Raju Jaruplavath Wins the APT Manila Poker Classic 2025 Philippines National Cup!

The live poker action is scorching hot in Manila! The Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila Poker Classic 2025 has kicked off at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila Poker Classic 2025 is underway at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, running alongside the PokerStars LIVE Manila Super Series 21. This first APT stop of the 2025 season, in partnership with Metro Card Club, boasts a mind-boggling 100 scheduled tournaments, with a staggering ₱143 Million (~$2.40 Million) in prize money. And with the 60,000 (~$1,000) buy-in Main Event alone boasting a massive ₱60 Million (~$1 Million) guarantee, the Grand Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Galleria is the place to be.

Just two days in, and already 15 APT trophies have found their owners. The Indian poker contingent, even with many regulars battling it out at the DPT Xpress in Goa, has made a strong showing, racking up seven cashes and one glorious victory!

The biggest news for India so far has been long-time live circuit grinder Raju Jaruplavath (cover image) taking down Event #1: ₱12K Philippines National Cup, the first featured tournament on the schedule! He snagged his maiden APT title and a hefty ₱797,765 (around ₹12.07 Lakhs).

Jaruplavath battled through a field of 398 entries (across three flights) to win this two-day event, grabbing the coveted Gold Lion Silhouette Trophy. Singapore’s Zhi Xiang Png finished as the runner-up for ₱503,000 (~$8,643).

Jaruplavath entered the final day with 311,000 chips, placing him 11th out of 58 players. Showing patience and precision, he patiently and strategically built his stack, maneuvering his way to the final table in joint second place. Despite suffering an early setback when his pocket kings were cracked, he staged a remarkable comeback, eliminating four players en route to his commanding victory.

This win is not just another notch on Jaruplavath’s belt; it’s his third tournament title and his third-largest live score, catapulting his tracked live tournament earnings to over ₹1.30 Crores!

While Jaruplavath stole the spotlight, several other Indian players made deep runs in the Philippines National Cup. Shiva Shankar Shenbagaraj finished 16th for ₱42,000 (~₹63,505), Bharath Jayaram took 21st place for ₱34,000 (~₹51,409), Natural8 India Executive Director and Ambassador Kunal Patni secured 29th place for ₱26,000 (~₹39,313), and Vineet Kumar and Rajiv Sachdeva finished in 32nd and 37th place respectively, each taking home ₱22,000 (~₹33,264).

Other Notable Wins at APT Manila Poker Classic

Indian players weren’t the only ones making headlines. Several local pros also made waves in other marquee events.

Philippines’ Vamerdino Magsakay topped a 77-entry field to win Event #11: ₱180K Single Day High Roller – Mystery Bounty, securing his fifth APT title for ₱2,673,040 (~$45,441), including ₱970,000 (~$16,490) in bounties. Runner-up Mike Takayama, the #2 ranked player on the Philippines’ all-time money list, walked away with ₱2,572,000 (~$43,724), with a ₱1,340,000 (~$22,780) bounty haul.

Philippines’ John Tech outlasted a stacked field of 58 entries to capture Event #3: ₱100K Single Day High Roller – Freezeout, his 11th win at the APT and ₱1,503,200 (~$25,554). Tech, one of the country’s most accomplished tournament pros and a real force at the APT, is now closing in on $2 Million in live tournament earnings!

APT Manila Poker Classic List of Winners

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