Your Ultimate Guide to Winning Poker Tournaments in the Philippines

Walking into a poker tournament in Manila feels strangely similar to Vic’s first steps onto the planet Ava in the game Creatures of Ava—vibrant, unpredictable, and teeming with life. I remember my first major tournament here back in 2019, the Philippine Poker Championship, where over 480 players crowded the tables, each one radiating as much energy as those bright oranges and pinks that color Ava’s alien landscape. Just as Vic had to learn the delicate balance between rescuing creatures and navigating an infected world, winning poker tournaments here requires a mix of sharp strategy, emotional control, and an almost intuitive feel for the flow of the game.

Let me be clear—if you think you can just walk into a tournament at Resorts World Manila or the APT events and rely on textbook moves, you’re in for a rough ride. The local players are creative, aggressive, and they read people like open books. I’ve seen countless international pros come in with flawless theoretical knowledge, only to bust out before the money bubble because they underestimated the adaptability of Filipino players. One of my most memorable hands was during the 2022 All-In Poker Tour in Cebu. I was holding pocket eights on the button, the blinds were climbing, and a young local player to my left had been three-betting relentlessly. Conventional wisdom says to fold and wait for a better spot, but I’d been tracking his timing—his bets came faster when he was weak. I four-bet shoved, he folded, and I stole a pot that kept me alive deep into Day 2. That kind of situational awareness isn’t something you pick up from charts alone; it’s earned through hours at the table, observing tells and tendencies unique to this region.

Bankroll management is another area where many players, even experienced ones, drop the ball. I’ve always stuck to the 2% rule—never risking more than 2% of my total bankroll on any single tournament buy-in. In the Philippines, where side events and turbo tournaments can tempt you into impulsive decisions, discipline is everything. Last year, I met a player who blew through ₱200,000 in two days because he jumped into high-stakes cash games after a bad beat. Don’t be that person. The poker scene here is booming—the total guaranteed prize pools for major tournaments have grown by at least 40% since 2018—but that doesn’t mean you should play outside your limits.

Then there’s the mental game. Just like Vic in Creatures of Ava, who faces the withering infection with calm determination, you’ll encounter brutal coolers and bad beats that test your resolve. I’ve had sessions where I lost three all-ins with over 90% equity, and it’s easy to spiral. But the players who last—the ones who make final tables consistently—are those who treat variance as part of the journey. I keep a journal, noting not just hands but my emotional state after tough losses. It’s humbling, but it works. In fact, after adopting this habit, my in-the-money rate jumped from 18% to nearly 27% over six months.

What truly sets the Philippine poker experience apart, though, is the atmosphere. The venues are lively, the staff are friendly, and there’s a sense of community even amid the competition. It reminds me of how Ava’s beauty stands in stark contrast to its underlying corruption—a reminder that poker isn’t just about winning chips, but about enjoying the journey. Whether you’re grinding a 10-hour day at the Metro Card Club or taking a break with some halo-halo downstairs, finding joy in the process is crucial. I’ve made lifelong friends at these tables, and those connections have improved my game as much as any strategy session.

So if you’re planning to dive into the poker scene here, come prepared—not just with a solid game plan, but with an open mind. Study your opponents, manage your funds like a pro, and embrace the emotional rollercoaster. The Philippines offers one of the most dynamic and rewarding tournament environments in Asia, and with the right approach, you might just find yourself holding a trophy, surrounded by the same vibrant energy that makes this place so special. After all, winning here isn’t just about the cards you’re dealt; it’s about how you play them, both on and off the felt.