APPT Manila Championship 2025: the return of PokerStars to Manila

PokerStars announces the return of the APPT Manila Championship in October 2025. Find out the dates, venue, and tournament guarantees.

PokerStars brings back the APPT Manila Championship: your complete guide to the 2025 series APPT Manila Championship 2025: Dates, Venue, and Guarantees In October 2025, PokerStars will wrap up the Asia-Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) season with a grand event—the second APPT Manila Championship series. The tournament festival will take place from October 16 to 27, 2025, at the Coral Lounge, located inside the luxurious Okada Manila resort complex. Over 12 days, players will compete for more than 155 million Philippine pesos in guaranteed prize pools, which is over $2.6 million at the current exchange rate. The main event of the series is the APPT Main Event with a buy-in of 165,000 pesos and a 60 million peso guarantee (over $1 million). Organizers have prepared a packed schedule featuring tournaments for all bankrolls, as well as special formats and events that traditionally attract both professionals and recreational players. Key Tournaments and Formats of APPT Manila Championship 2025 The festival will feature both traditional and unique tournaments. Here are the main events on the schedule: Okada Kick-Off : October 16–18, buy-in 20,000 pesos, 8 million peso guarantee APPT Open : October 17–20, buy-in 60,000 pesos, 20 million peso guarantee PokerStars Red Dragon : October 19–21, buy-in 70,000 pesos, 20 million peso guarantee APPT National : October 21–24, buy-in 35,000 pesos, 10 million peso guarantee APPT Super High Roller : October 22–23, buy-in 500,000 pesos, 10 million peso guarantee Mystery Bounty : October 23–26, buy-in 25,000 pesos, 10 million peso guarantee APPT One Million Challenge : October 23–24, buy-in 1,000,000 pesos APPT Mini Championship : October 26, buy-in 35,000 pesos, 3 million peso guarantee APPT Championship High Roller : October 26–27, buy-in 300,000 pesos, 10 million peso guarantee In addition to the main events, the schedule includes turbo tournaments, Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) variants, freezeouts (no re-entry tournaments), and team formats. This combination ensures non-stop action and variety throughout the two-week festival. Glossary: Buy-in — the amount a player pays to enter a tournament. Guarantee (GTD) — the minimum prize pool that organizers promise to pay out regardless of the number of participants. Freezeout — a tournament where players cannot re-enter after being eliminated. Mystery Bounty — a format where knocking out players earns you random prizes, the value of which is unknown until the envelope is opened. High Roller — tournaments with very high buy-ins, usually for experienced players and professionals. Venue: PokerStars LIVE Manila and Okada Manila All tournaments of the APPT Manila Championship 2025 will be held at PokerStars LIVE Manila, located in Okada Manila—one of the most prestigious gaming and entertainment complexes in Asia. This resort has a Forbes 5-star rating and offers nearly 1,000 rooms, over 25 restaurants, and a 30-hectare entertainment complex. Okada Manila is known for having the largest gaming hall in the Philippines, as well as attractions like The Fountain—the country’s largest musical fountain, the Cove Manila nightclub, and numerous bars and lounges. For players looking to take a break from the poker action, there’s The Retreat Spa, family zones PLAY and Thrillscape, and a variety of restaurants serving cuisine from around the world. Entertainment and Leisure Beyond the Poker Tables Manila is not just about poker—it offers plenty of leisure opportunities. Players and their companions can enjoy activities such as: Entertainment City — the district where the capital’s best casinos, nightclubs, shops, and restaurants are concentrated. Mall of Asia — one of the largest shopping malls in Asia, with shops, cinemas, and food courts. Manila Baywalk — a waterfront promenade perfect for walks and sunset views after the tournaments. Intramuros — a historic district with colonial architecture, churches, and tours exploring the Philippines’ past. National Museum of the Philippines — collections of art, artifacts, and exhibitions on the country’s history. Gastronomic tours — a chance to discover Manila’s street food and traditional dishes with a guide. Nearby beaches — the provinces of Cavite and Batangas are within easy reach for a quick trip to the sea. Full Schedule of Key APPT Manila Championship 2025 Tournaments Tournament Dates Buy-in Guarantee Okada Kick-Off October 16–18 ₱20,000 ₱8,000,000 APPT Open October 17–20 ₱60,000 ₱20,000,000 PokerStars Red Dragon October 19–21 ₱70,000 ₱20,000,000 APPT National October 21–24 ₱35,000 ₱10,000,000 APPT Super High Roller October 22–23 ₱500,000 ₱10,000,000 Mystery Bounty October 23–26 ₱25,000 ₱10,000,000 APPT One Million Challenge October 23–24 ₱1,000,000 - APPT Mini Championship October 26 ₱35,000 ₱3,000,000 APPT Championship High Roller October 26–27 ₱300,000 ₱10,000,000 APPT Main Event dates to be confirmed ₱165,000 ₱60,000,000 What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great reference point for planning their live trips and developing their poker careers. The APPT Manila Championship is a chance to experience modern formats that are popular in major series: Mystery Bounty, team tournaments, various limits and structures. These formats can also be introduced in club games to boost player interest and engagement. Moreover, the APPT Manila schedule shows that even within a single festival, there are tournaments for every bankroll—from mini-events to high roller competitions. This highlights the importance of a flexible approach to organizing games in PPPoker clubs: it’s worth offering both affordable tournaments for beginners and more expensive, challenging formats for experienced players. Finally, the experience of major series like APPT Manila inspires community development: bringing players together, hosting themed nights, rewarding top participants, and creating the atmosphere of a real poker festival even in an online club. Keep up with global poker news—and bring the best ideas to your PPPoker clubs!