On Day 2 of the 2025 APT Manila Classics, more of the prestigious APT Lion trophies found their new owners. Raju Jaruplavath from India, along with local Filipino poker pros Vamerdino Magsakay and Chase Cokaliong, emerged as the day’s biggest winners.
It was a day marked by international triumphs, as players from different countries showcased their exceptional poker skills and battled fiercely to claim championship glory.
Jaruplavath Wins APT Manila Classic National Cup
Out of 388 entries, only 58 players advanced from the three starting flights to return for the Final Day of the Philippines National Cup, each guaranteed a share of the PHP 4,034,764 (≈ USD 69,000) prize pool. When the dust settled, it was Raju Jaruplavath from India who emerged as the last player standing, capturing his first-ever APT title.
A medical doctor by profession, Jaruplavath has been an active figure on the live poker circuit across the Asia-Pacific region and is part of India’s rapidly growing poker community.
Jaruplavath claimed the PHP 797,765 (≈ USD 13,707) top prize after defeating a tough final table that included Filipino standouts Jansen Tiu and David Erquiaga. Erquiaga, one of the biggest names in the field, was eliminated in 7th place, running into a stronger pocket pair to take home PHP 132,000 (≈ USD 2,273).
Jansen Tiu’s title run ended in 3rd place, earning PHP 361,000 (≈ USD 6,203), making him the last remaining local player. Zhi Xiang Png from Singapore finished as the runner-up, pocketing PHP 503,000 (≈ USD 8,643).
Japan’s Katsuyuki Kondo, a Day 1C qualifier, narrowly missed the final table, bowing out in 10th place. Other notable finishers included Anthony Gabitan, Martin Gonzales, Kunal Patni, Vineet Kumar, and John Matsuda.
Local Players Dominate Side Events
On February 8, local Filipino players Vamerdino Magsakay and Chase Cokaliong both had reasons to celebrate, ensuring that more APT Lion trophies stayed on home soil.
Magsakay captured his fifth APT title by winning the PHP 180,000 (≈ USD 3,093) Single-Day High Roller Mystery Bounty event. He showcased his skill and composure in a star-studded field that included Mike Takayama, Stevan Chew, Daniel Smiljkovic, Tobias Schwecht, Abdulla Ceesvin, and Matthew Wakeman. Magsakay’s total haul amounted to PHP 2,673,040 (≈ USD 45,441), with nearly one-third of his winnings coming from bounty rewards.
Meanwhile, Chase Cokaliong came close to victory in the opening-day event but fell just short of the title. He redeemed himself in the PHP 25,000 (≈ USD 430) Hyper Turbo High Roller, clinching the championship and PHP 315,800 (≈ USD 5,369) in prize money. The event attracted 43 entries, with the top five finishers sharing the prize pool, including India’s Nikita Luther.
In other results, Xiyu Xie from China captured the title in the second Ladies Event, while Rex Hunt Ai triumphed in the 9-Game Mix event. Handong Jo of Korea won Event #12: Pot Limit Omaha, Oliver Komarnicki took down the Big O, and Michael Shank of the United States emerged victorious in the final Super Hyper Turbo event.
Final Table Results
Rank | Player | Country | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🥇 1 | Raju Jaruplavath | India | 797,785 | 13,707 |
🥈 2 | Zhi Xiang Png | Singapore | 503,000 | 8,643 |
🥉 3 | Jansen Tiu | Philippines | 381,000 | 6,203 |
4 | Sarawoot Ratanatbtim | Thailand | 287,000 | 4,931 |
5 | Mingchen Zhang | China | 225,000 | 3,866 |
6 | Chayathon Wongpipatchai | Thailand | 176,000 | 3,024 |
7 | David Erquiaga | Philippines | 132,000 | 2,268 |
8 | Atsushi Takeuchi | Japan | 94,000 | 1,615 |
9 | Suprachaicharoen Prachaya | Thailand | 75,000 | 1,289 |
Mystery Bounty Flight Results
The APT Manila Classic Mystery Bounty event drew a strong turnout across multiple starting flights, with a total of 377 entries creating a combined PHP 4,180,176 (≈ USD 71,000) prize pool — to be split between standard payouts and mystery bounty rewards. The champion will be crowned on Sunday, February 9, coinciding with the start of the APT Manila Classic 2025 Main Event.
In Day 1A, the field attracted 147 players, with 21 advancing to the next round. Yuki Miyakura of Japan bagged an impressive 983,000 chips, leading the field by a wide margin — his stack even exceeding the combined totals of Moses Saquing (425,000) and Napat Chokejindachai (419,000). Other notable qualifiers included Junnie Pamplona and Joris Michl.
Day 1B featured 137 entries, with 20 players moving on to Day 2. Sangyeol Jeon topped the flight with 435,000 chips, ahead of Huu Long Nguyen (381,000), John Matsuda (309,000), Mark Dela Cruz (241,000), and Georges Chehade (203,000).
The final Turbo Flight attracted 93 players, with 14 advancing to the next stage. Xianhe Alecz Chan from Singapore led the pack with 552,000 chips, narrowly ahead of Kunal Patni (531,000) and William Teoh (431,000).
With strong participation from across the region, the Mystery Bounty event set the stage for another thrilling showdown in the APT Manila Classic series.
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.