The Asian Poker Tour’s APT Manila 2024 wrapped up on a historic note. Held in the Philippines, this series set new records as it drew a staggering 8,102 entries across 101 Trophy Events and awarded a jaw-dropping PHP 349,691,602 (~$ 6M) in prize money, becoming the largest and richest festival in the country. The crown jewel of the series was the PHP 85,000 Main Event, which drew a record 1,081 entries and found its champion in Daniel Lee from the USA, who took a career-best career-high PHP 15,060,000 (~$256,020) and the 24K gold lion APT Main Event trophy after outlasting South Africa’s experienced pro Edgar Antezana in heads-up.
While the series has concluded, the thrilling final hand of the APT Manila Main Event still remains a hot topic among the poker players. This climatic hand involved the South African poker pro Edgar Antezana and the eventual champion Lee in the heads-up for the title.
2024 APT Manila Main Event: The Final Hand & How It All Unfolded
During level 35 with blinds set at 200,000-400,000 and 400,000 ante, Lee moved all-in for 36,000,000 with K♥ J♠. Edgar Antezana called with his remaining 6,300,000 stack, holding Q♣ 7♣. Antezana’s call probably came from the necessity to make a move with his limited stack and double up, while Lee’s shove with a stronger hand K♥ J♠ was a strategic and reasonable move to leverage the chip lead and his hand’s strength. He wanted to put pressure or probably eliminate his tough opponent to claim the coveted main event title.
The flop 9♦ A♦ 4♥ missed both players but it kept Lee’s stronger hand in the lead. Antezana’s Q♣ 7♣ was now left with only backdoor possibilities. Now, Antezana was in need to hit on the turn and the river, but the 4♣ on the turn was no help to him, leaving him with limited outs.
The tension was high and the eagerly awaited river brought the J♣, giving Lee the victory in the historic APT Manila Main Event with a pair of jacks and busting Antezana in second place. Antezana’s hand could not improve, dashing his dream for the title. However, it was not bad at all as he banked a career-high payout of PHP 13,850,000 (~$235,450) for his runner-up finish. The latest score moved him to 14th place on South Africa’s All-Time Money List.
Overall, Lee’s shove was well-timed in the heat of the final moment. He leveraged both his strong hand and stack. Antezana was left with a limited stack, so his call was understandable. Ultimately, Lee’s calculated and aggressive move paid off, securing him the coveted title. Keep following PokerProNews for more thrilling hands from live poker tournaments.
