APPT Manila Main Event | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila

11-17-2008 00:10 UTC+8

Dead Even

Don't look now, but the three remaining players all have similarly sized chip stacks. Van Marcus and Tae Jun Noh are in a virtual dead heat with roughly 980,000. Hyoung Jin Nam is bringing up the rear with a touch more than 800,000.

11-17-2008 00:14 UTC+8

Aussies Find Voice

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Van Marcus raised to 80,000 on the button and Hyoung Jin Nam called in the small blind. They took a flop of {A-Clubs}

where Nam checked over to Marcus who bet out strongly for 95,000. Nam folded and the Aussies on the rail find voice as Marcus takes it down.

11-17-2008 00:17 UTC+8

Nam Begins the Long Climb Back

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Things are getting testy at the final table. Hyoung Jin Nam, who had one time had a commanding chip lead, seems to be steaming slightly now that he's in third place. He called a raise by Van Marcus to 85,000, then check-called a bet of 95,000 on a flop of {J-Spades}

. Both players checked through the {5-Clubs}

turn and the {K-Hearts}

river. Nam triumphantly slammed down {2-Diamonds}

at showdown and collected the pot when Marcus mucked.

11-17-2008 00:20 UTC+8

Noh Wins Blind Battle

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Tae Jun Noh raised to 70,000 from the small blind and Van Marcus made the call in the big blind.

The flop was {9-Spades}

and Noh fired out 50,000 to take it down without further resistance.

11-17-2008 00:25 UTC+8

A Funky Line by Marcus

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The table is not really generating much action for the last two hours, so we found this line by Van Marcus interesting. He checked his option out of the big blind after Hyoung Jin Nam limped in. Marcus had first action for the rest of the hand. Both players checked all the way to showdown, with the board coming out {2-Clubs}

. Marcus turned over {Q-Spades}

for flopped top pair and a runner-runner spade flush.

11-17-2008 00:27 UTC+8

Nam Finds Second Gear

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Tae Jun Noh raised from the button to 70,000 and Hyoung Jin Nam made the call.

The flop was checked but Nam bet out 50,000 on the turn on a board of {2-Clubs}

. Noh made the call. The river was the {5-Clubs}

and Nam fired another 50,000. Noh folded and Nam gets a nice round of applause for a sizable pot.

11-17-2008 00:36 UTC+8

Easily Amused?

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At this time of night, and with the dearth of action, it's important to find ways of entertaining yourself. There are several Aussies in the gallery, here in support of Van Marcus. There have been many hands checked all the way to showdown, so when Hyoung Jin Nam raised to 75,000 and Tae Jun Noh called, they were primed for another occurrence.

True to form, the two Koreans checked the {8-Hearts}

flop. They both checked again on the {2-Diamonds}

turn. When the river fell {7-Diamonds}

, Noh checked. Jin considered his action for about five seconds before checking behind, bringing a cheer and some laughter from the Aussies, who had been rooting for it to check all the way.

A few hands later, those same Aussies started booing when the two Koreans were involved in another hand and actually bet one of the streets.

There's not much poker being played right now. That's for sure.

11-17-2008 00:42 UTC+8

Marcus Defies Odds Once Again to Double Up!

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Van "I don't run like God, God runs like me" Marcus

Van Marcus limped in from the small blind, before Hyoung Jin Nam raised it up another 40,000. Marcus made the call.

Marcus checked the {4-Diamonds}

flop over to Nam who fired out 50,000. Marcus must've decided enough is enough, producing a check-raise, a move we haven't seen for about four hours, to 190,000 in total. Nam then quickly moved all in! Marcus quipped "Looks like I'll have to suck out again!" before making the call!

Marcus: {8-Diamonds}

Nam:

Marcus had made a move with an open-ended straight draw, but ran into the made straight of Nam.

With sarcastic calls of "one (more) time" from Marcus' supporters, the turn was no help with the {K-Spades}

, leaving Marcus clinging to his tournament life once again.

The river was then revealed... {5-Diamonds}

! Amazingly Marcus had pulled off yet another miracle to make a bigger straight and find an incredible double up as the Aussies blow the roof off the Hyatt Hotel and Casino!

Marcus doubles to around 1.1 million to take over the chip lead, leaving Nam with only around 500,000.

Tags: Van Marcus

11-17-2008 00:48 UTC+8