HomeGood morning players and welcome to the Asian Poker Tour‘s 2020 season! Starting today we open the curtain to a brand new year at partner Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This is our third consecutive kick-off in the country and we are extremely thrilled to back.
For newcomers, get ready for non-stop action both indoors and outdoors. Not only is Ho Chi Minh City an incredibly energetic city all day and all night long, it also has one of the largest brick-and-mortar poker rooms in Asia. Host venue Pro Poker Club can accommodate up to 30 tables. Food and beverage is available on order. In 2018, the APT was the first international brand to plant its flag at Pro Poker Club drawing a tour record 664 Main Event entries. To-date, the APT has hosted a total of six events at this location. For the next 12 days, this is definitely the place to be.
APT Kick-off Vietnam runs from today January 10 to January 21. It comes with a fully loaded 25-event schedule and VND 14 billion (~US$ 604,400) in guaranteed prizes. Every event winner will secure a newly designed APT Trophy. Also to look out for, players will be treated to special promos up to US$ 8,000 to celebrate APT and Pro Poker Cub’s two year partnership.
Before we give you a rundown of the key events, important things to keep in mind:
- APT utilizes the Ante BB format for all events
- Shot clock will be introduced once an event is down to the final six tables
- All buy-ins and fees are in Vietnamese Dong
- Featured events: Main Event and Championships Event pays out 10% of the field
- All times listed are in local time
Opening Event
Kick-off
Setting the festival in motion is the Kick-off event. It runs from January 10 to 12. Eventual winner will not only pocket a sweet starting bankroll but will also claim the bragging rights first newly designed APT trophy and earn the top spot in the APT Player of the Series race.
Buy-in: VND 11,000,000 (~US$ 475)
Flight A: Today – January 10 @ 1pm
Flight B: Today – January 10 @ 5pm
Flight C: January 11 @ 1pm
Day 2: January 11 @ 530pm
Final Day: January 12 @ 130pm
Featured Events
There are two featured events offered at every APT stop – Main Event and Championships Event. These are the tour’s most prestigious tournaments and are undoubtedly the ones players seek to master. Champions are awarded big cash prizes, the APT Champion Trophy, and the APT Championship Ring. Up to US$ 4,000 freeroll flipout cash prizes will also be given away during Day 1A of each of the featured events:
Pre-start at 1245pm: US$ 2,000 in cash awarded to the winner
First break at 2pm: US$ 1,000 in cash awarded to the winner
Second break at 410pm: US$ 1,000 in cash awarded to the winner
Main Event – VND 8 billion guarantee
If there is one tournament everyone must attend, it is the Main Event. This custom-crafted tournament offers the best structure in the region as proven by the praise it continues to receive from players. The Main Event comes with a guarantee of VND 8 Billion (~US$ 345,400).
Buy-in: VND 22,000,000 (~US$ 950)
Dates: January 12 to 17
Starting stack: 25,000
Opening blinds: 50 – 100
Starting time: 1pm
Day 1A: January 12
Day 1B: January 13
Day 1C: January 14
Day 2: January 15
Day 3: January 16
Final 8 Day: January 17
Notes:
- Special promo for Day 1A attendees only. Buy-in is discounted to VND 21,000,000 (~US$ 907)
- All levels run 6o minutes each
- All starting days play until end of Level 9
- Multiple stacks allowed but only best stack moves forward
- Registration closes at the start of Level 11 in Day 2
- Day 2 plays until the end of Level 17
- Day 3 plays until the final 8 players is reached
- There are four Main Event satellites offered
Championships Event – VND 6 billion guarantee
Running back-to-back with the Main Event is the tour’s second featured tournament – the Championships Event. This event also extends a fantastic deep structure and a guarantee of VND 6 billion (~US$ 259,000). Due to its higher buy-in (than the main), it tends to draw a tighter crowd filled with pros. In turn, the pot is usually quite large.
Buy-in: VND 38,500,000 (~US$ 1,700)
Dates: January 17 to 21
Starting stack: 50,000
Opening blinds: 100 – 200
Starting time: 1pm
Day 1A: January 17
Day 1B: January 18
Day 2: January 19
Day 3: January 20
Final 8 Day: January 21
Notes:
- All levels run 6o minutes each
- All starting days play until end of Level 8
- Multiple stacks allowed but only best stack moves forward
- Registration closes at the start of Level 11 in Day 2
- Day 2 plays until the end of Level 16
- Day 3 plays until the final 8 players is reached
- There are four Championships Event satellites offered
High Rollers Events
The growing demand for smaller fields and big returns was answered with an abundance of High Rollers events in the APT roster. To kick off the new season, six are scheduled. Buy-ins range from VND 43,000,000 (~US$ 1,900) to VND 65,000,000 (~US$ 2,800) to the largest of VND 107,500,000 (~US$ 4,600). Breaking it down:
High Rollers Single Day – VND 43,000,000 buy-in – Dates: January 14, 15, 19, and 21.
High Rollers (two day event) – VND 65,000,000 buy-in held on January 20 to 21
Super High Rollers (two day event) – VND 107,500,000 buy-in held on January 16 to 17
APT Player of the Series
Apart from winning events, the most distinguished title is the APT Player of the Series. From start to finish, players that reach the money in any of the events – except for satellites and Super High Rollers – earn points toward the APT POS race. The player with the most points at the end of the series wins the title along with special prizes.
1st place: APT Player of the Series 1st place Trophy, APT Player of the Series customized Ring, exclusive watch, and US$ 800.
2nd place: APT Player of the Series 2nd place Trophy and US$ 100
3rd place: APT Player of the Series 3rd place Trophy and US$ 100
So start early and get on the APT POS board! See you at the tables!
Full APT Kick-off Vietnam 2020 schedule
APT Player Booklet with Event Structures