Main Event
Day Day 1a Started
2010 PokerStars.net APPT Cebu
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2010 PokerStars.net APPT Cebu
Buy-in
94,000 PHP
Entries
236
Level
25
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
0
Mabuhay from APPT Cebu!
![[user80015]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Welcome back to the penultimate stop of season four of the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) live from Cebu, Philippines!
The Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa plays host to an event that is regarded more of a holiday than a place to win a fortune on the felt – and just taking one look outside the hotel balcony confirms the reason why everyone regards this stop as one in paradise.
From the white-sand beaches, to the deckchair-surrounded pool. The abundance of available water sports to the relaxing day spa . . . anything and everything is available here.
But wait. Isn’t there a tournament to be played?
Last year saw 319 players take to the felt to battle it out in arguably one of the world’s most beautiful poker destinations as Korean Dong-bin Han collected PHP$7,410,000 (approximately US$156,722) for his first-place effort.
With plenty of players from not only the Philippines, Asia and the rest of the world arriving into town, there is a great chance that last years PHP$29,086,420 prizepool may be eclipsed by the combined Day 1a and 1b fields.
The PokerNews Live Reporting team will be again on the floor to provide the exclusive live coverage from the APPT Cebu Main Event – so make sure that you are glued to the screen to find out who will be crowned the fourth champion of season four from 12:15 pm PHT.
A Few Words from the APPT President
Welcome back to APPT Cebu!
Season four of the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) finds itself back in the heart of poker in Asia with one of the most popular events of the tour. We’re in Cebu in the Philippines and not only are we about to be spoilt by the magnificent facilities of our hosts, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, but we’re looking forward to a huge turnout for the PHP100,000 (Apporx. US$2,165) APPT Cebu Main Event.
Last year Cebu was a shining light for the APPT as a total of 319 players found their way to paradise to enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful poker destinations. We were especially proud to see representatives from 36 different countries participate including players from as far as Mongolia, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine and Guam. We are committed to giving the opportunity to people from all around the world to enjoy the ultimate in poker experiences with world-class tournament poker in stunning locations.
With all players returning home last year with glowing recommendations, we’re expecting the APPT Cebu event to grow even further as it starts to build a character all of its own on the International poker calendar. Earlier this year, the special APPT Manila PAGCOR Chairman’s Cup event attracted 430 players and more than US$1 million in prize money – setting a new record for tournament poker in the Philippines and confirming the APPT as Asia’s largest and richest poker tour. Can we break our own record here in Cebu?
The Filipino people continue to show their enthusiasm for our great game and we love to give back to the community to support the local tourism industry. We encourage players to get away from the tables to explore the streets and enjoy the local culture. The fantastic tourism options and added-value extras provided give players an experience beyond the poker felt that they will never forget.
I wish all players the best of luck and I would like to thank our partners for the ongoing support: PAGCOR, Shangri La’s Mactan Resort & Spa and PokerStars.net.
This is the fourth event of season four of the APPT and, once again, the season will brought to a thrilling finale in Sydney. The 2010 PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final will be held from December 7th-12th at the renovated Star City Casino with the best in the business all heading to the “Harbour City” to end the year with a bang. I look forward to seeing you all there!
Jeffrey Haas
APPT President
Season 4 . . . The Story So Far!
The fourth season of the APPT enjoyed a spectacular start back in March, kicking off with a special event in the Philippines.
The APPT Manila: PAGCOR Chairman’s Cup shattered its US$1 million guarantee, attracting 430 players who competed for a US$1,042,750 prizepool, making it the largest poker tournament ever held in the country. The event was won by American Binh Nguyen who earned a US$260,700 payday.
The tour then ventured to the gambling capital of Asia as the Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino in Macau played host to the APPT Macau Spring Festival of Poker. The Main Event attracted 342 players and it was Victorino Torres who captured the prestigious title and took home HK$3,246,200.
The APPT returned in September with the Auckland Main Event. The largest poker event in New Zealand attracted 218 players with the “Godfather of New Zealand Hip Hop” Danny ‘Brotha D’ Leaoasavaii emerging as a surprise winner. Brotha D rocked the house and collected NZ$170,000 in prize money while keeping the APPT Auckland title on home soil for the third year running.
Attention now turns to Cebu for the second APPT event in the Philippines this year, before the season-ending APPT Grand Final which will be once again held at Star City Casino in Sydney, Australia from December 7th-12th.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Play Underway!
APPT President Jeffrey Haas introduced the tournament to the players, before handing the microphone over to Neil Arce who uttered those immortal words of shuffle up and deal!
The cards are now in the air!
Plans for the Day!
Today's field will see each player begin with a 20,000-chip starting bank.
We will play six hour-long levels with a 10-minute break after every second level.
Have You Got The Chits?
With the midday sun upon us and beating down at around 30-degrees Celsius or 86-degrees Fahrenheit, it is no surprise that even a tireless PokerNews blogger may be in need of some water!
Approaching the bar located in the poker room, you are greeted by the following sign:
Only money chits are accepted.
You may exchange cash with equivalent money chits at the Ocean Pavilion.
Assuming it was a typo and that our unacceptable-cash had to be transferred into poker chips, we ventured to the buy-in desk to buy the relevant amount of poker chips for a couple of bottles of water.
On return to the bar, we placed our order and handed over the chips only to have the bartender point to the sign saying, "You must buy chits to buy drinks!"
Tossing him a confused look, he explained that chits were an additional form of money that would be used to purchase drinks and food in the poker room, and that you could purchase them from the buy-in desks in the Ocean Pavilion.
Another trip to the Ocean Pavilion with a few flimsy pieces of paper in hand saw us guzzle down our waters . . . we just hope that the poker players in attendance don't mind the extra effort it will take to refresh their thirsts!
Who's Here?
With the first day of any main event being the smallest, some interesting tables have already been formed.
Connie Lai, Ryan Mckay and Jesse McKenzie are seated together on table 2 while table 8 sees Jackie Glazier, Wally Sombrero and James Honeybone are battling it out.
APPT Macau Champion Victorino Torres is in the field while previous Cebu final tablist Roger Spets and Macau regulars Kelly Flynn and David Ewing are in the field.
Waving the Aussie Flag!
Although still a journey from Australia, plenty of them have arrived in force to contest the APPT Cebu Main Event.
Good friends Tom Grigg and Hugh Cohen are seated next to each other while Andrew Hinrichsen, Tim English, Danny Silk and Jarred Graham are spotted around the room.