APPT Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2023 APPT Manila
APPT Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2023 APPT Manila
Prize Pool
76,832,730 PHP
Entries
1,354
Level
36
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Entries
30
Players Left
1
Yuanning Wu Wins the 2023 APPT Manila Main Event (PHP11,414,730)
Level 36
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
The second-biggest Asia-Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Main Event in the history of the PokerStars sponsored live poker series has crowned a winner in the early morning hours at Okada Manila. While the majority of the rail was rooting for eventual runner-up Christopher "BIGTIME" Mateo to keep the golden shard trophy on home soil, it was China's Yuanning Wu who came out on top of the heads-up encounter.
With a price tag of PHP65,000 (∼$1,168), the marquee 2023 APPT Manila Main Event in the stunning Coral Room drew a staggering 1,354 entries. The PHP 76,832,730 (∼$1,381,101) prize pool is the largest for an APPT Main Event thus far and the biggest share went to Wu and Mateo. They cut a deal in heads-up and left PHP1,414,730 to play for. Besides the cash prize and coveted APPT Main Event trophy, Wu also receives a package worth PHP105,000 for a future APPT stop as well.
The two eventual heads-up opponents entered the unofficial final table sixth and seventh in chips but were separated by fewer than two big blinds when the most crucial stage of the tournament was reached. Wu was one of two former finalists of the popular mid-stakes live poker event and scored his second victory with the far biggest tournament cash prize worth PHP11,414,730 ($204,769).
New Zealand's Thomas Ward, a runner-up from back in 2015 in Macau, had to settle for eighth place after he lost the majority of pots entered during the final stages. He was visiting Manila for the birthday of a friend and continued where he left a few years ago, coming close to victory once more.
The final table also featured another two players from the Philippines in John Tech and Archie Mariano, the former of which sits in fourth place on the country ranking according to The Hendon Mob database.
Final Table Result 2023 APPT Manila Main Event
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in PHP) | Prize (in USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuanning Wu | China | PHP11,414,730 | $204,769* |
| 2 | Christopher Mateo | Philippines | PHP10,000,000 | $179,390* |
| 3 | Gyuhyuk Lee | South Korea | PHP5,501,000 | $98,683 |
| 4 | John Tech | Philippines | PHP4,074,000 | $73,084 |
| 5 | Nino Pansier | Netherlands | PHP3,184,000 | $57,118 |
| 6 | Riku Sasahara | Japan | PHP2,398,000 | $43,018 |
| 7 | Archie Mariano | Philippines | PHP1,833,000 | $32,882 |
| 8 | Thomas Ward | New Zealand | PHP1,301,000 | $23,339 |
*reflects deal agreement between Wu and Mateo, with PHP1,414,730 in cash added for the eventual winner
The final day saw 30 players still in contention spread across four tables and it didn't take long for the fireworks to start. Norbert Koh bowed out almost immediately and the same also applied for Vasa Kaushal as well. Fewer than one full level surpassed and the redraw of the final three tables was reached.
Jacque Ramsden had started the day second in chips but suffered several setbacks to see his hopes of an even deeper run vanish in 22nd place. Another notable casualty then set up the final two tables when Kenny Shih put his hopes on a gutshot and the nut flush draw, which missed against the turned two pair of Nino Pansier.
The action never really slowed down and it wouldn't take long to reach the nine-handed unofficial final table thereafter. Local hopefuls such as Ivan Tabucal and Lloyd Locsin came up short, as did Steve Yea and Junya Kubo with the latter bowing out against the red-hot running Gyuhyuk Lee. Zhigang Chen bowed out moments later and the final nine then went on a 60-minute break.
Lee continued his domination when he flipped out Alex Chong before the down-fall of New Zealander Ward unfolded, culminating in his exit against Pansier. By then, Wu was still in the middle of the pack but doubled with queens against the sevens of Riku Sasahara.
Mariano was then knocked out by Lee, who retained the top spot. Pansier was comfortable second in chips but the final table momentum shifted when he four-bet jammed ace-king. Wu called it off with pocket tens and won the flip to change the momentum of the final table. The Dutchman and Sasahara were then eliminated by Lee as the South Korean soared to half of the chips in play.
Wu sent Tech to the rail in fourth place and then jumped into a commanding lead when his full house was paid off by Lee. The South Korean never recovered from that big blow and he succumbed in third place.
With the deal agreement in place, the heads-up encounter became a brief affair and a winner was crowned within the hour. Wu had pulled away and rivered a straight, looking up the shove by Mateo who held a pair and blockers.
That concludes the PokerNews live coverage here in Manila but the next major live poker stops allover the world are just around the corner.
Christopher Mateo Eliminated in 2nd Place (PHP10,000,000)
Level 36
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
In the final hand of the level, Yuanning Wu raised to 1,100,000 and Christopher Mateo called. The K♥10♣8♣ flop saw Mateo check-call for 900,000 and they checked the Q♦ on the turn.
Fast forward to the 9♣ river, Mateo checked and Wu bet 3,200,000. Without missing much of a beat, Mateo moved all-in and Wu asked for a count. The shove was for 14,750,000 and Wu vaulted out of his chair.
Some twenty seconds later, Wu announced the call and Mateo turned over his A♣10♦ for a pair of tens and the nut straight as well as nut flush blocker. Wu revealed his J♠7♥ for the king-high straight and claimed victory.
Based on the heads-up deal, Mateo walks away with a payday of PHP10,000,000 while Wu receives PHP11,414,730 for the efforts.
A recap of today's action is to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,650,000 | 17,250,000 |
|
Busted |
Mateo Draws Closer Again
Level 36
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Christopher Mateo raised it up to 1,100,000 on the button two times in a row and received action from Yuanning Wu.
The first hand saw both checkthe J♥5♣2♥ flop and check-fold the Q♥ turn when Mateo bet 1,100,000.
In the next hand, Wu defended to check-call the K♦5♣2♥ flop for 1,100,000 and check-fold the 7♦ turn when Mateo bet another 2,100,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
23,400,000 | -5,450,000 |
|
|
17,350,000 | 5,450,000 |
Mateo Gets a Shove Through
Level 36
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Christopher Mateo and Yuanning Wu invested 1,500,000 preflop to see a flop of K♠6♥3♦, on which Wu bet 1,000,000 and Mateo called. Wu then checked the 2♦ turn, Mateo pushed all-in and forced a fold.
Wu opened to 1,100,000 on the button for Mateo to call, who then check-folded the A♥K♠2♠ flop to a bet worth 800,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
28,850,000 | 650,000 |
|
|
11,900,000 | -650,000 |
Wu Starts Pulling Away
Level 36
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
For the third button in a row, Yuanning Wu raised to 1,100,000. Christopher Mateo called and checked the K♦7♥5♣ flop. Wu continued for 800,000 and won the pot.
Mateo continued his button raising to 1,200,000 thereafter and Wu called. On a 6♠2♠2♦ flop, Wu check-called a bet worth 1,100,000 before leading the Q♠ turn for 1,600,000. Mateo pondered about it for a short while and folded.
The one-sided action continued for the next few hands until Wu raised to 1,100,000 again. Mateo jammed for 10,950,000 and Wu asked for a count but folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
28,200,000 | 6,450,000 |
|
|
12,550,000 | -6,450,000 |
Showdown Pot for Wu
Level 36
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Christopher Mateo bet a J♥J♠4♦2♠ turn for 1,500,000 and Yuanning Wu called, which then brought the 8♥ river. Both checked and Mateo won the pot with 9♣8♣.
Wu opened to 1,100,000 soon after and Mateo called. On the A♠10♥4♥ flop, Mateo check-called for 800,000 and did so again for 2,700,000 on the J♠ turn. Both checked the 7♦ river and Mateo tabled the 10♣2♣. Wu had that beat with K♥J♥ to regain the lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
21,750,000 | 1,100,000 |
|
|
19,000,000 | -1,100,000 |
Level: 36
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Heads-Up Resumes With Deal in Place
Level 35
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
The final two players have agreed to a deal and left a cash prize, the APPT Main Event trophy and a PHP105,000 package for another PokerStars Live tournament up for grabs. Below are the deal figures and what they are still playing for as the cards are now officially back in the air.
| Player | Country | Prize (in PHP) | Prize (in USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Mateo | Philippines | PHP10,000,000 | $179,390 |
| Yuanning Wu | China | PHP10,000,000 | $179,390 |
| Winner | PHP105,000 Package | PHP1,414,730 | $25,379 |
Gyuhyuk Lee Eliminated in 3rd Place (PHP5,501,000)
Level 35
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Christopher Mateo won a pot against Yuanning Wu to pull further ahead of Gyuhyuk Lee and then raised to 800,000 on the button. Lee pushed for 5,750,000 in the small blind and Mateo called, though, his declaration of intent had to be repeated three times before both players revealed their cards.
Gyuhyuk Lee: 7♥7♠
Christopher Mateo: Q♣Q♠
The dominated pair of Lee found no help on the J♦10♥6♠2♦A♦ board and that spelled the end in third place for the long-time chip leader. Mateo and Wu will now enter a short break and potential deal negotiations as the stack sizes are nearly dead even.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
20,650,000 | -4,950,000 |
|
|
20,100,000 | 9,450,000 |
|
Busted |