For days, the spotlight at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Manila Championship 2025 was on India’s poker icon Aditya Agarwal, who seemed destined for another deep title run after years of remarkable consistency on the Asian poker circuit. But in the end, it was South Korea’s Minwoong Jeong, a humble medical doctor and part-time poker warrior, who emerged as the APPT Manila Champion, capturing ₱11,850,000 (~$202,000) and the title of a lifetime.
Held at the luxurious Coral Lounge inside Okada Manila, the APPT Championship drew 384 entries and built a massive ₱60,000,000 (~$1.08 million) prize pool. Only six players returned for the final day, each hoping to etch their name into Asian poker history.
For Jeong, it was more than just a tournament — it was the realization of an eight-year dream and a redemption story that few could have written better.
The Doctor Who Refused to Fold
After working endless shifts at the emergency room in Seoul, Jeong arrived in Manila with one goal — to play the best poker of his life. Sleep-deprived but laser-focused, he played with the calm precision of a surgeon. His focus, discipline, and patience reflected the very traits that define both his professions — medicine and poker.
“I am so happy! I am not a good player, just very lucky,” Jeong said moments after the final card hit the felt. “It is not about winning the money, it is about pride. Poker is very challenging but I love poker. I have been trying to win for eight years and I was going to stop. Now, I don’t know, I am so happy.”
His humility stood in stark contrast to his performance. Jeong bulldozed through the field, holding a commanding chip lead heading into the final day. Yet even with all the chips, he faced two fierce adversaries who tested every ounce of his composure — Aditya Agarwal and Eng Loong Choi.
The Fall of a Titan: Aditya Agarwal’s Painful Exit
In our previous coverage on BetterPokerNews, we chronicled Aditya Agarwal’s powerful run through the early stages of the APPT Manila Championship — a campaign defined by discipline, relentless aggression, and deep tournament instinct. Known as one of India’s most respected poker minds, Agarwal looked poised to add another major final table finish to his long list of international accolades.
But poker, as Jeong himself said, is about patience and timing.
At four-handed play, Agarwal’s momentum came to a crashing halt. After Jeong opened with a standard raise, Agarwal shoved, only to run straight into pocket Aces — the one hand no professional wants to see when making an all-in move.
It was a cruel end to what had been a near-perfect tournament run. Agarwal’s exit in 4th place, earning ₱4,071,000 (~$69,420), drew a standing ovation from the rail — a recognition of one of Asia’s most consistent and respected competitors. His ability to stay composed under pressure once again proved why he’s seen as a pillar of Indian and Asian poker.
The Path to Glory: Jeong vs. Choi vs. Jones
After Agarwal’s elimination, the field was down to three: Minwoong Jeong (Korea), Craig Jones (United Kingdom), and Eng Loong Choi (Malaysia) — three nations, three styles, and one ultimate dream.
Choi, a fearless and mathematically precise player, took several big swings at Jeong. In one memorable hand, Choi attempted a bold bluff on the river, only for Jeong to make a heroic call with middle pair — a move that displayed both his intuition and his unshakeable calm. The pot was massive, and the Korean rail exploded with applause. From that point onward, Jeong seemed untouchable.
Choi’s journey ended in 3rd place (₱5,290,000 / ~$90,205) after a preflop all-in with a marginal edge went wrong. His performance, however, solidified Malaysia’s growing reputation in the Asian poker scene as a nation of rising talents.
Heads-Up: The Final Battle Between Jeong and Jones
By the time heads-up play began, Jeong held a 4:1 chip advantage over the British contender Craig Jones. Jones, to his credit, fought valiantly — shoving light, stealing blinds, and finding perfect timing to stay alive. For several hands, it appeared he might even turn the tables.
But Jeong’s composure was unwavering. In the 59th hand of the final table, both players got the chips in preflop — Jones holding the better starting hand, but fate had other plans. The flop favored Jeong, and his pair held through to the river.
With that, the doctor-turned-poker-champion raised his hands in disbelief. It was over. Minwoong Jeong was the 2025 APPT Manila Championship Main Event Champion.
Craig Jones walked away with ₱7,405,000 (~$126,270) — the biggest score of his career and a sign of bigger things to come.
Final Table Results — APPT Manila Championship 2025
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minwoong Jeong | South Korea | $202,070 |
| 2 | Craig Jones | United Kingdom | $126,270 |
| 3 | Eng Loong Choi | Malaysia | $90,205 |
| 4 | Aditya Agarwal | India | $69,420 |
| 5 | Van Sang Nguyen | Vietnam | $53,405 |
| 6 | Waris Soontorn | Thailand | $41,080 |
Poker’s Growing Pulse in Asia
The 2025 APPT Manila Championship was more than just a poker event — it was a celebration of Asia’s evolving poker culture. From the Philippines to India, from Korea to Malaysia, the level of competition showcased how far the region has come in both skill and sophistication.
Jeong’s story, in particular, captured the heart of the poker community — not just for the trophy or the payday, but for the reminder that perseverance pays off. His victory wasn’t about luck alone; it was about discipline, courage, and belief.
As poker continues to gain mainstream recognition across Asia, players like Jeong and Agarwal prove that success in poker mirrors life — those who stay consistent, grounded, and resilient eventually find their moment.
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BetterPokerNews is your trusted source for global pokernews, live tournament coverage, and in-depth player stories that go beyond the felt. From the World Series of Poker to the Asian Poker Tour, our mission is to bring authentic, human-centered poker storytelling to readers.
All hand-by-hand updates, final table results, and photographs in this article have been sourced and adapted from SoMuchPoker’s official coverage of the 2025 APPT Manila Championship.
Images and live reporting are courtesy of SoMuchPoker.com — the original source of the tournament coverage.