APL Main Event (65,000 PHP)

The APL Manila Main Event qualifiers are close to wrapping up with four of five flights in the books. Today saw the biggest turnout so far, with a total of 174 entries turning up for the Day 1D games. More than half the field hit the rails, leaving only 67 players advancing onto the next round.

South Koreans dominated the scene from start to finish and saw the top four ranks taken by the international contenders. Jongwon Lee clutched the lead right at the last few deals, having snipped a pot off Seungjun Lee to finish with 242,800 (152 BB). Three more compatriots locked in stacks over the 200K mark with Jaehyuk Kim, Hyeongmin Yu, and Seungjun Lee, ready to kick off Day 2 with a grand start.

South Korea’s Sangwoo Chun raised the bar high in the opening heat and continues to hold the reins, having finished with a staggering 550,400 (344 BB) chip count in Day 1A.

For those who missed to make the cut can still vie for the last flight on offer, currently underway. Late registration remains open until the start of Day 2, tomorrow, March 1st.

APL Manila 2025 Main Event

Dates: February 26 - March 3, 2025

Buy in: PHP 65,000 (~USD 1,120)

Guarantee: PHP 55,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000)

Day 1A: 64 entries, 19 qualified

Day 1B: 135 entries, 44 qualified

Day 1C: 82 entries, 29 qualified

Day 1D: 174 entries, 81 qualified

Day 1E: Friday, February 28

Day 2: Saturday, March 1

Day 3: Sunday, March 2

Final Day: Monday, March 3

Top Ten Chip Counts

Edwin Dela Cruz opened 3,000 utg and saw Anastasios Pavlou make the call on the cutoff.

Dela Cruz went for a check raise to 13,500 on flop T♣ 8♣ 3♦ , and barreled another 16,500 on turn 9♠ . Pavlou called both streets and was put in a tough spot after Dela Cruz fired a final 22,000 on river 2♦ .

After giving it some thought, Pavlou found the call with top pair A♣ T♠ and locked in the win shortly after.

A three way raised pot saw action on flop 8♣ 8♦ 3♣ get checked round to turn 8♥ , where Jayden Zalac on the small blind led for 5,500. Anastasios Pavlou right behind, raised to 13,500, pushing one out of the pot. Zalac on the other hand, made the call and arrived at showdown for cheap shortly after Pavlou checked back river Q♠ .

Zalac showed full house 4♦ 4♣ and claimed the pot.

Daegon Shon open shoved 12,600 in early position and was looked up by Anastasios Pavlou behind.

Shon in rough shape, missed to improve on board Q♦ 5♣ 9♣ 9♠ 6♣ , sending him out in quick fashion.

Paul Tirnovean defended his big blind against Anastasios Pavlou's 1,300 hijack open, and check called two streets - 1,200 and 2,500, on board 6♠ 5♠ Q♣ 6♥ .

On river 3♠ however, Tirnovean finally gave it up as Pavlou shot out a final 4,700.

Anastasias Pavlou opened 1,200 utg and was joined by his two seatmates behind onto flop Q♥ 5♥ 4♥ .

Pavlou continued for 1,500, called by player next to him. Shinya Fukutomi a seat after, raised to 6,500, leaving Pavlou to bump it up further to 16,000. Only Fukutomi made the call, and proceeded to commit his last 22,300 after Pavlou moved all-in on turn 6♦ .

Pavlou K♥ K♣

Fukutomi A♣ Q♠

Crushed against Pavlou's overpair, Fukutomi bound for the rails just as river 9♦ completed the board.

Anastasios Pavlou opened 800 in early position and was called by Roxanne Victorino behind.

Action was checked to turn 6♠ 7♠ 3♠ 5♥ , where Pavlou check raised Victorino's 1,500 bet to 4,000. Victorino made the call but gave it up on river Q♦ as Pavlou went for a final 11,000.

Anastasios Pavlou opened 800 early position and was joined only by Aleksei Zhukov on the big blind.

Pavlou continued for 1,200 on flop 4♥ 9♣ 9♦ , called by Zhukov onto turn 8♣ . Both gave it a free pass to river 6♠ , where Pavlou gunned for a final 2,000. Zhukov check called a second time around and mucked as Pavlou showed A♦ A♥ .