The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is by far the biggest live poker series in Asia, boasting massive guarantees and prize pools across its events, and attracting players all across the world. Founded in 2006, the live poker tour has become an ultimate powerhouse in the Asian poker world, providing massive value to poker players and shattering records in terms of prize pools and attendance. Much of its credit goes to Fred Leung, the Chief Executive Officer of APT, and in his leadership, the series reached new heights, especially since 2022.
Leung has over a decade of experience in the poker industry. He has played an important role in the growth of Poker in Asia since the mid-2000s. This industry leader article will focus on Fred Leung – from his early days to becoming the CEO and contributing to the growth of poker in Asia.
About Fred Leung And His Journey
Fred Leung is a seasoned entrepreneur with extensive experience in gaming, poker, and NFTs. Currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Poker Tour since July 2022, he has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s direction and contributing to the growth of poker in Asia.
Beyond this role, he worked as a consultant for the International Blockchain Monetary Reserve, where he provided expertise in financial and blockchain-related projects. Fred also co-founded Gold Standard Pho, a venture in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he served as COO for nearly three years.
As we mentioned earlier, Leung has over 10 years of experience in the poker industry, which began in 2008 when he joined PokerStars as the Senior Marketing & Business Development Manager for Live Events Asia which highlights his deep industry knowledge. He was the man behind the success of the Macau Poker Cup and APPT Manila was his final event with PokerStars.
During his tenure, he is also reported to have worked closely with Rex Cheong – the CEO of Poker Dream (another popular live poker series in Asia, the 16th edition of which kicks off today in Jeju and runs all the way until 24th February. This series is highlighted by the USD 1,500,000 GTD Main Event.
Fred Leung’s Poker Career
Leung is also a poker player, which is why he probably grabbed the opportunity to work at PokerStars. He went on to Macau participating in the first Macau Poker Cup in 2008, and found out that PokerStars is looking for a Marketing manager and quickly grabbed the opportunity.
Fred Leung’s Role in the Growth of APT and Poker in Asia
Leung was announced as the chief executive officer of APT in 2022, with the brand’s aim to take APT to new heights. During his decade-long tenure at PokerStars as the Senior Marketing & Business Development Manager for Live Events Asia, Fred played an integral role in developing some of the biggest and most prestigious poker events in the region. He was a driving force behind the Macau Poker Cup, APPT, the iconic Red Dragon event, and the Asia Championship of Poker (ACOP), helping to establish these tournaments as premier fixtures in the poker world.
After his role as the CEO, the Asian Poker Tour Taipei 2023 officially became the largest series in APT’s history in Taiwan, setting multiple records and awarding millions in prize money. The APT Taipei 2023 boasts an impressive 41 trophy event which saw 1,989 unique players from 42 countries and paid out a massive TWD 225,123,032 (~ $7,357,920) in prize money. It had the largest APT Women’s Event ever with 143 entrants, showcasing its popularity among women.
In 2024, the previous record was shattered, as APT Taipei 2024 set a new milestone in the tour’s history, with an 11-day festival that attracted 2,776 unique players from 48 countries and regions. The series saw a remarkable 16,787 total entries across 98 trophy events, with competitors battling for a record-breaking prize pool of TWD 388.25 million (~USD 12.18 million).
2024 Best Year for the Asian Poker Tour
In 2024, APT generated an impressive $43,347,576 in total prize pools, marking a 20.6% year-on-year increase from $35,947,668 in 2023. The tour achieved a significant growth with only five festivals compared to seven in 2023. Notably, total event entries surged to 53,257 across 513 events, reflecting a strong 15.9% year-on-year increase.
It’s no lie, that after the signing of Fred Leung, the Asian Poker Tour reached new heights.
The Asian Poker Tour Over The Years
The Asian Poker Tour (APT) was founded in 2006 by Capital Events Pte, a Singapore-based company. In 2008, it was acquired by AsianLogic, while Capital Events Pte continued to operate the tour. This acquisition brought the Korean Professional Poker Tour into the fold as a shareholder, allowing AsianLogic to manage both online and land-based tournaments while taking control of APT’s branding and digital assets.
In June 2022, APT Events Private Limited took ownership of the tour, signaling an expansion beyond Asia, and also saw a change in leadership, a decision which changed APT forever. Despite the transition, longtime APT veteran Lloyd Fontillas remained in a key leadership role as General Manager & Executive Tournament Director. Under its new leadership, APT continues to grow, cementing its reputation as one of the premier poker tours in the Asia-Pacific region.
In an Interview with last year, Fred Leung emphasized the brand’s commitment to growth and record-breaking achievements. Leung stated that they will look to beat every record, be it player participation or prize money. The 2024 APT season saw over 53,000 entrants from just five stops and paid out over $43 million in total prize pool. The Asian Poker Tour is currently hosting APT Manila Classic, the main event of which has already shattered records, drawing 1,202 entries to surpass the previous tour record for largest Philippines tournament set during the recent APT Manila 2024. We wish Leung all the best and continued success for APT.
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