Ace Poker League Manila 2025: Mitsuki Sakimoto Claims Main Event Glory; India’s Gaurav Idnani Triumphs in Speed Racer II
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- Attreyee Khasnabis March 6, 2025
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3 minutes Read
The Ace Poker League (APL) kicked off its 2025 season with a grand return to Manila, delivering eleven days of nonstop poker action. Hosted at the Prime Poker Club from February 21 to March 3, the festival was a true celebration of the game, serving up a money feast with a staggering ₱120,791,050 ($2.12 Million) in prize money distributed across 33 events.
The APL Manila Main Event, with its ₱65,000 buy-in and lofty ₱55 Million guarantee, was the undisputed star of the show. A packed field of 739 entries joined the battle, each player with their eyes on the prize. But it was Japan’s Mitsuki Sakimoto (cover image – left) who played a game of precision and power, leaving all others in his wake. Sakimoto captured the prestigious Main Event title, along with a staggering ₱9.65 Million (~$168,800) – a truly life-altering sum for the 22-year-old student. South Korea’s Jae Yi Chang gave it his all but ultimately finished in second place, taking home a still-impressive ₱6,315,000 (~$110,450) consolation prize.
While the festival witnessed a strong South Korean and Filipino presence, India also had cause for celebration. Gaurav Idnani (cover image – right), known for his occasional appearances at Deltin Poker Tournament events in Goa, made a breakthrough in Event #11: the ₱5,000 Speed Racer II. Idnani outmanoeuvred the competition, seizing his first-ever live poker trophy and a well-deserved ₱79,100 (~₹1.20 Lakhs). Filipino pro Elmer Kalaquian put up a strong fight, earning ₱46,600 for his runner-up finish.
Ace Poker League Manila 2025 Winners
Winner Event Prize Money
Werner Cybulski PHP 1,500 Welcome to APL PHP 153,300
Sergei Korzhenko PHP 16,000 APL Kick Off PHP 1,053,600
Gerardo Lubas III PHP 3,000 Late Night Madness PHP 25,840
Junho Lee PHP 5,000 5 Cards PLO Hi Turbo PHP 47,125
Jason Kyle Magbanua PHP 20,000 Prime Poker Mystery Bounty PHP 650,000
Hangeul Lee PHP 3,000 Late Night Madness II PHP 57,000
Aleksei Zhukov PHP 5,000 NLH Bombpot Single Board PHP 43,900
Lionel Basilio PHP 5,000 Speed Racer PHP 70,800
Seonggwon Kim PHP 20,000 Mini Main PHP 1,134,800
Jimin Won PHP 5,000 PLO Hi Turbo PHP 53,300
Gaurav Idnani PHP 5,000 Speed Racer II PHP 79,100
Martin Gonzales PHP 35,000 Prime Poker High Roller Single Day PHP 499,920
Min Dongmyung PHP 5,000 Speed Racer III PHP 62,364
Mitsuki Sakimoto PHP 65,000 APL Main Event PHP 9,650,000
Kang Won Gyu PHP 65,000 High Roller Single Day PHP 442,500
Edwin Dela Cruz PHP 10,000 Win The Button PHP 195,168
Lee Sunghak PHP 35,000 Speed King PHP 196,600
Ryuki Shirase PHP 55,000 High Roller Single Day PHP 615,200
Byunghwa Song PHP 15,000 PLO Hi Turbo PHP 137,457
Lim Seung Woo PHP 8,000 Hyper Speed PHP 131,100
Edison Yu PHP 55,000 Gold Dragon High Roller Deepstack PHP 1,431,600
Jiri Slavicek PHP 15,000 Mix Game NLH/PLO Hi PHP 148,200
Lee Hyundong PHP 8,000 Hyper Speed II PHP 139,500
Steve Yea Joonhee PHP 180,000 Super High Roller PHP 4,032,000
Yang Yohowan PHP 15,000 PLO Bombpot Double Board PHP 182,500
Marciel Cerbito PHP 25,000 K.O. Bounty - 5k/Bounty PHP 362,100
Jimin Won PHP 8,000 Hyper Speed III PHP 109,400
John Carlo Sayo PHP 90,000 Mystery Bounty High Roller PHP 1,659,200
Changjae Lee PHP 20,000 Super Deepstack PHP 624,900
Akihisa Toyoshima PHP 8,000 Final Lap PHP 67,800
Jimin Choo PHP 35,000 High Roller Turbo - Last Chance PHP 761,600
Leonel Losentes PHP 15,000 K.O. Bounty - Turbo - 4k/Bounty PHP 147,140
Aleksei Zhukov PHP 8,000 The End Game PHP 47,200
From Underdog to Champion: Mitsuki Sakimoto Scores Epic APL Main Event Victory (₱9,650,000)
Some poker dreams take years to realize, but for Japan’s Mitsuki Sakimoto, it took just one tournament to make history. A 22-year-old university student from Japan, relatively new to the intense world of competitive poker, he arrived in Manila with more hope than expectation. He was taking a chance, a bold step into the deep end of the poker pool.
And he didn’t just swim; he soared.
Sakimoto’s journey through the 739-entry APL Main Event field was nothing short of remarkable. He faced off against seasoned veterans and ambitious up-and-comers, consistently demonstrating a calm focus and strategic understanding that seemed far beyond his years. It wasn’t just luck; it was a calculated, patient climb to the top.
“I’m very happy. I couldn’t believe it because this is the first time for me to win a tournament, and I don’t have much experience playing poker, especially in another country. I was very nervous, but on day two, three, and the final day, I became more relaxed, and I was able to play my own game from day two onwards,” Sakimoto shared after the win, the disbelief still evident in his voice.
The final table was a stage set for drama, and Sakimoto delivered a performance worthy of the spotlight. His heads-up battle against South Korea’s Jae Yi Chang began with Sakimoto holding a massive 5:1 chip advantage. Chang faced a monumental task, and Sakimoto gave him no room to breathe. The match was over swiftly, in just four hands and just like that, the golden APL trophy was his, along with the ₱9,650,000 top prize – a life-changing sum for the budding player. Chang, though unable to mount a comeback, earned a respectable ₱6,315,000 for his impressive run.
Final Table Results (Philippine Peso)
- Mitsuki Sakimoto – ₱9,650,000
- Jae Yi Chang – ₱6,315,000
- Edgar Asehan – ₱4,356,000
- Reiner Magbutay – ₱3,062,000
- Renato Villanueva Jr – ₱2,191,000
- Hoseung Jung – ₱1,600,000
- Lee Sunghak – ₱1,188,000
- Jeseok Lee – ₱903,000
- Paul Zehetleitner – ₱697,000
India’s Gaurav Idnani Breaks Through: Wins First Live Title in APL Speed Racer II (~₹1.20 Lakhs)
Amidst the energy of the APL Manila 2025, India’s Gaurav Idnani found his winning stride in Event #11: ₱5,000 Speed Racer II. He battled through a field of 48 entries to grab his first-ever live poker title and ₱79,100 (~₹1.20 Lakhs) in prize money!
Idnani’s live poker story started in April 2022 with a small cash in the ₹11K Warm Up at the Deltin Poker Tournament. Over the years, he has steadily built his resume, adding two DPT cashes in May 2024 and a deep run in the Mini Main Event at the Players Series Taipei this past December to his list of accomplishments.
However, this wasn’t just another cash; it was a breakthrough. Idnani was no longer just a participant; he was the champion.
At a final table full of Filipino and South Korean players, Idnani played with a cool head and sharp skills, getting closer to the win with each hand played. In the final one-on-one battle, he faced off against Filipino pro Elmer Kalaquian, claiming both the APL trophy and the biggest score of his live career so far. Kalaquian took home ₱46,600 for his second-place finish.
The event created a prize pool of ₱202,800, and five other players shared in it. But Idnani claimed the lion’s share and, more importantly, the sweet taste of victory.
Complete Payouts (Philippine Peso)
- Gaurav Idnani – ₱79,100
- Elmer Kalaquian – ₱46,600
- Jeffrey Pamplona – ₱28,400
- Kunmo Lee – ₱20,300
- Jun Tae Yang – 16,200
- Mark Israel – ₱12,200
Content & Images Courtesy: So Much Poker
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- KeywordsTags: Paul Zehetleitner, Players Series Taipei, Ace Poker League (APL), APL Manila Main Event, Mitsuki Sakimoto, Jae Yi Chang, Elmer Kalaquian, Prime Poker Club, Reiner Magbutay, Renato Villanueva Jr, Hoseung Jung, Lee Sunghak, Jeseok Lee, So Much Poker, Gaurav Idnani, Edgar Asehan, Deltin Poker Tournament
