From Manila, Philippines, welcome to the birth of poker in Asia! Nine players have a chance to make poker history by winning the first major tournament ever held in Asia. A cast of top players from around the world battle for a slice of poker history at the inaugural event of the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour.
In poker, dreams do come true. Only days earlier, Brett Parise was an American college student who dabbled in poker. But after winning an online satellite on PokerStars, he suddenly found himself in Manila and $180,000 richer after winning the historic first APPT title.
From the country that brought you the 1988 Olympics and 2002 World Cup, now comes the latest international sporting craze. And if youre looking for proof that poker has truly become a global game, check out the Final Table of APPT Seoul. Its a veritable League of Nations, with the nine players hailing from eight different countries. The man to beat: WSOP bracelet winner and Team PokerStars pro Daniel Schreiber.
Another APPT Final Table, another online qualifier who shocks the poker world. Ziv Bachar of Israel bested Australias hottest player, Jozef Berec as well as local poker hero Sid Kim to take down the APPT Seoul title and first prize of nearly $140,000.
The largest field. The largest prize pool. The richest payday for the winner. The APPT Grand Final in Sydney broke every record there is to break. 561 players traveled Down Under for the spectacular conclusion to APPTs historic first season. Among the final nine, three Australians hoping to be the first of their countrymen to win $1 million on home soil.
At the APPT Grand Final, it was the school teacher who taught a poker lesson. After surviving a record-setting field of 561 players, Sydney teacher and rugby coach bested a final four of Canadian Sol Bergren, 19-year-old Lei He and highly-ranked online player Jeremiah Vinsant to capture the APPTs season-ending championship. For his efforts, Levy pocketed a staggering $1 million (Australian) first prize.
APPT, WPT and WSOP Champions battle it out to win bragging rights and $50,000 for a charity of their choice.
A staggering buy-in of $15,000 drew an elite field including some of the biggest names in poker, and the Final Table showcases an abundance of talent and personality. Two of pokers most colorful characters chipleader Emad Tatouh and his good friend Eric Assadourian match poker wits and verbal barbs in a battle for the APPTs most prestigious title. Also at this marquee Final Table: Liz Lieu, making her second APPT Final Table and one of the worlds best players, John Juanda.
After starting the Final Table fifth in chips, Australian Eric Assadourian outplayed and outtalked a stellar field to capture the APPT Macau High Roller championship and the hefty first prize of $368,640. With this impressive win, the outgoing Australian confirmed his status as one of his countrys best players and a rising star on the world stage.
APPT 2, Macau, September 2008. (Episode 1 of 2)
APPT 2, Macau, September 2008 (Episode 1 of 2).