The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is no longer just Asia’s biggest poker brand—it’s turning into a global force. After a record-breaking year, the 2025 season has already drawn players from more than 45 countries, with massive turnouts in Incheon, Jeju, and Taipei. What was once a regional tour has become a truly international stage for poker’s rising stars and seasoned pros alike.
Record Fields and Big Guarantees Ahead
The spotlight now shifts to the APT Championship 2025 in Taipei, running from November 14 to 30. This will be the largest festival in APT history, featuring 200 tournaments and satellites, with over USD 8.7 million in total guarantees. The Main Event carries a USD 5 million guarantee, making it one of the richest tournaments on the APT calendar.
Thousands of players are expected to pack the tables, chasing life-changing scores and the prestige of an APT title. From recreational grinders to traveling professionals, Taipei is shaping up to be the season’s must-play stop.
What’s Driving the Global Surge
The APT’s rise isn’t luck—it’s strategy. The tour has doubled down on creating a first-class player experience, combining deep structures with top-notch hospitality. Its online presence, complete with live updates, streams, and a constantly active blog, has helped it reach audiences well beyond Asia.
Online satellites through partner site Natural8 have made entry easier than ever, while the tour’s mix of cultural flavor and player-first structure sets it apart from Western tours. The formula is clearly working. At APT Incheon in 2023, there were 206 international players. This year, that number jumped to 297—a 44% increase that highlights the APT’s global pull.
Women’s Poker on the Rise
Another big story this year is the boom in women’s participation. APT Incheon 2025 hosted eight women-only events that drew 447 total entries, including 76 players in the Women’s Main Event. Those are numbers few would have imagined just a few years back.
Women are also stepping up in open events. In 2023, 110 women played in mixed fields at Incheon. Two years later, that number more than doubled to 231—a massive 110% increase. The APT’s commitment to inclusivity is clearly paying off.
Women’s Events Take Center Stage
At the upcoming APT Championship Taipei, there will be a women’s tournament nearly every day of the festival, capped off by a dedicated Women’s Championship with a buy-in of around USD 1,200. From low-stakes entries to headline events, the APT is giving female players a clear path to compete at every level.
Quality, Community, and Sustainability
Behind the APT’s growth is a focus on quality over quantity. The team has managed to keep its events well-organized even as attendance skyrockets, ensuring smooth operations and a strong community feel.
Tournament structures are deep and player-friendly, with a range of buy-ins to suit everyone from casuals to pros. Non-hold’em formats—like Omaha and mixed games—have also become a signature feature at APT stops, keeping things fresh and exciting.
The Future Looks Bright
The APT Championship 2025 represents more than just another stop—it’s a milestone for the tour and a glimpse of where global poker is headed. With record prize pools, diverse participation, and a near-daily schedule of women’s events, the APT is setting a new standard for what a modern poker festival can be.
If the current momentum continues, the Asian Poker Tour might soon be mentioned in the same breath as the world’s biggest poker brands—and it’ll have done it by staying true to its roots.
