It's Day 2 of the opening APPT event in Manila. In total 255 players signed up for the $2500 buy-in main event, creating a prize pool of just under $600,000. As it stands 63 players remain to fight for the first prize of $179,755. The previous biggest prize ever to be offered in a Philippines poker tournament was one-million pesos, which equates to about $21,500. That makes $180,000 look like a whole lot of pesos!!

Team PokerStars Daniel Negreanu and Vanessa Rousso will have been disappointed to exit the tournament on the first day. The writing was on the wall for Negreanu when he was sighted practicing his golf swing behind his chair just prior to his exit. Negreanu pushed all-in for his last 220 in chips on a flop of 10h 3s 2h.

American Brett Miller couldn’t get his chips in fast enough with pocket kings, while Negreanu showed A 8. Neither the jack nor the queen that fell on the turn and river helped Negreanu. Anyone planning a game of golf in the Manila area over the next few days, watch out – ‘Kid Poker’ is on the loose.



The same hand – A 8 – also proved unlucky for Vanessa Rousso against pocket 10s. All-in pre-flop, a 10 on the flop sent Rousso to the rail, free to sample some of the wonderful Philippines hospitality.


Joe Hachem lasted a little longer, here's details of a key hand... Thailand's Mortin Kaspersen called Hachem’s raise of 1700 before a flop of Jc 10h 3d. Neither player bet the flop, but Hachem pushed in 3000 on the turn of 2h. Kaspersen raised to 9000, causing Joe to ask, "Am I going to go broke on this hand, it doesn't make sense".

However, Hachem still pushes his chips in, and receives an instant call from Kaspersen. Despite holding pocket nines, Hachem is drawing dead when the Thai player shows pocket 10s. The 2005 World Champion was out. Joe had claimed that two years of constant travel since winning the WSOP title had started to catch up with him, and claimed he was feeling run down. Reports suggest this didn't show in his game. At least now there's time for some sunshine and rest for the Team PokerStars player.



Players from far and wide have gathered in Manila to make this first APPT a cosmopolitan affair, countries still represented in the tournament include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA.

We'll bring you more news from the APPT soon...