PokerStars has published the key dates for the APPT Manila Championship, scheduled for October 8–19, 2026 at the Coral Lounge inside Okada Manila. The festival is the final APPT stop of the season and offers choices ranging from a ₱3,500 opening event to a ₱500,000 Super High Roller.

For Philippine players, the useful question is not simply which event has the biggest guarantee. It is which structure, price point and calendar slot fit a realistic poker budget. This DIP guide breaks down the official highlights so players can compare the options before committing money or travel time.

APPT Manila Championship at a glance

  • Festival dates: October 8–19, 2026
  • Venue: Coral Lounge, Okada Manila, Entertainment City, Parañaque
  • Minimum age: 21
  • Opening price point: ₱3,500 for the Okada Kickoff Marathon
  • Championship event: ₱165,000 buy-in with ₱60 million guaranteed
  • Registration requirement: valid ID, an Okada Rewards Circle card and a PokerStars Live card

The organizer lists ten headline events. The full schedule page should remain the final reference because starting flights, registration cutoffs and operational details can change.

Lower-cost entry points

The Okada Kickoff Marathon opens the festival on October 8 with a ₱3,500 buy-in and a ₱750,000 guarantee. It is the clearest low-cost way to experience the series, but players should still check the structure and re-entry rules before treating the posted buy-in as their complete budget.

Two other accessible headline options arrive near the end of the festival. The APPT Mystery Bounty runs October 17–18 at ₱25,000 with ₱5 million guaranteed, while the APPT Mini Championship runs October 18–19 at ₱35,000 with ₱3 million guaranteed.

Mystery-bounty events create unusual incentives because part of the value comes from eliminating opponents, not only from reaching the normal payout places. That can make later stages more aggressive. A player choosing the Mystery Bounty should understand when bounties become active and how the bounty pool is funded before registering.

Mid-range headline events

The APPT National is scheduled for October 11–12 with a ₱30,000 buy-in and ₱8 million guaranteed. The PokerStars Red Dragon follows from October 12–14 at ₱50,000 with ₱15 million guaranteed.

The APPT Open runs October 9–11. Its ₱60,000 buy-in is paired with a ₱15 million guarantee. These events sit in the middle of the headline schedule: expensive enough to require a serious plan, but substantially below the Championship and high-roller prices.

Players comparing this tier should look beyond the guarantee. Starting stack, blind length, number of starting flights, late-registration window and the possibility of re-entry all affect the real cost and playing experience. A larger guarantee does not automatically mean better value for every player.

Championship and high-roller tier

The APPT Championship runs October 15–19 with a ₱165,000 buy-in and ₱60 million guaranteed. It is the festival’s centerpiece and the event most likely to demand multiple full days from players who advance.

The APPT High Roller is scheduled for October 18–19 at ₱200,000 with ₱5 million guaranteed. The APPT Super High Roller runs October 14–15 at ₱500,000 with ₱5 million guaranteed. These buy-ins should be treated as specialist events for properly bankrolled players, not as aspirational upgrades simply because they are part of the same festival.

There is also a Survivor Knockout on October 14–15 with a ₱25,000 buy-in, a listed ₱50,000 bounty and ₱5 million guaranteed. Players interested in that format should read the official event detail carefully because its payout and knockout mechanics differ from a standard freezeout.

What your real festival budget should include

A tournament budget is more than the first entry fee. Before choosing an event, write down the maximum total amount you are prepared to spend across the entire visit.

  • Primary buy-in and any planned re-entry
  • Transport, parking or ride-hailing costs
  • Food and accommodation if the event spans multiple days
  • Cash-game or side-event money kept separate from the main tournament budget
  • Time away from work and the possibility of an unscheduled extra day after advancing

A practical rule is to decide the maximum number of bullets before arriving. Do not increase that number because registration remains open or because an early exit feels unlucky.

DIP’s view

The most useful feature of this schedule is its range. A local player can sample the festival through the ₱3,500 opener, choose a focused mid-tier event such as the APPT National or Red Dragon, or build a trip around the Championship.

Our preference is to choose one primary event that comfortably fits the total budget, then identify one cheaper backup event only if the first result and remaining funds allow it. This is usually clearer than arriving with a long list of tournaments and making emotional decisions after each result.

The guarantee is a reason to inspect an event, not a reason to exceed a personal limit. Structure, field quality, schedule fit and total trip cost matter just as much.

Before you travel or register

  • Recheck the official schedule on the day you make plans
  • Confirm the exact starting flight, start time and registration cutoff
  • Review re-entry, bounty and payout rules for the selected event
  • Bring valid identification and allow time to complete player-card registration
  • Confirm the venue is Coral Lounge at Okada Manila
  • Keep tournament funds separate from everyday expenses

Information verified: August 28, 2026, against the official PokerStars Live APPT Manila Championship event page and schedule page. Event details may change; verify directly with the organizer before travelling or paying.

Responsible play notice: Poker involves financial risk. Only play with money you can afford to lose, set a firm total budget before the festival, and never chase losses or borrow to continue playing.