HomeThe much-anticipated Asian Poker Tour season opener is here – Welcome to the APT Kickoff Vietnam 2018! We are thrilled to begin our new year in Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) at partner and host venue Pro Poker Club. This will be the first time the APT hosts an event in this dynamic city and we are looking forward to sharing all the exciting things we have lined up.
For starters, the festival will run from January 19 – 28, that’s ten days of games to enjoy! From here on, this will be the minimum number of days of all APT festivals. If you haven’t seen the kickoff schedule yet, the event will have weekends as bookends, so make sure to secure all those dates to avoid missing out on any of the action.
For those still needing accommodations, we have APT Player Only Rates offered at select hotels. Bookings must be done through our official travel partner, PokerTourBookings.com. Prices will vary per hotel. Rooms are going fast so book, book, book!
And now, let’s get on with the festivities!
APT Kickoff Vietnam Main Event VND 3,000,000,000 Guaranteed
If there is one event you must attend, it is of course the highlight tournament – the prestigious APT Main Event. To open the APT 2018 season, the APT gives you a whopping VND 3,000,000,000 Guaranteed prize pool. This is the first of many more guaranteed events to come within the year. Buy-in is VND 16,500,000.
The APT Main Event is a No Limit Texas Hold’em tournament boasting of the best structure in the region. Unlike our usual schedule, this event will run a course of six days broken down into three starting days, Day 2, Day 3, and the Final 8. Additionally, players will now be able to jump in anytime during the starting days and on Day 2 as well with late registration closing just before the starting buzzer of Level 10. Main Event Mega Satellites will start running on January 20 – 23.
*Important note: Main Event runs from Sunday, January 21 – Saturday, January 27 however there will be a one day gap between Day 1a and Day 1b. See schedule for more details.
Opening Day Events
With the APT Main Event still two days away, setting the pace of the festivities are two opening day events:
- NLH Welcome Event: The Welcome Event has consistently been one of the most highly attended events with everyone gunning for that bragging first title. Seeing that it’s Friday, expect all of those weekend warriors bee-lining for the felt. Keep in mind this event is designed to run for two days. Buy-in is VND 4,400,000. Cards start flying at 1pm.
- Ante Up for Charity: Play poker for a cause. This event is for the benefit of the Saigon Children’s Charity. The organization focuses on education, taking “comprehensive and practical steps to ensure disadvantaged children in Vietnam get a proper education.” They build schools, create other learning environments, and even offer scholarships for a brighter future. Buy-in is VND 3,000,000. One-third of the prize pool will be donated to the charity organization. Game time at 5pm.
Pro Poker Club High Rollers
On the last three days of the festival, we bring you the Pro Poker Club High Rollers. This event will have a VND 2,000,000,000 Guarantee; buy-in is VND 32,000,000.
Due to high local player demand, this event has been adjusted to meet a three-day schedule as opposed to the originally advertised two-days. Please follow the new schedule below:
- Day 1A – Friday, January 26 at 130pm
- Day 1B – Saturday, January 27 at 3pm
- Final Day – Sunday, January 28 at 3pm
Upcoming Side Events
Everyone knows that besides the top quality Main Event, the APT also offers highly crafted side events. Including those mentioned above, there are 18 side events in total with buy-ins ranging from VND 3,000,000 to VND 32,000,000. For these events, we take pride in creating great structures to provide you with the most bang for your buck.
Breaking down the list, there are three events “scheduled” to run for two days: Main Event Warm Up, NLH Two Day Event, and the Monster Stack.
There are four events “designed” to run for two days: Welcome Event, Head Hunter, No Limit Hold’em 1, and No Limit Hold’em 2. If the Final 8 is reached by 10pm then it stays as a one day event.
For players that enjoy fast paced games, the kickoff also has that covered with 7 turbo events on the roster.
Sit n Go’s On Demand
And of course, for those looking for even quicker games, we have one table Sit N Gos available at any time of the day. These can get underway as soon as a table is formed. There are three types of games offered. Buy-ins are determined by the players ranging from VND 2,200,000 to VND 22,000,000.
- 2 Hour Fixed Time NLH: These games run for two hours. Remaining players at the end of the allotted time will receive a payout based on the ICM.
- No Limit Hold’em
- OFC Pineapple
Full APT Kickoff Vietnam 2018 schedule
Pro Poker Club
The Pro Poker Club is the first poker room to open in Ho Chi Minh City offering daily tournaments and Sit n Gos to both locals and foreigners alike with a minimum gaming age of 18 years old. By law, there are no cash games allowed. The room is roughly around 100 square meters, brightly lit, and fits up to 20 poker tables with ample space in between. The brown leather chairs are quite comfortable complete with built-in cup holders.
*Important note: The club is “By Membership Only” which means anyone entering the room is required to sign up for a membership. The minimum membership fee is VND 200,000 and it is valid for one month. During the APT event, non-members will be required to secure a membership before entering the poker room. Please bring a valid ID.
The Pro Poker Club is situated at the trendiest, most upbeat, and upscale section of HCMC. It is equipped with its own café serving local and western dishes. The area has an abundance of places to eat, historic landmarks to visit, shopping havens for bargain hunters, and of course a booming nightlife.
Address: 147 Truong Dinh, Phuong 9, Quan 3, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.