Asaki Tanaka Turns Nine Big Blinds Into APPT Open Championship
One of the most dramatic victories of APPT Manila 2026 so far came from Japan’s Asaki Tanaka.
Tanaka captured the APPT Open, earning ₱4.8 million, an APPT Championship Package and an APPT Shard Trophy. It was his first major live tournament title and the biggest cash of his career.
The victory was particularly notable because Tanaka entered heads-up play with only nine big blinds.
Despite the short stack, he managed to recover and eventually defeat his opponent in a heads-up battle that lasted just one hand. That unusual conclusion turned the tournament into one of the most memorable stories of the festival so far.
The APPT Open carried a ₱15 million guarantee and a ₱60,000 buy-in. It occupied a central position in the festival schedule between the Red Dragon and the Main Event.
Tanaka’s victory also continued a pattern seen throughout the festival: international players have been competing alongside some of the Philippines’ most established tournament players.
With the APPT Open now completed, the attention at Okada Manila has shifted decisively toward the biggest event on the schedule.
