APPT Auckland Main Event Day 1a | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Auckland

10-07-2008 18:46 UTC-12

2008 PokerStars.net APPT Auckland

[user66118]

Kia ora, and welcome to New Zealand for our coverage of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland. We are set up inside the luxurious and stunning SKYCITY hotel, home to the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sky Tower, a giant needle in the clouds, looms some 1,076 feet (328 meters) over the city of Auckland and will be host to hundreds of poker players from across the world this week. SKYCITY's Festival of Poker is already underway with the preliminary events, and things will culminate tomorrow with the NZD$3,000-buy-in APPT Main Event. In addition, there is a NZD$10,000 High Roller event which is slated to begin on Saturday.

Tomorrow's field will be capped at 360 players, though the tournament staff expects us to fall just short of that. Included among that number will be 109 online qualifiers who won their seats via satellites on PokerStars, as well as a number of the poker site's sponsored pro players. Some of the notable names we expect to see at the tables are Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem, Chris Moneymaker, Grant Levy, Edward Sabat, Lee Nelson, Emad Tatouh, and Eric Assadourian.

This event marks a big day for the New Zealand poker scene. American transplant Lee "Final Table" Nelson spoke about having a major tournament so close to home: "I am extremely excited to be welcoming the world's poker elite to my adopted country. Tournament poker is booming in New Zealand at the moment and I look forward to seeing how the local talent measure up against the international poker stars coming to Auckland. This tournament will do great things for the sport in my country."

"It took a year and a half to get these events all set up," said APPT President Jeffrey Haas. "Auckland is a very beautiful city and we are thrilled to be working with SKYCITY Casino to produce such a significant international poker tournament with them. We aim to provide our players and their friends with opportunities beyond the felt so they can take in all Auckland has to offer. We're thrilled to be here, and we expect it to be a great success."

We'll find out if Haas is right tomorrow when the Main Event gets underway. Play begins at 12:15pm local time, or 5:15pm EST (October 8th). We hope you'll join us then for our coverage of the inaugural PokerStars.net APPT Auckland!

10-08-2008 11:07 UTC-12

Almost Set to Go

[user66118]

The players have begun filing into their seats, and play will be underway in the next 10 minutes or so. Sit tight!

10-08-2008 11:21 UTC-12

Shuffle Up and Deal

donpeters

After a great introduction from some native performers and a word from APPT President Jeffrey Haas, the cards are in the air for New Zealand's largest poker tournament ever!

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

10-08-2008 11:47 UTC-12

Notables on Day 1A

donpeters

Some of the notable players that began their APPT Auckland tournament on Day 1A are Emad Tahtouh, Greg Raymer, David Saab, Celina Lin, Alexander Fitzgerald, Tony Hachem, and Eric Assadourian. Raymer and Tahtouh are both seated at the same table to begin the day.

Tags: Alexander Fitzgerald Celina Lin David Saab Emad Tahtouh Eric Assadourian Greg Raymer Tony Hachem

10-08-2008 12:05 UTC-12

"It was going in anyway."

donpeters

While Greg Raymer and Emad Tahtouh debated on what exactly a "screwball hand" really is, the first all-in confrontation of the tournament happened just a few tables over.

Davy Faapito and Loren Harper became involved in a raising war preflop which led to both players being all-in. Faapito held {A-Hearts}

and Harper held {10-Hearts}

. Harper stood up from her chair and pleaded for a ten to hit the felt.

The first three cards dealt out summed up to ten, but that's about it as {5-Hearts}

were laid out in the center of the table. The turn brought the {9-Hearts}

. Close, but not close enough. The river was the {4-Hearts}

, completing a straight for Faapito and giving him the winning hand.

Harper was left with just about 2,000 chips after that hand as she paced back and forth to regain her composure. "It was going in anyway on that flop," said Harper.

Faapito doubled up to over 16,000 and is now sitting with an even bigger smile on his face.

Tags: Davy Faapito Emad Tahtouh Greg Raymer Loren Harper

10-08-2008 12:14 UTC-12

Enter Sabat

donpeters

Edward Sabat, winner of the APPT Macau Main Event, has just shown up to take his seat. Despite the late entrance, the young Sabat will surely be looking to capture another APPT title.

Tags: Edward Sabat

10-08-2008 12:26 UTC-12

Shino Outshines Sabat

[user66118]

Edward Sabat has been splashing around in a number of pots here in the early going, and we find him at it again over on Table 12. From second position, he comes in with a limp. Action passes around to Yasuki Shino, and he raises it up to 150. Koray Turker calls, and Sabat joins the fun as the three men see a flop.

It comes {A-Diamonds}

. Sabat checks, and Shino continues out with 150 chips. Both opponents call.

Fourth street brings the {6-Hearts}

, and all three players check.

The river is the {2-Hearts}

. Sabat takes charge now, leading out with a rainbow bet of 625. Shino lobs the calling chips into the middle, while Turker ducks out. With the action complete, Sabat turns over his {8-Clubs}

. It's no good though; Shino tables {A-Hearts}

, having drawn to a better two pair on the river.

Sabat's stack is shrinking somewhat as he continues to get involved. He's down to 7,350.

Tags: Edward Sabat

10-08-2008 12:31 UTC-12

The More He Talks, The Bigger His Stack Gets

donpeters

Over in the corner of the room at Table 1, Greg Raymer seems to be having a great time chatting it up with his table mates. Raymer's stack is slowly building and he is now just over 15,000 chips. Maybe his friendly attitude is helping him push around some of the other players at the table.

Tags: Greg Raymer

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0