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Justin Ong is a Filipino professional poker player widely recognized for his historic performance at the 2025 APPT Manila festival, where he became one of the few players to secure two major titles in a single week.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob, Justin Ong has total earnings of $403,043. He recently catapulted into the upper echelons of the Philippine All Time Money List following a career-defining run at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Manila in July 2025. His biggest career score occurred in the APPT Manila Main Event , where he outlasted a massive field of 1,246 entries to win PHP 14,800,000 (∼$257,443).
Just days prior to his Main Event victory, he secured another prestigious title in the PokerStars Red Dragon event at the same festival, banking PHP 4,680,585 (~$81,605). These back-to-back victories contributed to a total festival haul of over PHP 19,000,000, significantly boosting his poker net worth. Other notable results include a 4th place finish in the Philippine Poker Millions Main Event for ₱2,900,000 (~$50,790) and a deep run in the Manila Megastack 23 Main Event, where he earned PHP 113,000 (~$1,920).
Biography & Poker Background
Originally from the Philippines, Ong spent much of his early career as a dedicated cash game grinder. He is a familiar face in the local Manila scene, primarily known for his steady presence at the cash tables before making a explosive transition to the international tournament circuit.
His breakthrough onto the global stage came during the 2025 APPT season, where his “double triumph” at Okada Manila made headlines across the Asian poker market. Despite his newfound tournament success, Ong remains rooted in the Filipino poker community, often crediting his technical foundation to the high-volume environment of local cash games.
Play Style & Strategy
Ong is known for a relentless and aggressive play style, particularly during the late stages of a tournament. During his APPT Manila run, he demonstrated a masterful ability to leverage a big stack, frequently using bluffs to pressure opponents during high-stakes pay jumps.
He describes his own strategy as one that balances patience with calculated aggression; he is willing to play “passive” with big hands to induce action but can quickly shift gears to “bulldoze” a final table when he senses weakness. His resilience was on full display during his Main Event heads-up battle against Oliver Lirio, where he successfully overcame a chip deficit by executing a series of well-timed bluffs to reclaim the lead and the title.
