John Niko Costiniano 🇵🇭

Originally from the Philippines, Costiniano built his initial bankroll and skills as a high-volume online grinder. He later brought this experience to the live arena, becoming a regular fixture in the Manila poker scene. He frequently competes in major local series at the Metro Card Club , including the popular “Batang Metro” events, where he has consistently demonstrated his ability to build big stacks early in tournaments.

Costiniano is renowned for his fearless and aggressive play style, often attributed to his online poker background. This was fully on display during the APT Taipei final table, where he executed one of the “sickest bluffs” of the year – successfully forcing an opponent (Hao Chuang) to fold a nut straight on a paired board. This ability to apply maximum pressure in high-stakes spots makes him a formidable and unpredictable opponent.

With his recent massive score, Costiniano has crossed the $1 million milestone in total live earnings, cementing his place among the elite of the Philippines All Time Money List on The Hendon Mob. His career-defining performance came in November at the APT Championship Taipei 2025 , the richest tournament in the tour’s history. After navigating a field of 671 entries and reaching the final table, he finished in 2nd place, securing a life-changing payout of TWD 22,862,700 (~$732,780). This single result nearly tripled his previous lifetime earnings. Prior to this historic run, his best live cash was $131,212 (October 2024). He also holds APT titles from the APT Hanoi Billions (2023) and the APT Manila Classic (2025).