HomeThe Asian Poker Tour officially opened the APT Philippines 2017 at the Winford Hotel & Casino with APT CEO Jeff Mann leading the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony.
“We are in a great venue for us to grow and to be successful. Darwin Cusi and his team here at Winford have made great efforts to ensure that once we posted of having this event here, they’ve moved a few mountains to make it all happen. We are all set for a successful week.”
APT Philippines 2017 formally opened by Asian Poker Tour and Winford Hotel and Casino executives. (photo L-R) APT Poker Room Operations Manager Raymund Gamier, Winford Hotel and Casino Director of Gaming Operations & Compliance Darwin Cusi, APT CEO Jeff Mann and APT Executive Tournament Director Lloyd Fontillas
The APT Philippines 2017 will be running from July 19-27, 2017 featuring a PHP110,000 buy-in Main Event and 17 signature APT side events. Full schedule here.
44 survive the Opening Event with Del Ty as overall chip leader
Opening day of the APT Philippines 2017 turned up a good mix of familiar faces, newcomers, and players we haven’t seen in quite some time for the Opening Event PHP1.5M Guaranteed. In total, there were 136 total entrants however only 44 players were able to hold on to their chips and move on to tomorrow’s final day.
Philippines’ Del Ty and Thailand’s Peerapong Jitwiwat
For Flight A, the 67 total entrants dwindled down to 22 by bagging time. Among those left in the field were two-time APT Main Event champion Jeon Seung Soo, Emmanuel Hernandez, Anthony Gabitan, and current APT Player of the Year leader Tetsuya Tsuchikawa. Their stacks though were not big enough to earn the flight’s chip leader status. That rank was claimed by Thailand’s Peerapong Jitwiwat who sealed up 89,400 in chips.
Flight B turned up a couple of more players than its predecessor for a total of 69 entrants. This was the last chance to get in on the action and of course be in contention for that first big payout. Well-known players such as Iori Yogo, Mike Takayama, Kai Paulsen, SJ Kim, and Yoichi Uesugi were among those shaking things up however they were all unable to get past the day with chips on hand. As for the 22 players who survived the flight, it was Filipino player Del Ty who packed up with the most ammo of 108,200 in chips. He will be the overall chip leader heading into the final day. Also joining him were familiar local personalities Joven Huerto, JC Sayo, and Flo Campomanes.
Congratulations to all the players who made it through the first event of the APT Philippines 2017. Tomorrow will determine who can take it all the way and become the first player to lift that trophy and the PHP371,800 cash prize that goes with it.