PokerStars.net AsPac poker tiff under way

The second season of the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) begins today with a star-studded field clashing for an estimated pool prize of P30 million at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila.

Neil Arce and Wally Sombero head the elite cast, which includes reigning PokerStars.net APPT champion Brett Parise, PokerStars.net APPT Macau winner Edward Sabat, PokerStars.net APPT titlist Yoshihiro Tasaka, and Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson.

World Poker No. 1 John Phan is eyeing to become the first player to hold the WSOP, WPT, and APPT titles in the same year.

The battle for poker supremacy is expected to be fierce with the second visit of the PokerStars.net APPT in Manila culminating in a P100,000 buy-in main event. The seven-day tournament, sanctioned by Pagcor, also serves as the grand finals of the inaugural Filipino Poker Tour (FPT), the biggest poker series produced for Philippine TV.

“Last year we had a record 255 players who competed for the coveted PokerStars.net APPT Manila title. We hope to increase the field this year,” said APPT president Jeffrey Haas.

In addition to the APPT main event, the schedule will include the seventh leg of the Filipino Poker Tour (FPT 7) on Nov.13-14, a special celebrity charity event where popular personalities from the local entertainment industry battle it out for top honors. The proceeds will go to charities of their choice.

Meanwhile, the P3 million FPT will be held on Dec. 13-14 at the Bravio Sports and Resto Lounge, Mandaue City, Cebu.

The grand winner of PokerStars.net APPT Manila will gain a seat to the APPT Grand finals on Dec. 2-7 at Star City Casino in Sydney, Australia.