2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila

APPT Manila Main Event
Day: 1b
1a1b23
Event Info

2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
7♦9♦
Prize
$162,856
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,080
Entries
285
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000
Sort

Welcome to Day 1b

[user67765]
[user67765]
Welcome back to the Hyatt Hotel and Casino here in Manila, Philippines for our continued coverage of the 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila Main Event.

Yesterday we saw 38 players survive an opening day field of 149 starters to make it through to Day 2 action. Today we're expecting another healthy field which should see us surpass last year's field of 255 players.

The big names are out in force today with our field set to include the likes of PokerStars pro Lee "Final Table" Nelson, duel WSOP bracelet winner John Phan, APPT Macau champ Eddy Sabat, PokerStars poster girl Celina Lin and APPT Seoul champ Yoshihiro Tasaka. They will all have one eye on defending champion Brett Parise who is an online qualifier into this event and will be looking for a repeat performance this year.

The action kicks off in about two hours' time at 12:30 p.m. local time and we look forward to your company once again!

Players Taking Their Seats

[user67765]
[user67765]
The players are now making their way into the Ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel and Casino and are taking their seats. Play is scheduled to commence in around 15 minutes time.

Stay tuned to PokerNews.com for all of the live action!

Opening Ceremonies

[user75032]
[user75032]
Day 1B is set to begin. APPT President Jeffrey Haas announced that, so far, 125 players have registered for Day 1B. That number is subject to change depending on the number of late registrations, but when combined with the field from yesterday, the total number of registrants should be close to 300.

The players are currently being treated to a local drum and dance ceremony. Once that is completed, cards will be in the air.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user75032]
[user75032]
Last season's champion, Brett Parise, said the magic words. We're underway. Table 11 is the "feature table" and has been moved to the TV studio. Notables on that table include APPT Macau champion Eddy Sabat, APPT Seoul champion Yoshihiro Tasaka, Australian sensation James Obst, David Steicke and Yasuhiro Waki.

Today's Format

[user67765]
[user67765]
Yesterday we halted play after eight and a half levels, so the same format will be adopted today. We'll play six one-hour levels before an hour dinner break. After dinner we'll return for the final two and a half levels of play.

Play commences with the blinds at 25/50 and each player has a 10,000 start bank.

Once again we'll have a feature table in action for the first and last few levels of the day which will be filmed in a TV studio setup in an adjacent room.

Who's Here?

[user67765]
[user67765]
Today's field may be slightly smaller than yesterday but it's certainly not lacking in the poker talent department. We have several big name pros in the field with the likes of Lee Nelson, John Phan, Celina Lin, Van Marcus, Eddy Sabat, Carter Gill, Brett Parise, Chris Parker, Ivan Tan, Neil Arce, James Obst, Yoshihiro Tasaka, Dennis Huntly, Casey Kastle and JJ Liu all making their way to Manila for their shot at an APPT title!

Big Personalities, Bright Shirts and Poker Success

[user67765]
[user67765]
Sheldon
Sheldon
The feature table certainly provides an impressive lineup of players, but another table in the room caught our eye as one to watch out for with a mix of colourful characters.

It is headlined by PokerStars player Ivan Tan who is well known for his success on the APPT with a 2nd place finish in Macau last year.

Seated next to Tan is Hidenari Shiono whose firey black and red shirt matches his aggression on the table as he looks to go one place better than his runner-up finish at the APPT Seoul event this year.

Moving around the table we have Nali "Iraqi Nick" Kaselias who is also not afraid to have his voice heard at the poker table, but backed up the talk by recently taking down the Main Event of the PokerNews Cup in Melbourne for $250,000.

Finally in seat nine we have the man they call "Sheldon". We first came across Sheldon Mayer at the Victorian Championships in Melbourne in August where his eccentric personality and colourful clothing came to our attention with a final table finish. Mayer, who likes to be known simply as "Sheldon" collected 3rd place for a near $100,000 score.

Certainly a colourful table with players who have vastly different backgrounds and big personalities but share the experience of success on the poker felt.

Tags: Sheldon

The Razor Is In The House

[user67765]
[user67765]
One of the world's hottest poker commodities at the moment is John "The Razor" Phan.

With four WPT cashes, two WPT final tables, one WPT Title worth over $1million, five WSOP cashes and two WSOP bracelets, 2008 has certainly been a year to remember for Phan.

It's great to see a Phan here today as he strives to add an APPT Title to his 2008 record -- a record that will most likely never be matched again.
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