APPT Grand Final Day 1c | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final - Sydney

12-04-2008 12:19 UTC+11

One More Time

[user75032]

The 15-minute call has been given by Tournament Director Danny McDonagh. Players are taking their seats for Day 1c of the APPT Grand Final. We've been told that 189 players are registered at the moment; that number will likely climb closer to 200 by the time late registration is complete.

There look to be three world champions in the field today, in addition to a slew of other well-known pros. We'll have all of the action once things get underway. Stay tuned.

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

12-04-2008 12:39 UTC+11

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user67765]

The players have been welcomed by APPT President Jeffrey Haas and once again Michael Carr has opened the proceedings with his Australiana version of "The Gambler."

2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem then wished everybody luck before uttering the immortal words, "Shuffle up and deal!"

The cards are now in the air!

12-04-2008 12:43 UTC+11

A Day for the Champions

[user67765]

Today's field is the largest of the opening three flights as the total number of entries for the 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final pushes towards the magic 500 figure.

So far we've spotted three World Champions with Joe Hachem, Chris Moneymaker, and the reigning WSOP Champion Peter Eastgate all taking their seats in today's field.

We've also got all of our APPT Season 2 Champions playing today with APPT Macau winner Edward Sabat, APPT Seoul winner Yoshihiro Tasaka, APPT Auckland champ Daniel Craker, and recently crowned APPT Manila champion Van Marcus.

For good measure, we also have the WSOP Europe champion, John Juanda.

12-04-2008 12:51 UTC+11

Who Else is Here?

[user75032]

In addition to drawing the largest number of players, Day 1c has drawn the largest number of well-known players. Besides the champions already noted below, we've spotted APPT regulars Carter Gill, Ivan Tan, Bryan Huang, Masa Kagawa, Emad Tahtouh and Wooka Kim. The second and fourth-place finishers from APPT Manila, Tae Jun Noh and Michael Chang, are also here. It's a deep field, with several tough competitors at almost every table.

12-04-2008 13:00 UTC+11

Some of Australia's Finest

[user67765]

Many of Australia's best players are also here today. The field includes the likes of Julius Colman, Brendan Edmonds, John Dalessandri, Michael Guzzardi, Roy Vandersluis, Trung Tran and Tony Hachem.

12-04-2008 13:10 UTC+11

Sabat Starts Off With a Loss

[user75032]

APPT Macau champion Eddy Sabat is off on the wrong foot this afternoon. He took a raise flop of {9-Clubs}

out of position against one opponent. With 550 chips in the pot, Sabat's opponent bet 400. Sabat called. Both players checked the {Q-Spades}

turn. When the {Q-Diamonds}

hit the river, Sabat made a small bet of 250 chips. His opponent raised to 1,100, drawing a reluctant call from Sabat. He saw that he was up against {A-Diamonds}

and quietly mucked his hand.

Tags: Eddy Sabat

12-04-2008 13:23 UTC+11

Lau Recovers With Kings

[user67765]

A player raised to 350 from the cutoff before Phil Lau popped it up to 750 to go on the button. His opponent made the call and they saw a flop of {Q-Diamonds}

.

The cutoff checked to Lau who fired 1,000. His opponent then check-raised to 3,000 and Lau made the call.

The turn was the {9-Hearts}

and both checked as the {6-Clubs}

landed on the river. The cutoff made a small 1,000-chip bet and Lau called tabling {K-Diamonds}

for an overpair. It was good as his opponent could only muster {Q-Clubs}

for top pair.

After a slow start Lau is back to 19,100.

Tags: Phil Lau

12-04-2008 13:33 UTC+11

Davis Races to 30K

[user75032]

Helen Davis got paid with aces, and as a result is already up to 30,000 in chips. With the board showing {10-Diamonds}

and 15,000 already in the middle, Davis' opponent led out on the river for 4,500. Davis, perhaps reasoning that her opponent would not be able to call any raise, elected to just call behind. Her {A-Hearts}

beat out her opponent's {10-?}

to drag the pot.

12-04-2008 13:38 UTC+11

Set Over Set Puts a Hurting on Hachem

[user75032]

Tony Hachem, the brother of Australia's most famous poker player, 2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem, has lost three-quarters of his stack to Brendan Edmonds. Hachem limped into a pot from middle position before Edmonds raised to 400. The button called the raise, as did Hachem, with the three players taking a flop of {7-Clubs}

. Hachem checked to Edmonds, who made a half-pot bet of 600. The button and Hachem both called.

The turn came {J-Diamonds}

. Again Hachem checked to Edmonds, who fired out for 1,200. That folded the button but brought a call from Hachem. He led out for 3,200 on the {9-Spades}