APPT Macau - $2500 Main Event Day 1 | 2007 PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour - Macau

11-23-2007 12:16 UTC+8

PokerStars.net APPT Macau $2,500 Main Event

[user38449]

PokerNews is on site here inside the Grand Waldo Hotel & Casino getting ready for the first ever major international poker event held on Chinese soil. Members of the tournament staff are currently giving their opening remarks and we're just a few moments from getting underway.

Stay with us!

11-23-2007 12:31 UTC+8

Setting the Scene

[user38449]

The tournament area is packed wall-to-wall with players, spectators and members of the various media outlets. Moments ago, a trio of ceremonial Chinese dragons performed a traditional song and dance number, weaving in and out of the aisles of the tournament floor.

1998 WSOP Main Event Champion Scotty Nguyen was then called to the microphone to offer a few words to the players and spectators.

After thanking PokerStars.net and the host country of China for putting on the event, in classic form, Scotty said, "Let's have some funs, Baby!"

Tags: Scotty Nguyen

11-23-2007 12:34 UTC+8

Shuffle Up and Deal

[user38449]

The biggest poker event in the history of The People's Republic of China is officially underway!

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

11-23-2007 12:39 UTC+8

Back-to-Back Aces for Joe Hachem

[user38449]

2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Joe Hachem is here, along with brother Tony. We've only been playing for the better part of two minutes and the senior Hachem has already picked up pocket aces - twice! One pair was red, the other black, and Joe took down both pots.

Tags: Joe Hachem

11-23-2007 12:43 UTC+8

Brothers in Arms

[user38334]

Joe Hachem and his brother Tony were allocated seats on the same table at the start of play. Tony has since been moved to another table, so as not to have two family members on the same table.

11-23-2007 12:57 UTC+8

First Player Eliminated

[user38449]

Tournament Director Matt Savage just introduced "Raymond" to the crowd as the first player eliminated from the tournament this afternoon. Raymond received a nice round of applause from the room before exiting the tournament area.

As players bust from the tournament, Savage will be filling their seats with alternates until the first level of play is complete.

Tags: Matt Savage

11-23-2007 13:01 UTC+8

Berec Down Early

[user38449]

Australian pro Jozef Berec took a major hit early on after open-shoving for 9,000 on a {Q-Diamonds}

flop, holding the {A-Hearts}

. He was called, but not covered, by Christoffer Stahle of Sweden, who turned over pocket kings.

The turn and river blanked out {6-Clubs}

,

bringing no help to Berec, who was left with just 1,400 in chips after the hand.

Tags: Christoffer Stahle Jozef Berec

11-23-2007 13:15 UTC+8

Faces In the Crowd

[user38449]

The tournament staff estimates a field somewhere in the ballpark of 370 players, though that number will grow for at least another 12 minutes as alternates are still filling the vacated seats.

Among some of the big names we've spotted in the field are Scotty Nguyen, John Juanda, Isabelle Mercier, Liz Lieu, Jeffrey Lisandro, Mel Judah, Chad Brown, Vanessa Rousso and 2007 WSOP Main Event runner-up Tuan Lam.

Tags: Scotty Nguyen Tuan Lam

11-23-2007 13:27 UTC+8

Hachem Chipping Up

[user38449]

Holding the {K-Hearts}

, Joe Hachem called an opponent's 400 bet on the turn, with the board showing {7-Diamonds}

. Little did he know (or did he?!) that his opponent had struck oil on the turn, sitting behind pocket threes. The river brought the {7-Clubs}

, which shifted the lead a fourth time in the hand, giving Hachem a bigger full house. Both players opted to check the river and Hachem picked up another 1,200 in chips with the win.

Tags: Joe Hachem