The Asian Poker Tour is going full throttle with back-to-back events for you to close out the year with a poker-filled symphony of excitement!
After APT Manila, Philippines 2024 concludes on Thursday, 7 November, you can then swing by to APT Phu Quoc, Vietnam 2024 from Friday, November 8 to Sunday, November 18.
Organised in partnership with VPT, the APT will be returning to Phu Quoc after an 18-month hiatus. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen so you can play poker and enjoy a bit of time in the sun in a sub-tropical island paradise.
While Phu Quoc’s beaches are certainly attractive, it is the 10-day festival with over VND 44 billion (~USD 1.7 million) in guarantees that catches the eye, along with the APT Main Event—playing out November 11 to 16—with a VND 25 billion (~USD 1 million) guarantee!
The luxurious Corona Resort & Casino is where it is all happening, so make sure to swing by after APT Manila 2024. Now, let us take a closer look at the festival’s key events, zooming into the buy-ins, structures, guarantees, and potential field size estimates based on the tour’s previous offerings:
Guarantee: VND 25 billion (~USD 1 million)
Date: Nov 11-Nov 16
Buy-in: VND 36 million (~USD 1,450)
The UK’s Jacque Ramsden claimed the APT Main Event crown the last time the tour was in Phu Quoc
The APT Main Event is the highlight of the festival, with an eye-watering VND 25 billion (~USD 1.0M) prize pool guarantee, along with the Gold Lion APT Main Event Trophy.
The tour’s last stop in Phu Quoc nearly 18 months back saw a field of 507 Main Event entries, with the United Kingdom’s Jacque Ramsden lifting the Main Event trophy for a cash prize of VND 2,304,200,000 (~USD 98,080) after cutting a deal with second place finisher and local Julien Tran.
With consecutive record-breaking Main Events in our last stops, APT Phu Quoc could well follow suit and smash the tour’s previous Phu Quoc festival numbers.
Guarantee: VND 5 billion (~USD 201K)
Date: Nov 8-10
Buy-in: VND 9 million (~USD 360)
Taiwan’s Kaihung Hu defeated a 1,680-strong field in the APT TPC National Cup
The three-day Vietnam National Cup kicks off the series, running November 8 to November 10, with six different starting flights to qualify from.
The last National Cup at the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 brought in 1,680 entries, with players filling the venue to the brim all attempting to qualify for the final day. Taiwan’s Kaihung Hu was the eventual winner bringing home TWD 2,519,920 (~USD 79,820).
This series’ National Cup will have double the flights to qualify for the final day, with the final flights for November 8 and 9 having turbo formats. The National Cup usually sees over 1,000 entries; we expect Phu Quoc’s series opener to see similar numbers.
Guarantee: VND 3 billion (~USD 120K)
Date: Nov 9-10
Buy-in: VND 120 million (~USD 4,830)
Thailands’ Phanlert Sukonthachartnant tamed the Pewter Lion at APT TPC 2024
Running from Saturday, November 9 to Sunday, November 10, the two-day APT Super High Roller will see the biggest high-stakes players coming together to take a shot at the Pewter Lion APT Super High Roller Trophy.
The tournament has seen an average of 92 entries in the APT New Era. Thailand’s Phanlert Sukonthachartnant is the reigning APT Super High Roller champion, securing a cash prize of TWD 5,793,950 (~USD 183,530) after beating out an 81-strong field of high-stakes players.
The tournament features a shot clock, with players starting with 250,000 chips and five 30-second time banks, which are replenished at the start of the Final Day. Should more than 16 players remain when the Final Day begins, the time banks will be replenished again at the Final Table. Day 1 boasts sixteen 40-minute levels, with the remaining players advancing to the Final Day on Sunday, 10 November, where the tournament will play down to a champion.
Zodiac Classic – Sponsored by Natural8
Guarantee: VND 2.5 billion (~USD 100K)
Date: Nov 14-15
Buy-in: VND 50 million (~USD 2,015)
The USA’s Hye Keun Park won the richest-ever Zodiac Classic
The Zodiac Classic – Sponsored by Natural8 event set a prize pool record at the last festival with the USA’s Hye Keun Park besting a field of 354 entries to claim an APT all-time-high of TWD 4,767,480 (~USD 151,010) from a record prize pool of TWD 24,468,480 (~USD 775,055).
Day 1 of the two-day tournament kicks off on Thursday, 14 November, with twelve 40-minute levels on the schedule and a shot clock in play. Players begin with 40,000 chips and two 30-second time banks, which will be replenished to five at the start of the Final Day and once again at the Final Table.
Guarantee: VND 2.5 billion (~USD 100K)
Date: Nov 15-16
Buy-in: VND 11 million (~USD 440)
South Korea’s Dongjae Kim won the record-breaking Double Stack at the APT TPC 2024
The Double Stack event has set record after record over previous events, and the last was no exception. The APT TPC 2024 set new records for field size, prize pool and payouts with South Korea’s Dongjae Kim emerging above all to claim victory.
The last event saw 951 entrants building a prize pool of TWD 16,433,280 (~USD 520,535). Even with the top three coming to an agreement to make a deal to alter the top three payouts, the event still produced a APT-record for highest Double Stack first place prize, coming in at TWD 2,250,480 (~USD 70,615).
This two-day event features two starting flights, both taking place on Friday, 15 November, with players beginning with 60,000 chips. Flight A starts at 11am with 30-minute levels, while Flight B begins at 5:30pm with 20-minute levels.
Each flight will play down to 14% (ITM), and players must reach the Final Day to secure a payout. A shot clock will be implemented one table away from the money, with players receiving two 30-second time banks, which will reset to five at the Final Table.
Guarantee: VND 2.5 billion (~USD 100K)
Date: Nov 16-17
Buy-in: VND 80 million (~USD 3,220)
Germany’s Martin Sedlak claimed victory in the latest APT High Roller at APT TPC 2024
High rollers who are coming APT Phu Quoc 2024 will have one last shot at Bronze Lion APT High Roller Trophy. The last of the festival’s signature events also features a prize pool guarantee of VND 2,500,000,000 (~USD 100,755).
Germany’s Martin Michael Sedlak was the last to claim the bronze lion at APT TPC 2024. He came out on top of a 275-strong field of high-stakes players to win a purse of TWD 5,244,000 (~USD 164,850).
Day 1 of the two-day tournament will feature sixteen 40-minute levels, with the remaining players advancing to the Final Day to compete for the trophy. Players begin with 100,000 chips, and a shot clock is in effect from the start. Each player receives five 30-second time banks, which are reset at the start of the Final Day and again at the Final Table if more than 16 players remain.
Guarantee: VND 1.5 billion (~USD 60K)
Date: Nov 16-17
Buy-in: VND 12 million (~USD 480)
The Netherland’s Tom Verbruggen won the record-breaking Mini Main Event at APT TPC 2024
The last of the series’ key events is the Mini Main event. The tournament comes with a VND 1,500,000,000 (~USD 60K) guarantee and is played out over two days with two flights to qualify for the Final Day.
The Netherlands’ Tom Verbruggen is the current reigning champion from APT TPC 2024. Outlasting a record field of 741 entrants, he took home TWD 2,710,930 (~USD 85,060), an APT payout record for the Mini Main.
Flight A begins at 11am on Saturday, 16 November, featuring 30-minute levels, while Flight B starts at 5:30pm with 20-minute levels. Both starting flights will play down to 14% of their respective fields, and players must reach the Final Day to secure a payout.