The Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) successfully concluded its 4th edition of APPT Cambodia from May 2 to 13, 2025, held in the vibrant capital city of Phnom Penh.
The 12-day poker festival took place at the world-class NagaWorld Integrated Resort,co-hosted by Connaissance Management, a boutique poker brand known for delivering premium tournament experiences.
Throughout the series, a total of 53 champions were crowned across a variety of events —from thrilling high-stakes battles to entertaining side events —showcasing top-tier competition and the growing strength of the poker scene in Southeast Asia.
Here’s a look back at the highlights from the 2025 APPT Cambodia 👇
APPT Cambodia 2025 — Festival Highlights Recap
The 2025 APPT Cambodia festival marked the largest edition ever held in the country,featuring a record-breaking $1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event,making it one of the most anticipated and prestigious stops on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour.
📈 By the Numbers:
Participation soared by an impressive 24% compared to previous years,underscoring the APPT brand’s growing influence and popularity across Asia.
This milestone event not only set new records for Cambodia’s poker scen but also added a historic chapter to the expanding 2025 Asia-Pacific poker landscape.
🏆 #40 APPT Main Event
After six hours of intense final table action, Hai Ha Tran of Vietnam emerged as the 2025 APPT Cambodia Main Event Champion,claiming the PokerStars Crystal Trophy, a deal-adjusted payout of USD $155,225,and a $3,500 APPT Grand Final package.
This victory marks Tran’s first-ever international poker title,a career-defining achievement that fulfilled his long-time dream of becoming a professional champion.
In the heads-up duel, Tran defeated Somashekar Kurkhepally Nahadeva in dominant fashion to secure the title.
🗣️ Champion’s Reaction
“I’m so happy and excited to win the APPT Cambodia Main Event!” Tran said with a smile.
He recalled a pivotal hand early in the final table where he flopped a set against Nahadeva’s shove:
“I expected Nahadeva to call on the flop because he’s a very active player.
After that hand, I knew my strategy for the final table — I wanted to go for the win.
I was confident I could take it down.”
Tran’s triumph not only brought him a life-changing payout but also cemented his place among Asia’s elite poker champions,marking the beginning of a new era in his professional poker journey.
#19 APPT National — Fabian Rolli Wins Season Opener
At the 2025 APPT season-opening event, the APPT National, Fabian Rolli from Switzerland emerged victorious, capturing the first PokerStars Crystal Trophy of the year along with a USD $53,432 top prize.
The tournament drew a total of 309 entries, with only 46 players advancing to Day 2 to battle for the title.
The final table was a rollercoaster of momentum swings — the chip lead changed hands multiple times between Rolli, I-Chun Chiu (邱奕君), Sungheon Hong (洪成宪), and Manh Tuong Ha, each briefly holding control of the table.
🗣️ Rolli on His Toughest Rival: “Manh Ha Was My Biggest Challenge”
“This was definitely one of the swingiest final tables I’ve ever played.Sitting to my left, Manh Tuong Ha was incredibly tough — he almost never folded and kept raising me.I had no idea if he actually had a hand or if he was just bluffing.It was such a hard battle. I originally thought Charlie would be the toughest opponent,but Manh Ha turned out to be extremely aggressive and difficult to deal with.”
🔄 From Chip Leader to Short Stack and Back Again
When asked about his chip management at the final table, Rolli laughed and admitted:
“Honestly, my chip management wasn’t great at all.
At one point, I was the chip leader, but when there were seven players left,
I went all-in with A♠2♠ against pocket eights and lost.
After that, I fought my way back from the bottom — then dropped again, and climbed up once more.
I kept trying to apply pressure in a lot of spots,
but no one wanted to fold!”
Despite the constant swings, Fabian Rolli’s persistence and mental toughness ultimately carried him to victory,securing his first APPT title and setting the tone for an exciting 2025 APPT season ahead.
Event Summary
🥇 Champion: Fabian Rolli (Switzerland)
💰 Prize: USD $53,432
🏆 Season Opener: First PokerStars Crystal Trophy of APPT 2025
👥 Entries: 309
🎯 Final Table Highlights: Manh Tuong Ha, I-Chun Chiu, Sungheon Hong
#61 APPT Mini Main Event
Chak Hei Chan continued his hot run on the Cambodian poker circuit, triumphing in the APPT Mini Main Event after outlasting a 220-entry field to claim USD $15,863 and his first-ever PokerStars Spadie Trophy.
This victory was a career milestone for Chan, marking his first championship title on the APPT stage and further solidifying his growing reputation in the Asian poker scene.
Chan has been a consistent performer in Cambodia over the past year, reaching multiple final tables and posting impressive finishes. His latest triumph finally crowned him a champion.
#58 APPT High Roller
Australia’s Daniel Neilson continued his remarkable dominance on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour, capturing the APPT Cambodia High Roller title — his second PokerStars Crystal Trophy — and USD $65,599 in prize money.
Neilson first earned APPT glory at last year’s APPT Manila Super High Roller, and he has since maintained an impressive record of deep runs and podium finishes across Asia.
This time, he topped a tough 87-entry field, which included some of the series’ hottest players such as Hao Lin (6th place) and Artem Vezhenkov, whom he defeated heads-up to claim the title.
🏆 Six Players Capture Double Titles
Three players achieved double victories during the first half of the APPT Cambodia festival:
Mauricio Sanchez
Chang Hyeon Kim (金昌賢)
Christian Cloutier
Their performances were highlighted in the mid-festival recap.
In the second half, another three players joined the double-champion ranks:
Richard Marquez
Jakkapong Sreprasom
Danny Huynh
Each claimed two titles, demonstrating exceptional consistency and skill throughout the series.
🌟 Alfie Adam Reaches Five Final Tables — A Remarkable Feat!
Among all standout performances, Alfie Adam (UK) delivered one of the most impressive runs of the festival.
He reached the final table in all five events he entered, and crowned his effort with a title win!
His results:
🥉 Mix NLH/PLO — 4th Place
🥉 Mini High Roller — 4th Place
🥉 Megastack High Roller — 3rd Place
🥈 PLO — Runner-up
🥇 PLO Bomb Pot Turbo — Champion
With five consecutive final tables and consistently high finishes, Alfie Adam proved himself to be one of the most versatile and complete players of the 2025 APPT Cambodia series — a true all-around contender.
Next Stop: APPT Manila 2025 Is Coming!
Get ready — more APPT action is on the way!
The 2025 APPT Manila stop has been officially announced and will take place from
📅 July 23 to August 4, 2025
📍 at the iconic Cove Manila nightclub inside Okada Manila,one of the most celebrated venues in APPT history.
🔥 Main Event Highlights
🏆 Guaranteed Prize Pool: PHP 58,000,000 (≈ USD 1 million)
🎯 Expected to attract top players from across Asia and around the world
💥 Projected to once again break records for both entries and total prize pool
📣 Don’t miss out!
If you’re aiming for a seven-figure prize and the thrill of competing against elite players on one of Asia’s grandest stages,then APPT Manila 2025 is the summer poker festival you can’t afford to skip.
The poker action is about to ignite in Manila!
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
The long-established tournament brand Red Dragon Cup has now released its own app — “Red Dragon Poker.”
The Red Dragon Cup is a well-known Asian poker brand with a strong reputation across the region. Originating in Macau, it quickly became one of the most influential poker events in Asia. Red Dragon Poker tournaments regularly attract players from all over the world, offering massive fields and impressive prize pools.
For those interested, we highly recommend downloading the “Red Dragon Poker” app to join more exciting tournaments.