PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site, has released a 20-day schedule for the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Macau Spring Festival of Poker, set to take place at the PokerStars Macau Poker Room at Casino Grand Lisboa from May 3-23, 2010.
APPT Macau, the event that first brought Texas Hold’em Poker to China in 2007 is set to dazzle the world’s gaming capital once again with 25 landmark events over three weeks of intense competition.
The US$40,000 HKD (US$5,160) Main Event, scheduled for May 18-23, is again expected to be an international affair, attracting players from across Asia and the rest of the world.
In 2009, 429 players from 46 countries entered the Main Event, competing for a prize pool of HK$16,130,400 (more than US$2 million). Irishman Dermot Blain topped the field, claiming the HK$4,194,000 grand prize. The 25-year-old won his seat in a live satellite at PokerStars Macau, the largest poker room in continental Asia.
The action begins on Monday, May 3 with one of the many live ‘step’ satellites scheduled throughout the festival and culminates with the showpiece HK$40,000 Main Event, which kicks off at 12:10 pm on Tuesday, May 18.
“The success of APPT Manila means huge numbers are expected for APPT Macau,” said APPT President Jeffrey Haas. “We have great momentum right now, and all our players and staff are excited about the prospect of having at least three events in our fourth season with prize pools greater than US$1 million. More than just larger prize pools, the larger fields tell the real story. It seems that these years of nurturing poker’s growth in Asia are really starting to have a positive effect on the game’s growth across the region.”
Among the 25 events scheduled for the Macau Spring Festival of Poker is a broad range of buy-ins and innovative formats, including a HK$1,000 deep stack event, a HK$1,500 “No Limit Hold’em Express” tournament (in which players only have 20 seconds to act), a HK$2,000 bounty tournament (in which every player has a $500 bounty on their head), six-max events and a heads-up tournament.
As in Season 3, the HK$88,800 high roller event, set for May 18, should prove another highlight. Last year’s event attracted 64 entries and was won by Russian Vladimir Geshkenbein with Johnny “The Orient Express” Chan finishing second and Philippines Champion Neil Arce third.
Team PokerStars Pro and former world champion Joe Hachem said, “I played the very first APPT Macau in 2007 and I’ve been amazed at how quickly poker has taken off in this region. The APPT is now by far Asia’s largest and richest poker tour and has seen incredible growth. My brother Tony recently competed in the sell-out APPT Manila: PAGCOR Chairman’s Cup, straight after winning ANZPT Perth. By all accounts, it was a phenomenal event so I expect APPT Macau numbers to go through the roof.”
The full PokerStars.net APPT Macau ‘Festival of Poker’ schedule is detailed below. For further event details and updates please visit http://www.appt.com .
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