APPT Manila Main Event | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila

Level: 20

Blinds: 6,000/12,000

Ante: 2,000

11-16-2008 18:01 UTC+8

Spectacular Double for Sirens

After losing a big pot a few minutes ago, Van Marcus found himself extremely short-stacked. He shoved from the button for 131,000 and was called by the big blind, Michael Chang.

Chang: {A-Spades}

Marcus:

It was bad news for Marcus. He found himself dominated by Chang's hand. But Marcus has led a charmed life in this tournament, rivering a two-outer yesterday to send a player home, and runner-runnering quads in the middle stages of the tournament to avoid a crippling defeat at the hands of Daniel Nordstrom's flopped set.

It seemed like his luck had seen him through again -- the window card was the {Q-Clubs}

. But as the left-handed dealer Linda spread the flop, she revealed the {7-Diamonds}

and the

. Marcus was once again in need of a two-outer.

The gallery erupted when Marcus hit his two-outer on the turn, pulling the {Q-Hearts}

. The

hit the river giving Marcus a new lease on life in this tournament.

"Wow," said Marcus after the hand was over. His stack is now 279,000, all in blue (1,000) chips. "I'm chip leader of the blue chips," Marcus joked. He told David Saab yesterday that he didn't need any luck to win this tournament, but we imagine that Marcus will agree that it certainly doesn't hurt.

Tags: Michael Chang Van Marcus

11-16-2008 18:02 UTC+8

Nam Gets One Back

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Hyoung Jin Nam limped the button and the blinds came along to see a cheap flop of {10-Clubs}

.

The blinds checked to Nam who fired 30,000. Michael Chang was the lone caller in the small blind as these two players butted-heads once again.

The turn was the {3-Diamonds}

and Nam fired again, this time for 60,000. Chang decided to give this one up and fold his hand as Nam takes back a few of his chips.

11-16-2008 18:09 UTC+8

Noh's River Bluff Works

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Tae Jun Noh hasn't done much wrong at this final table. With the button on him, he called a raise to 24,000 made by Ramil Tandoc. Hyoung Jin Nam (who's been playing almost every pot) also called.

The flop came {7-Hearts}

and was checked all the way around. On the turn {2-Spades}

, Tandoc tried a bet of 35,000. He was called by Noh. The river fell {Q-Spades}

, prompting Tandoc to quickly check. Noh fired out a healthy 50,000, but Tandoc wanted no part of it. Maybe he should have; Noh showed {J-Diamonds}

after Tandoc folded.

Tags: Ramil Tandoc Tae Jun Noh

11-16-2008 18:21 UTC+8

Nam Maintains Aggression

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Hyoung Jin Nam continues to be the loosest and most aggressive player at the table, and so far it seems to be working for him. In a recent pot he raised to one of his favorite numbers, 37,000, and collected the blinds and antes uncontested. While some players are waiting for premium cards, Nam was happy enough to raise with {K-Clubs}

as he flashed it to the table!

11-16-2008 18:32 UTC+8

Van Marcus Refuses to Say "Die"

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People may start rubbing Van Marcus for luck.

Van Marcus has been incredibly lucky throughout this tournament, to the point where one has to wonder what good deeds he performed to enjoy all of his incredible fortune. Was he handing out bananas to homeless people last night? Down to 158,000 chips, he opened the pot with an all-in raise. Hyoung Jin Nam let out a bit of a frustrated sigh, asked for a count, then called. Everyone else folded, allowing Marcus to see the bad news.

Marcus: {7-Clubs}

Nam:

Marcus was once again in search of a two-outer. If you've been following our coverage the last few days, you know that Marcus laughs in the face of two-outers.

The flop {3-Hearts}

hit him square in the face, giving him middle set. Only a queen on the turn or river could eliminate him from the tournament. Marcus took a deep breath and put his fingers in his ears, but he had no cause to worry. The turn and river were broadway cards, but neither was a queen: {K-Clubs}

and

. Marcus doubled up again.

Tags: Van Marcus

11-16-2008 18:38 UTC+8

Nam Doubles Through Chang!

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Michael Chang raised to 35,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to Hyoung Jin Nam in the big blind, who was perhaps still steaming from that last bad beat as he popped it up to 100,000. Chang cut out the chips and made the call.

The flop was {2-Spades}

and Nam fired out 45,000. Chang announced a raise making it 225,000 to go. Nam thought for a moment before he moved all in! It was around 150,000 to Chang as he made the call.

Nam: {Q-Hearts}

Chang:

Nam certainly wasn't steaming as he slammed his cards down on the felt showing top set, however Chang still had outs with his flush draw.

The crowd watched on anxiously as the {J-Hearts}

landed on the turn to add straight possibilities for Chang. The river was the {J-Spades}

giving Chang a flush but filling up Nam to make him a full house! He collects a huge double-up in a pot worth around one million chips!

Tags: Hyoung Jin Nam Michael Chang

11-16-2008 18:51 UTC+8

Ramil Tandoc Eliminated in 5th Place ($29,314)

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The short stack at the table has been Ramil Tandoc. 89,000 chips seems like a healthy amount, until one realizes that the blinds are 6,000 and 12,000. As the last Filipino player in the tournament, Tandoc has been carrying his country's flag and pride, hoping to bring the tournament trophy home with a victory. He open-shoved all in and was called by Tae Jun Noh.

Tandoc: {K-Hearts}