APT Manila Poker Classic 2025: Kunal Patni, Birangat Singh Gambhir & Jayant Deshmukh Add to India`s Fast-Growing Trophy Haul!

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila Poker Classic 2025 is off to an electrifying start at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, running alongside the recently concluded PokerStars LIVE Manila Super Series 21. This first APT festival of the 2025 season and the second Philippines festival of the New Era is being held in partnership with Metro Card Club, featuring a staggering 100 tournaments and a massive ₱143 Million (~$2.40 Million) prize pool guarantee. The flagship ₱60,000 (~$1,000) buy-in Main Event alone boasts a ₱60 Million (~$1 Million) guarantee, making the Grand Ballroom of Crowne Plaza Galleria the epicentre of poker action in the Asia-Pacific region!

With just three days of action, the APT Manila Poker Classic has already crowned 25 champions, with four glorious trophies (including one from an India-exclusive tournament) heading back to India! The massive player turnout suggests this could be one of the most record-breaking APT stops ever, potentially surpassing the records set at APT Manila 2024.

While some Indian poker regulars are grinding it out at the DPT Xpress in Goa, a formidable contingent of Indian players has stormed Manila, and they’re leaving their mark in a big way with 20 cash finishes on the scorecard. Day 3 was a breakthrough for Team India, with three APT trophies added to their collection (after Raju Jaruplavath‘s Philippines National Cup win) and an impressive 13 cashes, nine of which came from the Natural8 India APT Manila Classic – India Exclusive Tournament.

Kunal Patni’s Hot Streak Continues With Bounty Bonanza

Among the biggest Indian stars of the series is Natural8 India Executive Director and Ambassador Kunal Patni! He just bagged his fifth career APT title in Event #9: ₱20K Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8. Patni battled his way through a massive field of 377 entries (154 unique)! With his aggressive bounty-hunting strategy, he eliminated seven players en route to victory, taking home a cool ₱1,115,176 (~₹16.78 Lakhs), including ₱300,000 in bounties, along with the prestigious Silver Lion Silhouette Trophy. This victory adds another chapter to Patni’s incredible run of success that began last year.

Birangat Singh Gambhir’s Hyper Turbo Triumph

India’s Birangat Singh Gambhir announced his arrival on the APT scene with a bang! He conquered Event #27: ₱12K Hyper Turbo, outlasting an 85-entry field (77 unique) to claim his first-ever APT title. With the fast-paced structure demanding quick thinking and flawless execution, Gambhir rose to the challenge, grabbing the ₱236,696 (~₹3.56 Lakhs) top prize and the coveted APT trophy.

Jayant Deshmukh’s Dream Debut

And then there’s the incredible story of Jayant Deshmukh, a casual weekend grinder on Natural8 India who dared to dream big. In a fairytale debut, Deshmukh triumphed in the Natural8 India APT Manila Classic – India Exclusive Tournament. This online event on Natural8 India saw 283 players compete, with the top eight finalists flown to Manila (one player couldn’t attend) for a grand live finale. Deshmukh not only made it to the final table but went on to defeat all his opponents, claiming the ₹2.13 Lakhs top prize, the APT trophy, and a ₹90,000 entry into the upcoming APT Main Event. His heads-up opponent, Rahul Darak, also secured a seat in the Main Event and took home ₹1.58 Lakhs for his impressive runner-up finish.

APT Manila Poker Classic List of Winners

Team India Scores at APT Manila Poker Classic

Kunal Patni’s Reign of Triumph Continues with Fifth APT Title in Event #9: ₱20K Mystery Bounty Hunter!

The APT Manila Poker Classic 2025 is a whirlwind of poker action, and India’s Kunal Patni is right in the thick of it! The Natural8 India Executive Director and Ambassador just snagged his fifth career APT title in Event #9: ₱20K Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8. He outlasted a massive field of 377 entries (154 unique) to claim the ₱1,115,176 (~₹16.78 Lakhs) top prize, including a cool ₱300,000 in bounties, along with the coveted Silver Lion Silhouette Trophy.

Patni’s victory was a sight to behold, as he eliminated seven opponents and kept his own bounty, racking up a total of eight bounty payouts. His aggressive play and ensured he dominated the final stages of the event, capping off yet another incredible run on the live circuit.

The final day saw 55 returning players (from three starting flights) battling for their share of the ₱4,180,176 (~$71,824) prize pool, with an additional ₱2,262,000 (~$38,866) in the bounty pool.

Japan’s Yuki Miyakura, who entered the final day as the chip leader with a 163-BB stack, looked poised to capture his first live title. However, Patni, who started the day with 88 BBs (third in chips), steadily climbed the leaderboard, staying in contention throughout.

By the time the heads-up battle began, Patni had a slight chip lead—holding 7 Million in chips to Miyakura’s 5 Million. Over two intense levels, the two players traded blows before Patni delivered the knockout punch to claim the title.

Miyakura, despite his best efforts, fell just short of victory, settling for a runner-up finish worth a career-best ₱644,000 (~$11,060), including ₱130,000 (~$2,230) in bounties.

Following his incredible win, an ecstatic Patni shared his thoughts with APT reporters, saying: “I am just very happy right now. Can’t wait to see the look on my good friend Victor’s [Chong, APT Advisor] face when he comes in tomorrow. On a serious note, I have been on a massive heater in the last 6-8 months, and I hope it continues. Always amazing to ship an event, and it’s super crazy when you win a trophy as sexy as an APT trophy.”

With this Silver Lion Silhouette Trophy, Patni now has three of the seven New Era APT trophies, adding to his Gold Lion Silhouette Trophy from the APT Phu Quoc 2024 Baby Superstar Challenge and the two Baby Lion trophies he won at APT Hanoi 2023 (Event #36 & Event #41). His growing trophy cabinet is a testament to his exceptional consistency on the live circuit, especially at the APT.

Patni’s winning momentum started in September 2024 when he led his Deccan Aces team to victory in Pocket52 Poker Sports League (PSL) Season 6, making them the only team to win PSL twice (thrice counting a virtual win). Since then, he has won three live APT titles and made deep runs in multiple high-profile live tournaments. In fact, Patni has won eight of his ten career live titles in just the past 2.5 years. According to his Hendon Mob profile, Patni, who is ranked #9 on India’s all-time money list, has crossed the $1.20 Million mark in live tournament earnings with this win. Despite jokingly calling himself a “retired fish,” Patni has consistently proven his dominance at the tables, successfully balancing his business commitments with a thriving poker career.

This win was Patni’s second cash in this series, following his 29th-place finish in Event #1: ₱12K Philippines National Cup (₱26,000 ~ ₹39,313). His total series earnings now stand at ₱1.14 Million (~₹17.17 Lakhs).

India’s Rajiv Sachdeva also made a deep run in Event #9, finishing 47th for ₱20,000 (~₹30,096). Sachdeva has now cashed twice in the series, bringing his total earnings to ₱42,000 (~₹63,202).

The final table also included Sung Jin Yun (3rd for ₱442,000), William Teoh (4th for ₱401,000), Wutikrai Phraikhieo (5th for ₱318,000), Jaejoong Kim (6th for ₱615,000), Takuma Endo (7th for ₱206,000), Xianhe Alecz Chan (8th for ₱259,000), and Gun Jegal (9th for ₱90,000).

Final Table Results (PHP) (Including Bounties)

1. Kunal Patni – ₱1,115,176
2. Yuki Miyakura – ₱644,000
3. Sung Jin Yun – ₱442,000
4. William Teoh – ₱401,000
5. Wutikrai Phraikhieo – ₱318,000
6. Jaejoong Kim – ₱615,000
7. Takuma Endo – ₱206,000
8. Xianhe Alecz Chan – ₱259,000
9. Gun Jegal – ₱90,000

Birangat Singh Gambhir Blasts Off With First APT Title in Event #27: ₱12K Hyper Turbo!

Day 3 of the APT Manila Poker Classic 2025 witnessed the rise of a new poker star! India’s Birangat Singh Gambhir delivered a performance for the ages, conquering Event #27: ₱12K Hyper Turbo and etching his name into APT history. He outlasted a field of 85 entries in a lightning-fast battle of wits, claiming his first-ever APT title, a handsome ₱236,696 (~₹3.56 Lakhs) in prize money, and the coveted APT trophy.

This victory was a game-changer for Gambhir, quadrupling his lifetime live poker earnings in one fell swoop and announcing his arrival as a serious contender in the Asian poker circuit.

This was Gambhir’s first recorded cash in the series and only his seventh documented live score—with his first live cash dating back to July 2023. In just 2.5 years, Gambhir has been climbing the poker ladder, and this win could be the turning point in his poker journey.

The Hyper Turbo event generated ₱861,696 (approximately $14,805) in prize money, with the top 11 players making the money. The min-cash was ₱22,000, but the biggest rewards were reserved for the top finishers.

The final showdown was a nail-biter, pitting Gambhir against Mongolia’s Byambasuren Danzanbaljir, a formidable opponent with his eyes on the prize. The hyper turbo format ensured a thrilling, fast-paced contest where every decision mattered. In the end, it was Gambhir’s day to shine, as he emerged victorious, leaving Danzanbaljir to settle for a respectable second-place prize of ₱168,000 (~$2,856). Japan’s Shinya Kanamaru rounded out the podium with a third-place finish worth ₱110,000 (~$1,870).

Other players who made it to the final table included Apisit Anan (4th for ₱85,000), Paul Hoa Han Ho (5th for ₱67,000), Martin Gerico Belsa (6th for ₱53,000), Shingo Horikoshi (7th for ₱41,000), Yiu Yeung Leung (8th for ₱32,000), and Victor Velarde Bartulaba (9th for ₱25,000).

Final Table Results (PHP)

1. Birangat Singh Gambhir – ₱236,696
2. Byambasuren Danzanbaljir – ₱168,000
3. Shinya Kanamaru – ₱110,000
4. Apisit Anan – ₱85,000
5. Paul Hoa Han Ho – ₱67,000
6. Martin Gerico Belsa – ₱53,000
7. Shingo Horikoshi – ₱41,000
8. Yiu Yeung Leung – ₱32,000
9. Victor Velarde Bartulaba – ₱25,000

Weekend Warrior Jayant Deshmukh Conquers Natural8 India APT Manila Classic – India Exclusive Tournament!

Jayant Deshmukh, a casual weekend grinder on Natural8 India, just lived out a poker fairytale! He outlasted a field of 283 entries (online on Natural8 India) and conquered a stacked final table in a live showdown in Manila to win the Natural8 India APT Manila Classic – India Exclusive Tournament. This incredible victory earned him the ₹2.13 Lakhs top prize, a prestigious APT trophy, and a ₹90,000 seat to the upcoming APT Main Event. Rahul Darak also bagged a Main Event seat and ₹1.58 Lakhs for his impressive runner-up finish.

This event was Natural8 India’s fourth collaboration with the Asian Poker Tour (APT), giving Indian players an exclusive opportunity to compete on an international stage, with the finalists flown to Manila for a live showdown. Out of the nine finalists, only Sunny Prajapati couldn’t attend and was blinded out. The top four finishers each won a free ticket to the APT Main Event worth ₹90,000, while the other five received entry into the Mini Main Event worth ₹37,000 each.

The final table showdown was a thriller. Deshmukh started with the fifth-largest stack, carefully navigating his way through the competition. His turning point came when he scored a crucial double-up with seven players remaining, catapulting him to the top of the leaderboard.

Let’s rewind to that game-changing hand. Deshmukh opened to 40K (2x) from under the gun, holding . Poker veteran Anant Purohit, the 2024 POY runner-up, called from the button with . Thummala Karthik Reddy, holding , called from the small blind. The flop came down , giving both Deshmukh and Reddy flush draws. A flurry of checks ensued before Purohit led out 41K. Reddy, sensing the opportunity, shoved his remaining stack of 379K (24 BBs). After assessing the pay jumps, Deshmukh moved all-in for 269K (17 BBs), forcing Purohit to fold. The turn brought the , giving Deshmukh a pair of jacks, and the river completed his flush, getting him a crucial double-up.

With six players left, Jayant Deshmukh scored his first knockout. In a limped pot, on a flop of , Devajit Labh bet 50K (2.5 BBs) with . Deshmukh called from UTG with , and Thummala Karthik Reddy folded from the small blind. The turn brought the , and Labh bet 75K (3.5 BBs). Deshmukh shoved, and Labh called with his flush. But the river delivered the , giving Deshmukh a better flush to knock out Labh in sixth place for ₹47,213 and a Mini Main Event ticket worth ₹37,000.

Deshmukh’s momentum continued as he eliminated Anant Purohit in third place. Purohit shoved with from the button, only to run into Deshmukh’s in the big blind. The board ran out dry for Purohit, and he exited with ₹1,16,605 and a Main Event ticket worth ₹90,000.

The heads-up battle was a clash of styles, with Deshmukh (1.76 Million) holding a chip lead over Rahul Darak (1.145 Million). The duel raged for 29 hands, with Darak almost drawing even with Deshmukh before the final hand unfolded. In a moment of high drama, Deshmukh made a daring shove with from the button and Darak snap-called with from the big blind. The board ran out , giving Deshmukh a turned straight and his maiden live title, along with ₹2.13 Lakhs and a Main Event seat. Darak, despite the tough beat, earned ₹1,57,618 and a Main Event ticket for his impressive runner-up finish.

If you missed this epic final table, don’t worry! You can catch all the action on APT’s YouTube channel.

Final Table Results (INR)

1. Jayant Deshmukh – ₹2,13,054
2. Rahul Darak – ₹1,57,618
3. Anant Purohit – ₹1,16,605
4. Thummala Karthik Reddy – ₹86,265
5. Vineet Kumar – ₹63,819
6. Devajit Labh – ₹47,213
7. Sunny Prajapati – ₹34,928
8. S Shiva Shankar – ₹25,840
9. Pratik Parte – ₹19,117

Content and Images Courtesy: Asian Poker Tour & Natural8 India

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