Returning to APT Manila 2024 on October 28, 2024, the Asian Poker Tour (APT) brought the thrill of live poker right back to the heart of the Philippines. Held at the City of Dreams complex, this flagship event has already attracted remarkable numbers and set records. Apart from the major celebration, the show crowned the first two-time winners and organized other side events.
We break out the high points from this exciting poker series here.
Laurence Hall is leading APT Manila 2024 Main Event Flight B.
With a buy-in of PHP 85,000 (about USD 1,460), the APT Manila 2024 Event boasts a significant guarantee of PHP 100 million (about USD 1.73 million). With 249 submissions on the first flight. The 257 more joining on the second flight, this well-liked event attracted a vibrant audience. Natural8 drew an additional 157 players online, bringing the total number of entries to 663.
Starting with 40,000 chips, each player worked through ten stages, spending the first six 45 minutes and the last four 60 minutes. At the top of the scoreboard with a commanding stack of 312,000 chips by the end of the second flight on November 1. The Australian player Laurence Hall Jeonghan Lee with 232,101 chips and Jeorge Lagatuz with 228,000 were his nearest rivals. Among other prominent players moving to Day 2 with significant stacks were Heesoo Im, Feng Zhao, Emmanuel Derecho, Lester Edoc, and Youngshin “Vivian.”
The outstanding turnout and large stacks prepare the ground for a competitive APT Manila 2024 Day 2 when the battle will only get more severe as players strive for a part of the huge prize pool.
APT Manila 2024: Joseph Cheong Eyes Second Superstar Challenge Title
The PHP 1.5 million (USD 25,700) Superstar Challenge, the highest-stakes event in the series, also began on November 1. There were twelve entrants for this top tournament, and just three of the players advanced to the money stages. Joseph Cheong, who has already won the Superstar Challenge at the APT Jeju. He is renowned for his third-place finish in the 2010 WSOP Main Event and leads the field. Cheong leads with a strong 2,120,000-chip stack.
Two local pros, Vamerdino Magsakay (570,000) and Mike Takayama (310,000), stand as the final obstacles between Cheong and his second Superstar Challenge title. With blinds set at 10,000–25,000 and a large blind ante of 25,000, Vamerdino Magsakay (570,000) and Mike Takayama (310,000) have their work cut out to catch up to Cheong. The victor will receive an astounding PHP 8,002,500 (USD 136,040), while the three finalists will receive PHP 3,335,000 (USD 56,695).
Notable players Jack Sinclair, Mehdi Chaoui, Alex Lynskey, and Daniel Neilson went empty-handed in the face of fierce competition. Another fierce rival, Vincent Huang, barely missed the money in a challenging hand versus Cheong. Thanks to his huge chip advantage and solid track record, Cheong stays the favourite for the title as the last fight gets ready.
Rising to be the APT Manila 2024 First Two-Time Champions
With the naming of its first two-time champions, the APT Manila 2024 series achieved yet another benchmark. Gabriel Carter from the UK and Keita Kitamura from Japan each claimed their second series victory. Setting a new high point for both players.
Carter first won in Event 27: Turbo-PL Omaha High-Bomb Pot, where he outmatched 56 participants. Nearly twenty times his buy-in, his second triumph occurred in Event #44, a PHP 30,000 (USD 514) No-Limit Hold’em (NLHE). He bested 87 players to win PHP 598,530 (USD 10,254).
Kitamura, in the meantime, said he won his maiden event—hyper Turbo—NL Single Draw Mix (A-5, 2-7). His second success occurred in Event #48: Turbo PL Omaha High. He won a 55-player field to bring home PHP 149,376, USD 2,559. Japanese players have claimed nine titles thus far, demonstrating their strong presence throughout the show. Among them is Saori Tokunaga, who defeated Catherine Dolores Calunsod in a heads-up play to seize PHP 140,091.2 (USD 2,400), the top of the 76-entry Women’s Event.
Taiwan shines with three event wins; China wins the high roller prize
Three titles claimed by players Lia Ta Hsu, Yu Tang Wang, and Jia Yu Chen point to Taiwan’s notable representation at APT Manila 2024. Every triumph enhanced Taiwan’s tournament performance and demonstrated her poker skills.
However, Jiaqi He from China emerged victorious in Event #43: Single Day High Roller. Thereby securing the largest cash prize of the day. Attracting 60 entries, the tournament generated a prize fund of PHP 7,857,000 (USD 134,618) at a buy-in of PHP 150,000 (USD 2,570). The top nine places went to Ireland’s Gary Thompson, runner-up, who brought PHP 1,650,000 (USD 28,270). In the event, Jiaqi received the top prize of PHP 2,290,000 (USD 39,236), therefore attesting to a notable success.
APT Manila 2024: There will be more action at City of Dreams Manila in the future
With its record-breaking fields, elite titles, and fervent players from all around the world. The 2024 APT Manila 2024 series keeps creating waves in the live poker scene. Offering luxury and thrills right in the middle of Metro Manila, the City of Dreams Manila offers a perfect venue. Players and viewers are both looking forward to more exciting rounds, surprising triumphs, and fierce head-to-head encounters as the series moves forward.
This tournament series not only showcases the abilities of elite players but also honours the rising popularity of poker throughout Asia among fans of the game. APT Manila 2024 keeps being a top draw in the worldwide poker scene with its main event, side events, and high-stakes challenges.
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