Poker news

APT Officials Releases Schedule for 2009 APT Manila Event

On October 8th, 2008, fresh off its stop in Macau, which happened in August 2008, the APT or the Asian Poker Tour said that their Manila leg will start on January 27th, 2009 and will end on February 1st, 2009. The buy-in cost will be $2,500. The successful Macau tournament had a buy-in cost of $5,300 and was won by twenty year old American Yevgeniy Timoshenko. The 2009 APT Philippines is scheduled at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel.

The 2008 Manila APT tournament, which was held in May, attracted around 316 participants from all over the world, all aiming for a part of the $1 million cash pool. David Saab, who is currently sitting at the top of the APT Leader Board, was the champion of the event, winning a total of $280,000. The Chief Executive Officer of the APT, Chris Parker said that they are looking forward to improving poker presence in Asia in their 2009 events.

Some of the well-known poker players who have attended the APT Macau Event held at the Galaxy Starworld Casino are Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Todd Brunson, Liz Lieu, J.C Tran, Kenny Tran, John Juanda, Nam Le, Quinn Do, Steve Sung and David Rheem of the world series of poker "November 9" group. APT officials also invited U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to participate after said in an interview with his hometown newspaper that he would like to play in the World Series of Poker. The improving poker industry in ASIA has fueled the growth of the Asian Poker Tour.

An expanded Galaxy StarWorld casino poker room opened days before the start of the Macau APT event. The Chief Executive Officer of the AsianLogic, Tom Hall, which owns and manages the APT, said that adding 8 poker tables to the APT poke room may not sound a big news to the Western poker circuit but people have to remember that this is Macau, where the game of baccarat lords it over other casino games. This is a big step on the growing poker community in Asia.

In September 2008, the APT signed Quinn Do, J.C. Tran and Nam Le as APT ambassadors. Shortly after, Nam Le won the PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) High Rollers Event for $474,358. Do finish in 3rd place, winning a total of $153,846. The poker event had a buy-in cost of just under $20,000. Tran won a $1,500 No Limit Holdem tournament during the 2008 WSOP for his 1st bracelet. He has a total of twenty-eight WSOP and Circuit event cash ins for a combined total of $1.7 million.

The 2008 APT tournament in Manila was the first ever APT event. The other members of the final table were Chris Roh, Satoru Ishii, Kwang Soo Lee, Michele Ferrari, Jin Man Yun, Don Carmona, Terry Gonzaga, and Gerasimos Deres. Well-known poker tournament director Matt Savage managed the event and around 200 poker enthusiasts watch the final table. After the Macau event, the APT is scheduled to held tournaments in Seoul and Singapore.

11/23/2008, Sunday
Todd Sanders

APT Officials Releases Schedule for 2009 APT Manila Event

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