APPT Manila Main Event | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila

11-16-2008 13:16 UTC+8

Seat 9: Ramil Tandoc, Philippines (184,000 in chips)

Guaranteed plenty of support at today’s final table from his wife (with three young sons to be following the action at home), this 33-year-old only gained a seat to the APPT Manila Main Event via a mega-satellite at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino last Wednesday. The former electric cooperative worker has been playing poker for two years and is in good form, as shown by a top-25 finish in the Sunday Million on PokerStars last month.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Ramil Tandoc

11-16-2008 13:40 UTC+8

Signs of Progress

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Players have finally made their way to the TV table and are unbagging their chips. That means we should be starting within 15 minutes or so. Lee "Final Table" Nelson is wearing a Hawaiian shirt, as per his final table custom.

11-16-2008 13:57 UTC+8

Name Change for Chang

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Chang Yong Suk has indicated his preference to us to be referred to today as Michael Chang. Not to be confused with the famous tennis player, Chang has been prominent throughout the tournament, leading the field after Day 1 and carrying a mountain of chips throughout Day 2. Our chip counts page has been updated accordingly.

Level: 17

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 500

11-16-2008 14:12 UTC+8

Shuffle Up and Deal!

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TD Danny McDonagh made the player introductions, then turned the mic over to the APPT Manila hostess, who uttered the magic words and kicked off play. The button has started in Seat 6 with Hyoung Jin Nam. As is typical of APPT tournaments, the clock has been wound back to Level 17, with blinds of 3000 and 6000 and an ante of 500, in order to allow for more play at the final table.

11-16-2008 14:15 UTC+8

Chang Collects First Pot

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The first hand of the final table saw the action fold around to Manish Sansi who completed in the small blind. Michael Chang checked his option in the big blind and we took a flop of {J-Clubs}

.

Both players checked. The {K-Diamonds}

hit the turn and Sansi checked to Chang who took down the opening pot with a bet of 10,000.

Tags: Michael Chang

11-16-2008 14:17 UTC+8

Another Pause

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Unbelievably after one hand, play has been paused once again for our APPT Manila hostess to re-take her opening welcome.

11-16-2008 14:25 UTC+8

Play Resumes

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11-16-2008 14:27 UTC+8

First Substantial Pot of the Final Table Goes to Chang

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Michael Chang opened the pot with a raise to 15,000 from late position. Action passed to the blinds, where Lee Nelson thought it over for 30 seconds before calling. Van Marcus also called from the big blind for a three-handed pot.

The flop came down {4-Spades}

. Nelson checked, allowing Marcus to take a stab at the pot with a bet of 27,000, just more than half the pot. Chang quickly raised that bet to 65,000, chasing Nelson out of the pot. Marcus tanked for well over a minute before releasing his hand.

Tags: Lee Nelson Michael Chang Van Marcus

11-16-2008 14:27 UTC+8

Another Final Table for "Final Table"

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Final tables are nothing new for Lee "Final Table" Nelson, and is looks like Lee is ready for battle, dressed in his famous Hawaiian shirt. His lucky shirt has brought him many tournament victories, including the 2006 Aussie Millions Main Event worth nearly $1 million. In a poker world full of sponsorship deals, slick patches and custom designed logos, it's fascinating to see that Lee has once again donned the impressively colored number for today's televised final table.