APT Macau Main Event Day 1a | 2009 Asian Poker Tour Macau

08-20-2009 23:16 UTC+8

Sudworth on the Rebound

Things were looking grim for James Sudworth a short while ago. Now he's once again firmly in the land of the living. He opened for 2,100 preflop and was called by the small blind and by David Steicke in the big blind (who exclaimed "So cheap!" before tossing his chips into the middle). Both blinds checked to Sudworth on a flop of {J-Diamonds}

. Sudworth obliged with a 4,500-chip bet that was called only by the small blind.

The turn was another Broadway card, the {A-Clubs}

. The small blind checked to Sudworth a second time, then folded when Sudworth placed 7,200 in chips over the betting line.

Tags: David Steicke James Sudworth

08-20-2009 23:25 UTC+8

Steicke Loses Hand

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Yes, it's true. With an early position raise to 3,000 the action folded around to David Steicke in the big blind who deliberated for a few moments before declaring himself all in. His opponent calmly and quietly called for his last 13,700 and flipped {K-Hearts}

to be well in front of Steicke's {6-Clubs}

.

We fully expected a six on board but it wasn't to be on the {A-Spades}

board to give his opponent the double up. Steicke slips to 87,000.

Tags: David Steicke

08-20-2009 23:27 UTC+8

Akerblom's Thin Value Bet Pays Off

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Rasmus Akerblom was at the river with one opponent who checked a board of {K-Clubs}

over to Akerblom. Akerblom considered what he wanted to do and then bet 5,600 into a pot of about 16,500. This bet elicited some thought from his opponent.

"Jack-queen or nothing," Akerblom's opponent said. Akerblom did not react. After another thirty seconds his bet was called and he turned over {J-Spades}

.

"One pair?" his opponent asked. Then he double-checked his own cards and mucked, drawing a few laughs from the table. "Good bet," he added.

Akerblom is up to 61,000.

08-20-2009 23:34 UTC+8

One Level Too Many?

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This last level of the day has certainly slowed to a crawl, much like our Internet connection. We've lost maybe only five or six players this level, as they have all tightened up as they eye off a day two berth.

David Steicke is still our chip leader as currently 37 players have ten minutes more folding before they can bag and tag their chips.

08-20-2009 23:35 UTC+8

Power Poker From Frazer

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Luzhe Zhang opened with a raise to 3,200 from the small blind, before the small blind kicked it up to 9,500. Ian Frazer was in the big blind, looked down at this cards and declared himself all in over the top of both!

Zhang folded, flashing {A-Diamonds}

to some of the table, while the small blind deliberated before also folding.

Great power poker by Frazer late in the day sees him storm up to around 70,000 chips.

Tags: Ian Frazer Luzhe Zhang

08-20-2009 23:40 UTC+8

Kim Ends On Positive Note

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Wooka Kim opened with a raise to 2,800 from middle position with Tom Rafferty making the call on the button.

They took a flop of {4-Spades}

where Kim fired out 4,000. Rafferty made the call.

The {A-Clubs}

on the turn didn't slow Kim down as she moved all in for her last 8,600.

"Why!?!?" pleaded Rafferty in jest as he was pained with the decision. He eventually made a tough fold, saying that he folded pocket kings.

"I had an ace," reassured Kim as she'll end the day at around 25,000 chips.

Tags: Wooka Kim

08-20-2009 23:55 UTC+8

Steicke All Day as Play Concludes

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On the first hand that he played today, David Steicke flopped top pair, top kicker with the nut flush draw and stacked a player with second nut-flush draw when the flush filled on the river. From that early double-up Steicke never looked back as he led this 2009 Asian Poker Tour Macau Main Event Day 1a field wire to wire.

The players produced a somewhat modest field today of 133 players. Those 133 players played for 10 hours to reduce themselves down to 37 contenders. Along with David Steicke (86,200), other notables to make it through with sizable stacks include England's hope Ian Frazer (67,000), Michael Woo (63,000), and Aussie favorite Jay "SEABEAST" Kinkade (62,600).

For each of those big stacks to have been created, many players had to bust. Andrew Scott hit the rail late in the day. He was preceded by the likes of Mansour Matloubi, Eddie Hearn, Corwin Cole and 2008 APT Macau champion Yevgeniy Timoshenko.

Tomorrow the survivors get a day off while the tournament staff and media fall into a time warp and do it all over again. Day 1b is slated to start at noon local time with a field that is expected to top 200 players. We'll have all of the action as always. See you then!

APT Macau Main Event

Day 1a Completed