Asian Poker Tour's Global Growth: How Asia's Premier Poker Tour is Attracting Players Worldwide
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Following a record-breaking year, the Asian Poker Tour (APT) continues growing beyond its traditional base, drawing an ever-increasing number of international players to its events. Once seen primarily as a regional circuit, the APT is steadily evolving into a global brand.
The 2025 season has already seen participants from more than 45 countries, with the stops in Incheon, Jeju, and Taipei boasting record fields. The attendance numbers alone underline how the APT's appeal now stretches far beyond Asia.
The upcoming APT Championship 2025 in Taipei, which runs November 14-30, will be the largest festival in the tour's history. Featuring 200 tournaments and satellites and over USD 8.7 million in combined guarantees, including the monster-sized USD 5 million guaranteed Main Event, the APT Championship is expected to attract thousands of players from every corner of the globe. The APT's goal of becoming a world-class poker destination is as clear as it will ever be.
Why the APT is Growing Globally
Hard work and dedication to creating a world-class product are just two reasons international player numbers continue growing on the APT. The APT's strong digital presence via its informative blog and its provision of live updates and streams from major events have helped build brand recognition.
Additionally, online qualifiers, particularly via Natural8, APT's key online poker partner, have made entry more accessible. The APT has also stayed true to its Asian identity, offering cultural experiences, hospitality, and player-friendly tournament structures that distinguish it from Western tours.
Whatever the APT is doing is obviously working. At the 2023 APT Incheon stop, 206 international players competed in the festival's events. Fast forward to the 2025 edition, 297 players were considered international, representing a 44% increase. Similar increases can be seen in many other APT stops over the past couple of years, as shown in the graphic below:
Women's Poker on the Rise
Women's participation in APT events is another area that is showing remarkable progress. The visible efforts that the APT is making to build inclusivity into its festivals are paying off. At APT Incheon 2025, eight women-only tournaments attracted 447 entries, with the Women's Main Event drawing 76 players. Such numbers would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
Similar to the number of international players competing on the APT, female entrants are soaring. At the 2023 edition of APT Incheon, 110 women competed in open events. That number swelled to 231 at the same stop two years later, a whopping 110% increase. Sure, there were more events for women to play, but more than double the number of females in open events is an incredible achievement.
A Women's Event Almost Every Day
The upcoming APT Championship Taipei schedule reflects how central women's poker has become to the tour. During the two-week festival, there will be a women's event almost every day, culminating in a dedicated Women's Championship with a ~ USD 1,200 buy-in.
From affordable, small-entry tournaments to marquee titles, the APT continues to build a pathway for women to compete at all levels of the game.
Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Tour
APT's growth isn't just about scaling up the numbers. It is about sustaining quality and inclusivity as those numbers increase. Maintaining strong player experiences while hosting large-scale festivals requires careful logistical planning and trusted partnerships across Asia.
So far, the APT seems to have that balance just right. Its tournament structures remain deep and well-paced, there are a variety of buy-ins to cater to all players, from recreationals to seasoned grinders, and side events, particularly non-hold'em tournaments, have become a definitive part of each stop's character.
Looking Ahead
The APT Championship 2025 represents a significant milestone for the tour. With more than 200 events scheduled, record prize pools, and a nearly daily women's tournament lineup, the grand finale of the 2025 tour captures what modern poker should look like: diverse, inclusive, and international.
Undoubtedly, the APT will continue to attract players from new regions and backgrounds thanks to its unique blend of tradition, innovation, and accessibility. If it continues on its current trajectory, it may soon become the benchmark for other established global poker tours.
