Yesterday, I, with our magazine photographer, attended a Press Conference for the next leg of the 2008 Asia Pacific Poker Tournament (APPT) at the Hyatt Casino Hotel along Pedro Gil cor. M.H.Del Pilar in Malate, Manila. The event was supposed to start at 11:30am but the sickness we call Filipino Time took the better of the event and made it start at exactly 12:47 in the afternoon. The event organizers and public relations told the media people to eat lunch first while waiting for the panelists. Buffet lunch was served to my delight.
By the time the entire panel was completed, the conference soon began. The panel was composed of Lee Nelson (the current Poker final table & top player), Jeffrey Haas (APPT Pres.), Rafael Francisco (PAGCOR Pres.), and Alan Escaño (Filipino Poker Tour Executive Producer). Questions soon flew towards the panelists as they were introduced by the events organizer.
The entire tournament will start tomorrow, November 13, Thursday at 1PM and will be concluded on Sunday, November 16. Hyatt Casino & Hotel will play host to the tournament as well.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
November 13, 2008 - Thursday
12PM TV production begins, will be aired on TV this Sunday, I don't know w/c channel yet
12:15-4PM Main APPT Event Day 1
4-8PM No Limit Holdem
8PM Buffet Dinner
November 14, 2008 - Friday
*same time Main APPT Event Day 1B
November 15, 2008 - Saturday
*same time Main APPT Event Day 2
November 16, 2008 - Sunday
1-2PM Main APPT Event Day 3, this will be the Final Table Sir
2PM APPT Sydney Satellite
Before the conference ended, I was able to get close to two of the panelists, Lee Nelson and Alan Escaño. I even met Neil Arce, a 25-year old guy who is currently the top Filipino Poker player at the moment.
To date, there are 300 registered players here in Manila. That includes foreigners and a few Filipinos. The tournament has been organized by PokerStars.net, APPT, PAGCOR and the Filipino Poker Tour (FPT). Collaboration between these organizations aims to bring Poker into mainstream media in Asia.
I'll keep you posted on updates until the tournament ends on the 16th.
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