most active players, attending 20 festivals to secure SPI earnings of $120,445. He has accumulated nearly $400,000 in total live earnings, with a best live cash of $103,000.
Figuerres’ 2025 peak time came from the VPT Championship II Phu Quoc, where he took home the 2nd-place prize of VND 1,148,900,000 (~$43,679) in the Super Stars. While impressive, his career-best score was surpassed in the new year at the WPT Cambodia 2026 , where he secured the runner-up place in the WPT Prime Cambodia for $103,000, setting a new mark in his poker resume.
8. Lester Edoc
Lester Edoc takes the 8th position in the top ten Filipino poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 13,549. A veteran high-roller specialist, Edoc recorded SPI earnings of $504,210 by navigating a schedule of 35 events across 14 festivals and taking home 22 cashes.
With nearly $3 million in total live earnings, his career-best score stands at $265,645, which he earned at the APT Taipei 2024 with his runner-up finish in the Superstar Challenge Day 1 event. He remains one of the most feared trophy hunters in the Philippines and currently ranks 4th on the Philippines All Time Money List. His 2025 reached its peak also at the festival held by the Asian Poker Tour, APT Taipei 2025 , by claiming a 2nd-place prize in the Zodiac Classic Sponsored by Natural8 for TWD 5,116,000 (~$157,900).
9. Alvir Inocentes
Alvir Inocentes ranks 9th in the top ten Filipino poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 12,997. Inocentes demonstrated incredible volume, securing 50 “In The Money” finishes for SPI earnings of $63,474. His total live earnings are approaching $300,000 at the moment, with a career-best cash standing at $24,024, which was set in the 2022 APPT Open Manila, where he triumphed in the APPT Open National event.
A familiar face in the Philippines poker community, often found grinding daily and major tournaments at the Metro Card Club and Okada Manila, Inocentes had a highly active 2025 season, including a runner-up finish in the SuperStack Hyper Turbo for PHP 100,000 (~$1,708) at Manila Megastack 23 , and a deep run in the Manila Megastack 23 Main Event for for PHP 150,000 (~$2,549).
10. Benhur Ybarsabal
Rounding out the top ten is Benhur Ybarsabal with a 2025 SPI Score of 12,668. Ybarsabal participated in 59 events to conclude the season with SPI earnings of $115,425. While approaching $200,000 in total live earnings, Ybarsabal has rapidly ascended the ranks of the Southeast Asian circuit and recently captured his first major title in a sensational victory at the Metro Card Club.
His career-best live cash of $27,577 came in 2025 at the APPT Manila Championship , where he secured his first “Spadie” trophy by winning the Mini High Roller , setting a new career-high cash and marking a stunning highlight of his year.
Where to Play in Philippines
The Philippines is a premier destination for live poker, offering world-class regulated environments.
- Newport World Resorts : The home of the largest poker room in the country and a frequent host for international tours.
- Okada Manila : Features the PokerStars LIVE Manila room, known for high-stakes cash games and major tournament series.
- Metro Card Club : The legendary local venue that serves as the heart of the Filipino poker community.
Philippines’s Poker Festivals
- Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila: These festivals are the crown jewel of the domestic circuit, drawing thousands of international players.
- WPT Prime Philippines: A major stop on the World Poker Tour that provides a path to the WPT World Championship.
- Manila Megastack: A high-frequency series famous for its deep-stack structures and diverse fields.
Advancing into 2026, the race for the next Player of the Year is already heating up. With the top ten Filipino poker players building on their massive successes, the competition promises to push the limits of strategy on the international stage.
![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/1x1/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small}
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