APPT Macau Main Event Day 1c | 2009 PokerStars.net APPT Macau

08-27-2009 11:57 UTC+8

Third Time's the Charm

[user75032]

Day 1a of the 2009 PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour Macau Main Event drew 119 players on Wednesday. 125 came out for Day 1b yesterday. How many will be in the final Day 1 field today?

The early scuttlebutt is that 160 were registered 30 minutes before play was set to begin. Undoubtedly that number will increase with some last minute registrations. 500 total players seems unattainable at this point, but 450 would still be considered a rousing success.

Today's opening mask-changing ceremony will be more elaborate than the previous two days, as a large assemblage of Chinese media have been invited to cover it. We're not sure what time cards will be in the air. We can only say that it will probably some time between 12:15 and 12:30.

Whenever it is that play commences, PokerNews will be on site to bring you the action.

08-27-2009 12:22 UTC+8

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user75032]

Cards are in the air. It's a bit tight in here this afternoon, due to space that was cleared out for the expanded opening ceremony.

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

08-27-2009 12:32 UTC+8

A Star-Studded Field

[user75032]

At most poker tournaments, the last of the Day 1 flights tends to produce the largest field with the most notable players. Today's tournament is no exception. With approximately 175 runners in the field as of now, we've already spotted some giants of poker: Lee Nelson, J.C. Tran, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Terrence Chan, David Chiu, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, and Joe Hachem. And that's just a sampling of the biggest names. Check out the chip counts page for who else we've spotted.

08-27-2009 12:34 UTC+8

Interesting Tables

[user80015]

With a bumper field of world class players today, it is no surprise to find some very interesting, but dangerous, tables.

In the far corner of the tournament area we find Quinn Do, Tony 'Bond18' Dunst, Corwin Cole, Liv Boeree and Tom Hall seated together.

PokerStars Team Australia Pro's Tony Hachem and Lee Nelson are joined by Terrence Chan while successful tournament players JC Tran, David Plastik and Yevgeniy Timoshenko are battling it out together.

08-27-2009 12:40 UTC+8

All In?!

[user75032]

Players are starting the day with 200 big blinds in their stacks. Thus we were dumbstruck to see a player at Tony Dunst's table move all in before the flop! There was a raise to 1,200 from one other player (presumably a re-raise); the first player then moved all in. When he wasn't called he showed down ace-king.

For his part, Dunst seemed bemused and confused by the player's action.

08-27-2009 12:49 UTC+8

We Can Still Hear Him on Media Row

[user75032]

"A good break for the players on the main floor," quipped Commissioner Danny McDonagh. "David Saab is on one of the outer tables and his voice isn't carrying that far at the moment."

Because of the opening festivities and the size of the field, four overflow tables were set up outside of the main tournament floor. The staff are busy setting up tables again where the opening festivities took place, breaking tables in other parts of the room to give everyone a little more space.

08-27-2009 12:53 UTC+8

Yuen Flops The World

[user80015]

Catching the action on the flop of {3-Spades}

, we found Sida Yuen check-raising his opponent's bet to 3,075 from the big blind.

Yuen however was then met with an additional 8,000-chip re-raise, before moving all in for his tournament life and finding a call.

Yuen: {6-Diamonds}

Opponent:

With Yuen flopping the nuts and a redraw to a straight flush against his opponent's set, the {A-Clubs}

on the turn, followed by the {5-Clubs}

on the river would see him double up to just under 40,000 in chips.

Tags: Sida Yuen

08-27-2009 13:00 UTC+8

Early Problems for Rheem

[user75032]

Chino Rheem plays a very aggressive, explosive style of poker. It serves him well at times to accumulate a big stack; other times it puts him in a hole. Today is mostly the latter and not so much of the former, with Rheem already down to 8,700 after a few battles. Most recently he bet 1,500 on the turn, {7-Clubs}

, and was called by the button player. Both players checked the {A-Clubs}

river.

"Good hand," Rheem said without opening his cards. The button didn't open either, prompting some irritation from their tablemates. Finally Rheem motioned to muck his hand and the button turned over {K-Diamonds}

for two pair, kings and aces. Rheem nodded and rapped the table.

Tags: Chino Rheem

08-27-2009 13:07 UTC+8

Snowmen Good For Hachem

[user80015]

With a limp ahead of him, Andrew Hinrichsen bumped the action and found a call from Joe Hachem out of the blinds along with the limper.

The flop of {7-Spades}