2009 PokerStars.net APPT Macau

APPT Macau Main Event
Day: 1c
Event Info

2009 PokerStars.net APPT Macau

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
10k
Prize
$541,089
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$2,081,000
Entries
429
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
5,000

Scott Bluffs Out Ma

With a limper ahead of him, Andrew Scott entered the pot with a raise to 450.

Zhi Hong Ma made the call next to speak, as did Steve Wong from the big blind along with the limper to see the flop of {2-Clubs}{6-Spades}{9-Clubs} fall and the action check round to Ma.

Ma pushed out a bet of 1,600, and as the action passed round to Scott he sat in the tank staring at Ma intently.

A minute or two went by before Scott casually splashed the pot with four blue 1,000-denomination chips to now put Ma in the tank.

Nearly four minutes went by before Ma made the call to see the {J-Hearts} land on the turn and a 6,000-chip bet follow from Scott.

Ma this time took even longer to make a decision - this time a fold - but one that he likely regretted when Scott raked in the pot and tabled his {K-Clubs}{Q-Spades} for a semi-bluff.

Tags: Andrew ScottSteve WongZhi Hong Ma

Bring Out Your Dead

Commissioner Danny McDonagh has notified the players, as time is ticking down on Level 1, that he will be removing all remaining dead stacks from the field. These stacks represent players who bought into the tournament but have not yet turned up. McDonagh assured the players that the prize money represented by the dead stacks will stay in the prize pool, creating a small overlay. In the event that the owners of the dead stacks do make it to the tournament area, they will be given back their stacks, minus an appropriate deduction for missed blinds.

Gwinner Aggressive Early

European born Henrik Gwinner -- known for his aggressive style and relentless offense -- is quickly letting his tablemates know he's going to be the captain this afternoon.

He's already been involved in at least three or four relatively big pots this level, and slipped a little below the starting stack before the following hand took place:

The UTG+1 player limped into the pot before action folded around the table to Gwinner on the button who raised to 400. The unknown limper made the call and saw the flop come {J-Clubs}{5-Clubs}{4-Spades}. Action was then checked to Gwinner who made it 625 to play. His opponent countered with a check-raise to 1,925 after spending a minute or two in the tank. When the action returned to Henrik, he three-bet to 6,500 and his opponent sheepishly laid down his hand.

Gwinner's bullying style has him back over 20,000 in chips, but that could change any minute given his apparent desire to play as many pots as possible.

Tags: Henrik Gwinner

More Elbow Room

Play today started out ten-handed. With some extra tables available, the tournament staff are going to begin to adjust tables to nine-handed play.

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

JC Tran Doubles

JC Tran still peddling the short stack
JC Tran still peddling the short stack
Following two limps ahead of him, JC Tran found himself all in - but for the small amount of only 2,450.

Yevgeniy Timoshenko made the call to take the hand heads-up as the cards were tabled.

Tran: {A-Hearts}{K-Clubs}
Timoshenko: {A-Clubs}{J-Hearts}

"Someone has to double me up" stated Tran as the {9-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{10-Clubs} flop dropped to give Timoshenko an additional four outs.

When the {Q-Diamonds} landed on the turn it gave Timoshenko a double gutshot straight-draw while losing his outs of a Jack.

Ironically it would be the {J-Clubs} falling on the river to see Tran double through to 5,500 in chips as Timoshenko slips a few thousand below his starting stack.

Tags: JC TranYevgeniy Timoshenko

One Hachem Moving Up

There's been some cautious play over on Tony Hachem's table. Hachem has managed to chip up a bit so far in the early-going despite the tight play. He opened a recent pot to 550 and was called by Lee Nelson and the big blind. The flop had some drawing possibilities, {7-Diamonds} {5-Diamonds} {J-Hearts}. Once the big blind checked, Hachem bet 1,250 and was called only by Nelson.

The turn {5-Clubs} paired the board. Hachem deliberated his action for about thirty seconds before betting 2,600. It was a bet that produced a fold from Nelson.

Tags: Lee NelsonTony Hachem

More Fine Print

We've just seen two instances of players talking on the phone at the table, while they were involved in a hand. One incident was at Alex Fitzgerald's table, where a floor supervisor had to demonstrably rap the table to get the talkative player's attention. The other incident was at chino Rheem's table and prompted a fair bit of chatter from the table.

After the second incident, Commissioner Danny McDonagh got on the mircorphone and issued a general warning for all players that they must step away from the table to text or talk on the phone. Phone usage hadn't been an issue the previous two days; we're surprised to see it's become one today.

Rheem Still Grinding

We give Chino Rheem credit -- he hasn't given up despite finding himself playing from behind early. After a player opened to 600 from early position, Rheem re-raised to 1,900.

"How much is it? 1300?" the early-position player asked. Upon getting that confirmation, he called to a flop of {3-Diamonds} {8-Clubs} {8-Diamonds} and then checked. Rheem made a quick bet of 1,400 that his opponent called. The turn was the {K-Hearts}. Again the early-position player checked. Rheem was quickly all in for 3,200 but got no further action.

With that pot, Rheem is up to 10,000.

Tags: Chino Rheem

Not Funky Enough For Saab

David Saab
David Saab
"Give me something funky" asked David Saab as he looked down at his hole cards on the button after seeing five limps before him.

A raise to 1,500 would be Saab's answer - but it would only be enough to drive out the blinds and one of the limpers.

The flop fell down {A-Clubs}{Q-Hearts}{3-Clubs} and Michael Woo lead out for 2,500. Everyone else passed, except for Saab, who splashed the pot with his call to see the {4-Clubs} land on the turn.

Woo took to splashing the pot this time, flinging in three chips amounting to a bet of 10,500.

"Ok, your Ace is good" stated Saab as he pushed his cards into the muck.

Woo began to rake in the pot, before quickly flashing the {9-Diamonds} to Saab as he amounted his stack to just on 43,000 and change.

Tags: David SaabMichael Woo