[user75032]
Welcome to the Grand Waldo Hotel and Casino in Macau for the 2008 Asia Pacific Poker Tour Macau Main Event. To date, 403 players have registered for this HK$25,000 (US$3,200) event. Day 1 will be split across three flights, with the first flight of approximately 120 players going off in about thirty minutes. Several notable members of Team PokerStars have traveled to Macau specifically for this event, including Barry Greenstein, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, and former WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem.
As usual, PokerNews will be bringing you live updates direct from the tournament floor for the duration of this event. Join us at 1:30 p.m. local time for all of the action!
[user75032]
Dragon ceremony.
Cards are in the air. Poker legend Johnny Chan called out the magic words, "Shuffle up and deal!" after a traditional Chinese dragon ceremony. Three Chinese dragons went from table to table to the accompaniment of a large Chinese percussion section (drum, cymbals and gong), blessing each of the players with good fortune and chasing away all of the evil spirits from the tournament floor.
As we understand it, that means there will be no bad beats during the tournament today.
[user67765]
Some notables in today's field include Grant Levy, Tony Dunst, Barry Greenstein, Celina Lin, Jonny Vincent, Harry Demetriou, Wooka Kim, John Juanda, James Honeybone, Liz Lieu, Mike 'Timex' McDonald and winner of the 2007 APPT Macau High Rollers Event, Eric Assadourian.
[user67765]
At the moment we have about fifteen tables in action, with play nine-handed. So this should leave us with around 125 players today, with registrations still open.
We've been informed that we will be playing only seven levels today, although they may play into the eighth level until staff are satisfied with the number left at the end of the day's play.
We've also been told that there won't be a dinner break, and that dinner will be taken at the end of the day.
[user75032]
Michael "Timex" McDonald has drawn first blood here at APPT Macau. He limped into a three-haned pot from late position with the players in the blinds. On a flop of , the big blind opened for 175. Only McDonald called. The big blind bet 400 on the turn, a bet that McDonald raised to 1,200. The big blind called, then check-called a bet of 2,000 on the river. McDonald turned over for fives full of deuces, the winning hand.
[user67765]
Jonny Vincent
Jonny "Yoyo" Vincent is off to a rocky start today. Five players took a flop of where the player in the small blind led out for 1,000. Vincent was the lone caller on the button.
The turn brought the and the small blind fired 2,000. Again Vincent called. The river landed the and the small blind moved all in for his last 2,500. Vincent called but mucked when he couldn't beat his opponent's .
[user67765]
Chun Jung Hee is one of our early chip leaders after all the chips went into the middle with the board reading . Hee's opponent held for the second nut flush but Hee flipped over pocket nines for a full house to take down the pot.
[user75032]
On a board of , Tony Dunst emerged victorious in a kicker battle when his outkicked his opponent's ace, smaller kicker. Dunst is up to 12,500.