The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has captured the hearts of poker enthusiasts as it descends upon Manila, transforming the City of Dreams into a bustling poker paradise. Spanning over 11 exhilarating days, this festival has established itself as a monumental event in the poker calendar, following closely the thrilling APT Taipei Poker Classic. With an astonishing guaranteed prize pool of ₱170 Million (approximately $3 Million), the stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable.
A New Era Begins
This year marks APT’s 42nd visit to Manila, heralding a new era under fresh management after a two-year hiatus. The lavish Grand Ballroom of City of Dreams Manila, in partnership with Soul Poker, serves as the perfect setting for this grand assembly of poker talent, featuring 109 events, including a staggering 101 trophy events. The high-octane environment has led to fierce competition, with 72 players already claiming coveted APT trophies within the first eight days alone.
Spotlight on Leon Menezes
Among the standout performers is Leon Menezes, an Indian poker player and a talented vocalist from the Qatar-based rock band CRUNG. Menezes etched his name in APT history by securing his first live title in Event #75: ₱8K Turbo – Omaholic (Omaha High – PL Pre/NL Post), showcasing a remarkable performance against a field of 46 entries. His journey through the final table was nothing short of spectacular, eliminating an impressive seven players to champion the event and clinch the Golden Lion Trophy with a prize of ₱104,555 (around ₹1.51 Lakhs). Japan’s Masataka Morishita finished as the runner-up, taking home ₱73,000.
Leon Menezes
The Rise of Indian Poker Contingent
Menezes’s success is a clear indicator of the growing strength of Indian players on the global poker stage. Following their participation in the APT Taipei Poker Classic, many Indian players extended their stay in Manila to compete in this event. Among them, Ankit Bhardwaj has also been a highlight, reaching two Hyper Turbo final tables and amassing a commendable total of ₱134,000 (~₹1.93 Lakhs) through his efforts.
Rishi Karamchandani also made an impressive mark with a third-place finish in Event #54: ₱30K NL Hold’em, adding ₱293,000 (~₹4.23 Lakhs) to his winnings—an excellent start to his poker career in this series.
Stellar Performances and Record-Breaking Events
The highlight of the festival, the ₱85,000 buy-in APT Manila 2024 Main Event, has been a monumental success, drawing an incredible 1,081 entries (639 unique), setting a record as the largest APT Main Event in the Philippines. Despite falling short of its ₱100 Million guaranteed prize pool by ₱17.30 Million, the event saw the top 159 players cashing out, with minimum payouts starting at ₱167,000.
Indian representative Rishi Mehra proudly advanced until Day 3, finishing in 94th place with a cash prize of ₱222,000 (~₹3.20 Lakhs). As Day 3 wrapped up, 48 players moved forward, with former APT Single Day High Roller champion Renji Mao leading with an impressive 2.689 Million chips.
International Stars Shine Bright
The APT Manila 2024 event has also shone a light on international poker talent. Malaysian player William Teoh triumphed in the ₱15 Million GTD Event #21: ₱600K APT Super High Roller, taking home a whopping ₱9.785 Million (~$166,350). Japanese competitor John Matsuda forged a fierce challenge in a seven-hand heads-up battle, exiting with a commendable prize of ₱7.079 Million (~$120,340).
Philipp Zukernik from Canada showcased dominance with back-to-back victories, raising his profile significantly on the poker circuit. Another notable winner, Jiaqi He from China, celebrated his first APT victory in the ₱150K Single Day High Roller, showcasing a promising talent in the poker community.
Anticipation Builds for the Final Table
As the tournament scene heats up, anticipation builds for the final table. With expectations running high, the top players, including Daniel Lee and Gab Yong Kim, will compete fiercely for the title and the life-changing payout associated with it.
Conclusion
APT Manila 2024 has proven to be an exhilarating chapter in the poker world, filled with incredible talent, fierce competition, and heart-stopping moments. As players battle for glory in the city renowned for its dreams, one thing is clear: the love for poker runs deep in Manila, and the excitement is far from over.
Stay tuned for the crowning of the APT Manila 2024 champion, and continue following PokerGuru for updates on the latest happenings from this spectacular event!
