APPT Manila Main Event | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila

11-16-2008 17:09 UTC+8

Nelson Treading Water

[user75032]

Lee Nelson has become quite active in the last ten minutes, opening several pots with pre-flop raises and calling other raises, but it hasn't generated much difference in his chip stack. Sitting in the big blind, he called a raise to 25,000 made by chip leader Michael Chang. Both players checked the {Q-Spades}

flop. Nelson checked again when the {3-Spades}

hit the turn, then folded after Chang bet 40,000.

Tags: Lee Nelson Michael Chang

11-16-2008 17:13 UTC+8

Nelson Wins Blind War

[user67765]

The table folded around to Lee Nelson in the small blind who popped it up to 30,000. Van Marcus thought for a moment before casually tossing out calling chips.

The flop came down {5-Clubs}

and Nelson immediately moved all in at the pot, sending Marcus into the tank. He asked for a count and it was determined as 156,000 to make the call. Marcus has been playing very snug, so his deep thought indicated a possible strong hand, but he also continues to tread carefully here today. He decided to avoid a big clash with Nelson and let his hand go.

11-16-2008 17:20 UTC+8

Lee Nelson Eliminated in 6th Place ($21,714)

[user75032]

Lee Nelson has been eliminated from the tournament. He was trying to work some short-stack magic for most of the last twenty minutes. His final hand, he opened to 30,000 from the button. Action passed to Hyoung Jin Nam in the big blind, who re-raised to 80,000. Nelson had about 160,000 behind his initial raise, which all went into the middle. Nam quickly called and it was off to the races.

Nelson: {8-Hearts}

Nam:

The crowd cheered as an ace hit the flop, {A-Spades}

. There was a shudder of fear that rippled through the crowd when the dealer burned and turned a three-pips-down card on the turn, but it was just the {7-Hearts}

, not one of the remaining eights. The river came {5-Hearts}

to send Nelson out the door, where he collected $21,714.

Tags: Hyoung Jin Nam Lee Nelson

11-16-2008 17:21 UTC+8

Break Time

[user75032]

There's been a slight pause in the action as the tapes are changed in the cameras and the APPT Manila hostess does another introduction.

11-16-2008 17:27 UTC+8

Play Resumes

[user75032]

Cards are back in the air. On the first post-break hand, Van Marcus raised and took down the blinds and antes. He showed pocket kings.

11-16-2008 17:38 UTC+8

Raise and Take It

[user67765]

Hyoung Jin Nam raised to 37,000 before Michael Chang announced a re-raise to 90,000. The table quickly folded around and Chang takes it down. Since the pause in play we are yet to see a flop as the pots have all been "raise and take it" affairs. As players start to tighten and think about the big prize, perhaps now is the time for someone to change gears and take control of this table.

11-16-2008 17:42 UTC+8

Nam Keeps Chipping Up

[user75032]

Ramil Tandoc was the first player to enter the pot, raising the price of poker to 25,000. He found one customer: Hyoung Jin Nam, who called out of the big blind. The flop came {5-Spades}

. Nam checked so quickly it may have been a dark check. Whatever it was, he called a bet from Tandoc of 35,000.

Both players checked the {Q-Clubs}

turn. The river came down {4-Diamonds}

. Someone in the gallery shouted out "Go Jin!" after it hit the board. Nam complied by betting 70,000. Tandoc, the sole remaining Filipino in the tournament and the crowd favorite, released his hand.

Tags: Hyoung Jin Nam

11-16-2008 17:45 UTC+8

Chip Leaders Avoid Clash

[user67765]

Hyoung Jin Nam raised to 27,000 from the cutoff before Michael Chang popped it up to 95,000 from the button. The blinds folded and Nam made a surprisingly quick call as it appeared a big pot was developing between our chip leaders.

The flop fell {4-Hearts}

and Nam checked to Chang who fired out 100,000. Nam quickly folded and the sizable pot went to Chang.

11-16-2008 17:50 UTC+8

Marcus Waves the White Flag

[user75032]

With action folding around to the blinds, Tae Jun Noh put in a minimum-raise to 20,000. Van Marcus re-popped it to 60,000 from the big blind. Noh made the call to a flop of {4-Clubs}

. He checked to Marcus, who bet about half-pot, 65,000 total. Noh quickly leaned forward and announced that he was all in. In reality, it is Van Marcus who would be all in if he made the call. He did not, choosing instead to surrender his hand after committing 125,000 chips to the pot.

Noh flashed {J-Clubs}

as he collected the pot, but Marcus probably couldn't have called even if he knew what Noh held. It seems likely he was finally trying to trade on his tight image, and got caught.

Tags: Tae Jun Noh Van Marcus

11-16-2008 17:52 UTC+8

Chang Claims Control

[user67765]

Michael Chang raised under the gun to 25,000, before Hyoung Jin Nam reraised to 80,000 from the big blind. Chang thought for a moment before he made the call.

The flop arrived {9-Diamonds}

and Nam led out with a bet of 65,000 and Chang made the call. The turn was a dangerous looking {8-Spades}

. Nam fired a second barrel worth a hefty 150,000, sending Chang into deep deliberation. After a few minutes he made the call, as the audience "oooohed" over the biggest pot of this final table to date.

The river bricked the {2-Hearts}

and this time is was Nam who deliberated over his decision. After a few minutes Nam made a very strange bet of only 10,000 chips. Chang instantly moved all in, and almost just as quickly Nam's cards were into the muck. Just like that, the pot was shipped to Chang to extend his chip stack to well over the one million mark.