Asia Pacific Poker Tour makes its way to Cambodia in November; full schedule released

Social media has been buzzing with chatter for several days, and expectedly so, with a big reveal coming from the PokerStars LIVE dugout. For the first time in history, the brand’s highly regarded Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) heads to Phnom Penh, Cambodia with games taking place at the world class NagaWorld Entertainment Complex from November 3 to November 13, 2022.

With the APPT having only held one event so far this year, the news of another happening so soon is a welcome surprise. The APPT has consistently been one of the most sought after international festivals in Asia-Pacific, and with Cambodia as its newest stop, it will undoubtedly be momentous as it possibly means a fuller calendar season for the tour down the road.

The inaugural APPT Cambodia will mark the tour’s second stop of the year. The first one was held in late-July in the Philippines where over US$ 2.6 Million was awarded across 26 tournaments. Singapore’s Xin Hua Lai took down the Main Event for US$ 107,280 and Philippines James Mendoza walked away the biggest earner pocketing US$ 141,380.

For the upcoming inaugural games, players are in for some very busy days on the felt. The APPT Cambodia schedule features 20 Spadie events across 11 days and $550,000 in guaranteed prize pools. The Main Event carries in the biggest bulk with a US$ 400,000 guarantee on its back followed by the APPT National with a US$ 100,000 guarantee. As always, every type of bankroll will be met with buy ins ranging from as low as US$ 100 to the maximum of US$ 10,000.

With that revealed, let’s give this inaugural lineup a closer look.

APPT Cambodia Main Event – US$ 400,000 guarantee

The $1,500 APPT Cambodia Main Event is the festival’s prime tournament and as always will be the event to conquer. Through the years, this centerpiece event has seen its numbers climb to over 1.000 entries multiple times with the largest field recorded at the 2018 APPT Manila of 1,364 entries. Singapore’s Wilson Lim shipped it for a career high US$ 244,815. In terms of prize pool, it guarantees $400,000, and with anticipation quite high, it has the potential to be shattered. The Main Event runs on November 10 to 13 with two starting days followed by Day 2 and the Final Table.

APPT National – US$ 100,000 guarantee

Another highly sought after event is the APPT National which has seen its popularity rise through the seasons. In 2018, this event witnessed an outpour of 829 entries in Manila to send the prize pool balloon four times over, and just before the pandemic it drew a substantial 674 entry field to also breach its guarantee. The upcoming APPT National takes place on November 6 to 9 with two starting days offered. For a buy in of US$ 800, players have a chance at the minimum US$ 100,000 prize pool. In addition to a cash prize, the champion will also be awarded a seat to the Main Event

APPT NagaWorld Kick-Off – US$ 50,000 guarantee

To welcome everyone in, the inaugural eleven day festival blasts off with the APPT NagaWorld Kick-Off featuring a US$ 50,000 guarantee. This is a three day event running from November 3 to 5. Two starting days are scheduled with buy in of US$ 300.

High Roller events

Players with hefty bankrolls will be happy to see five high roller events to tackle. With the pandemic practically behind us and live festivals booming in the region, these big buy in events have also seen its numbers escalate. Among the Asian players expected are big guns hailing from India, Japan, Singapore, and Philippines. Buy ins range from US$ 2,000 to US$ 10,000.

• Mini High High Roller: November 7 to 8 – US$ 2,000 buy in
• High Roller: November 8 to 9 – US$ 3,000 buy in
• APPT Super High Roller: November 9 to 10 – US$ 10,000 buy-in
• APPT High Roller: November 12 to 13 – US$ 5,000 buy in
• High Roller NLH 6 Handed: November 13 – US$ 2,200 buy in

Freezeout events

When poker first started, freezeout events were the only format. Today, these events have taken a backseat to re-entry formats however they haven’t gone away completely. In fact, quite the opposite with more being offered in festival lineups. So for the die-hard freezeout fans, feast on the four tournaments on schedule.

Event #2: NLH Freezeout: November 3 to 4 – US$ 800 buy in
Event #9: NLH Freezeout: November 5 – US$ 1,100 buy in
Event #26: NLH Turbo Freezeout: November 9 – US$ 800 buy in
Event #37: NLH Freezeout: November 13 – US$ 1,100 buy in

Other events

In addition to all the above-mentioned events, the schedule offers a wide variety of NLH formats from Turbo, Hyper Turbo, Knockouts, and 6-Handed. There is also a two day Mystery Bounty event on tap with two entry flights happening on November 5. The cheapest event is the $100 Flipout which takes place on November 12. For players seeking other variants, there is also a Short Deck and Pot Limit Omaha event.

Satellite events

Players reviewing the schedule may see the number of events go up to 39, that’s because 13 events are qualifiers to specific tournaments. Listed are 8 APPT Main Event Qualifiers, 4 APPT National Qualifiers, and 1 APPT Super High Roller Qualifier. Make sure to jump in those for better value.

Full schedule and tournament structures
PokerStars LIVE announces Inaugural APPT Cambodia

All pics courtesy of PokerStars LIVE.