HomeHappy New Year everyone!
The new year is upon us and the Asian Poker Tour is geared up for what promises to be a bigger and better year in 2017! What to expect? Several big changes, exciting new additions, and a return to fantastic destinations. Here is a list of the top key changes for the coming year.
New APT Player Incentives for 2017
At the top of the list of APT’s revamping is the APT Player of the Year incentive program. After considering many player inputs on improving the APT POY system, the decision reached is to redistribute the funds in order to reward more players at the end of each stop and at the end of the year. Here are the two exciting player incentive programs:
APT Players of the Series
The aim of the program is to recognize the top three performers at each APT event.
The APT POS winners are equivalent to the top three players with the highest points accrued only for that series. They will be awarded these exciting prizes:
1st place receives an Exclusive Luxury Watch, an APT POS Customized Ring, an APT POS Trophy, and Qualifies to the APT Game of Champions
2nd and 3rd places each receive an APT POS Trophy and Qualifies to the APT Game of Champions
More information can be found in the APT POY and APT POS page of the website.
APT Game of Champions US10,000 added event
The APT Game of Champions is one of the most exciting new player incentives offered this year. It is an EXCLUSIVE tournament for players who have qualified throughout the year. Buy-in for the event is US$550 and will have an one time add-on of US$200 before the close of registration. As advertised, the APT will add a hefty US$10,000, to be distributed only amongst the top three finishers.
Who qualifies into the APT GOC? All trophy winners of APT 2017 including all APT POS winners. In addition, the APT has extended this incentive to the APT POY 2016 champion and the APT RPOY 2016 winners. They automatically qualify into the APT GOC tournament. Here are the mechanics of the APT GOC:
• First time qualifiers will receive a 25,000 starting stack
• Players who have qualified more than once will receive 5,000 more chips for every additional time they’ve qualified
• One time add-on before the close of registration to receive 25,000 in chips.
• While the prize pool is dependent on the number of players signed up, only the top three places will be awarded the US$10,000 added funds to their winnings (50%,30%, and 20%)
• Chips of players not attending the APT GOC will not be put into play
• Under no circumstances will non-qualifiers be allowed to enter this event
• Date, location, and venue of the APT Finale are yet to be announced.
APT Championships
Making its debut appearance is one of the biggest APT events of the year, the APT Championships, held over 12 days from April 26th to May 7th at the highly preferred venue of Resorts World Manila. This event falls during Japan’s Golden Week where four national holidays are annually celebrated in their country.
The APT Championships series will consist of 19 thrilling APT customized side events including the Sam Razavi Champions Cup which will be labeled as a special event, inviting ALL past Main Event and High Rollers Champions of the Asian Poker Tour. This is a tribute event for Razavi’s impressive quadruple APT POY crown achievement, winning the race from years 2012-2015.
The series will also be a first in introducing two prestigious events under the same brand, the APT Main Event featuring a US$1,100 buy-in, and the APT Championships event with a buy-in of US$2,200. Both events will run for five days each
APT 2017 exciting stops
With several destinations visited last year, the APT continues the quest to expand the brand around the world, and also strengthen existing ties. This year, the APT is confirmed for various locations in the Philippines, an event in Daegu, Korea, and to the pristine shores of Noumea, New Caledonia. Some dates are yet to be confirmed and also in the works are new destinations to be announced within the year.
Dafa Poker brings in more changes for 2017
Dafa Poker, one of Asia’s largest online poker rooms, will also be bringing in new changes to give APT players a top quality experience. Among the many plans they have in store for the coming year include:
· Lavish Player Parties
· Online Satellites
· VIP experience
· Freerolls during various APT stops
It’s going to be an exciting year at the Asian Poker Tour starting off with the APT Kickoff 2017 to be held from January 11th to the 19th at resorts World Manila!