HomePASAY CITY, Philippines – From a total of 480 entries, 59 started Day 3 of the Asian Poker Tour 2022 Philippines Main Event and 48 entered ITM, but after a grueling grind of nearly twelve hour, the Final 8 combatants now take what little rest they can before coming back later today (November 22) to contest the trophy and the biggest chunk of the PhP23,280,000 (US$405,469) at the Grand Wing Casino, Newport World Resorts here.
There will be no repeat performer in this edition of the Final 8 is composed of a completely different cast of characters with four Filipinos, three Koreans and a lone Singaporean on a quest to snare the top prize of PhP4,915,000 (US$85,645).
The Final 8 of the APT 2022 Philippines Main Event
The Final 8 is led by multi-titled Filipino-American Moses Saquing who is seeking to win his second APT title after taking down the Championships Event in the first installment of the tour here this year.
Saquing is sitting on a whopping 4,080,000 in chips and followed by Korean Kim Hyo Gyun, who was short-stacked during a majority of the final two tables but a couple of massive double-ups now has him in great position for the title. Kim has holdings of 2,145,000.
Moses Saquing (PHI) has a commanding chip-lead heading into the Final 8
Third place is currently held by another Filipino in Christopher “Big Time” Mateo, a four-time APT champion and also a one-time Main Event titlist in 2019. Mateo has 1,790,000 in chips.
The Final 8 begins their conquest for the crown at 1:30PM (UCT+8) and will be streamed live on the APT YouTube and Twitch channels.
Mesanwhile, the finale of (Event #20) the 2-Day PhP100,000 (US$1,742) High-Rollers tiff resumes at 1:00PM and will also have a broadcast at the after conclusion of the Main Event.
Newly crowned (Event #19) High-Rollers 6-Max Hyper Turbo champion Sakurai Buyu of Japan leads the contenders heading into the finale with 187,900 while Australia’s Bernard Stang is in second with 174,200. Another Japanese player in Yuki Sako is presently in third with 135,600.