Jarman rules Davao Poker

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu-based Englishman Tony Jarman bested a field of 210 to capture the first Eagle Cup P2-million guaranteed poker tournament crown at the Metro Card Club in Davao City recently.

Jarman made a big start, emerging as the massive chip leader after the two opening days then rose from mid-stack at the start of the final table to a 10-to-1 leader in heads up play where he defeated veteran local rounder Vic Catalan for the championship. He won P630,000.

Catalan, who finished second in the last Filipino Poker Tour at the Metro Card Club in Pasig, settled for another runner-up finish worth P420,000, while Koko Gotil of Cagayan de Oro placed third and took P230,000.

Rounding up the final table were Henry Acain of Cebu (P160,000), Joe Magnotti of Davao (P130,000), Mon Santos of Davao (P100,000), Martin Cepeda of Manila (P80,000), Ampie Colendres of Cebu (P60,000) and Bryan Lim of Davao (P45,000).

Twelve other players finished in the money race in the P2.1-million prize pool of the event, held in conjunction with the Davaoeños’ celebration of the Kadayawan festival, including Kenneth Tan (P25,000), and Winnie Odog, Albert Crave, Roy Arellano, Apie Yao, Sunshine Samson, Ali Lee, Mia Amor Oano, Japanese Shin Suguira, Nick Galan, Christian Lim and Marvin Ursal, who got P20,000 each.

Others who saw action in the tournament were 2009 Asian Poker Tour Manila champion Neil Arce, two-time FPT titlist Kent del Rosario and 1991 World Series of Poker main event champion Brad Daugherty.