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Opening Day of the APT Asian Series Manila 2013
The APT Asian Series Manila 2013 started in style Wednesday afternoon with a record-breaking opening day as poker enthusiasts flocked to Resorts World Manila’s Genting Club for a pair of side events that kicked-off the 8-day long festivities of the most prestigious poker tour in Asia.
Event #1 No Limit Hold ‘Em Re-Buys + 1 Add-On event had a total of 105 entries—with 90 rebuys and 100 add-ons— the highest-ever number for an APT Asian Series opening day side event.
APT Tournament Director Lloyd Fontillas couldn’t help but be excited for the numbers that will come in for the rest of the week.
“Having a number like this for an opening event, we expect the main event to have over 300 (players). I’ll bet all my money on that,” declared the affable tournament director who has been with the APT as TD since 2010.
Fontillas points to APT’s willingness to test with different variations to open any APT event as the key to the opening day success.
“We’ve experimented a lot with different events—the heads-up events, the mix-max events (to open past APT events). I think we’ve pegged this event really good. Because of a much cheaper buy-in, something people can afford; a bigger prize pool, because of the re-buys and add-ons and the structure is not like your regular turbo tournaments.”
The first side event had a buy-in of PHP 3,300 with re-buys and add-on at PHP 3,000.
To compare, Event #1 (Mix Max 10-6-4) in the 2013 APT Philippines in April earlier this year had 61 players and Event #1 (10-6-4 Handed) in the 2012 APT Asian Series Manila a year ago had 73 players.
The player who drew first blood and won the first side event title of this Asian Series is none other than Dhanesh Chainani from Singapore. He received a healthy PHP 219,000 from the total prize pool of PHP 848,400.
No Limit Holdem Champion: Dhanesh Chainani
Meanwhile, another side event on opening day– the Add-On for Charity drew 32 players and the title was taken down by Lai Chee Hoong from Malaysia. He goes home feeling a lot better after winning the PHP 64,000 as well as helping out the Rotary Club of Makati North’s (RCMN) Feed a Child Program.
Add On for Charity Champion: Lai Chee Hoong
“It’s our third year now supporting the Rotary Club Manila North. All the add-ons from this event will go to charity,” said Fontillas. The total add-ons amounted to PHP 75,000, which will be donated to the charity program.
Poker action continues Thursday (October 10th) for the second day of the festivities of the APT Asian Series Manila 2013.
Event #3 or the Mix Game PLE/PLO side event starts at 1 p.m. and the High Rollers Day 1 (Event #4) with a PHP 100,000 buy-in follows at 2 p.m. Super and Mega Satellites to the main event are also scheduled at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.
All Thursday and Friday (October 11th) events will be held at the Poker Room on the 2nd Level Premier Club at the Resorts World Manila. For complete information and schedule of all the tournaments, go to APT Asian Series Manila 2013 Event Details.