The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has long been recognized as Asia’s premier live poker series, and the recently concluded APT Phu Quoc 2024 festival in Vietnam only solidified that reputation. Each APT stop continues to set new benchmarks, and this ten-day event was no exception, delivering record-breaking results and a thrilling poker experience.
Record-Breaking Numbers in APT Phu Quoc 2024
Spanning 78 events, the festival saw 5,938 entries and awarded a staggering VND 104.4 billion (approximately $4.1 million) in prize money. These figures represent an 86% increase compared to the same series in 2023, making this year’s APT Phu Quoc the most successful iteration in the tour’s history.
While no new international or country-specific records were set, 12 individual events achieved all-time highs for the Phu Quoc stop, further emphasizing the growing popularity of the APT.
Main Event of APT Phu Quoc 2024: A New Benchmark
Among the standout events was the $1,400 Main Event, which attracted 795 participants and generated a prize pool of nearly $1.4 million—40% higher than the advertised guarantee.
The Main Event crown went to Jinlong Hu of China, who claimed the $185,430 top prize after outlasting South Korea’s Junseok Oh in a dramatic heads-up duel. Hu, a WSOP online bracelet winner, finally secured his first APT Main Event title after reaching his fourth final table, cementing his place in 59th on China’s all-time money list.
Here are the Main Event final table results:
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize (VND) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jinlong Hu | China | 4,710,000,000 | $185,430 |
| 2 | Junseok Oh | South Korea | 2,865,000,000 | $112,795 |
| 3 | Do Tien Vu | Vietnam | 2,025,000,000 | $79,725 |
| 4 | Truong Thang Minh | Australia | 1,525,000,000 | $60,040 |
| 5 | David Erquiaga | Philippines | 1,202,500,000 | $47,340 |
| 6 | Wang Haozhao | China | 902,500,000 | $35,530 |
| 7 | Deepankur Gupta | India | 642,500,000 | $25,295 |
| 8 | Chuhao Zhang | China | 445,000,000 | $17,520 |
| 9 | Pham Ngoc Quoc Bao | Vietnam | 352,000,000 | $13,860 |
High Roller: A Historic Victory
The APT High Roller event also broke records, with 139 players creating the largest high-roller prize pool in Phu Quoc history—VND 9.7 billion ($382,195).
Malaysia’s Jason Lau, who had previously reached APT High Roller final tables in Manila and Taipei, finally secured his first title with a commanding performance. Lau pocketed $91,730 for his win, bringing his career live tournament earnings to nearly $350,000 and propelling him to 34th on Malaysia’s all-time money list.
Here are the High Roller final table results:
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize (VND) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Lau | Malaysia | 2,329,880,000 | $91,730 |
| 2 | Yu Chung “Nevan” Chang | Taiwan | 1,582,360,000 | $62,300 |
| 3 | Amit Kaushik | India | 1,043,580,000 | $41,085 |
| 4 | Seon Ooi | Malaysia | 862,050,000 | $33,940 |
| 5 | Biao Guo | China | 692,160,000 | $27,250 |
| 6 | Hayato Kitajima | Japan | 542,660,000 | $21,365 |
| 7 | Jennifer Cassell | Australia | 406,760,000 | $16,015 |
| 8 | Yita Choong | Australia | 300,940,000 | $11,850 |
| 9 | Phanlert Sukothachartnant | Thailand | 232,990,000 | $9,170 |
Looking Ahead
APT Phu Quoc 2024 marked the final event on this year’s schedule, offering the tour’s hard-working staff a chance to unwind before the next chapter begins. The APT has already teased its 2025 schedule, leaving fans eager to see where the tour will land next.
With its latest success, Phu Quoc seems destined to remain a marquee stop for the APT. If these record-breaking numbers are anything to go by, the future of poker in Asia looks brighter than ever.