APT Macau Main Event Day 1a | 2009 Asian Poker Tour Macau

08-20-2009 12:43 UTC+8

Cheong Looking For Another Deep Run

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We mentioned we have one final tablist from last year in today's field in well known pro Casey Kastle, but we've just spotted another in Chong Wing Cheong.

Cheong entertained us with his bold, aggressive approach which ultimately ended in him finishing in 7th place for a collect of $37,500. It remains his only major tournament result, so Cheong will be looking to go a couple of places further this year.

Tags: Chong Wing Cheong

08-20-2009 12:40 UTC+8

Steicke Doubles Up Early

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Watch out, field. David Steicke is a dangerous, unpredictable player when he doesn't have chips. When he has chips, Steicke's a monster.

Steicke already has twice the starting stack. As he recounted the action to us, he was in the small blind and was one of two players to call a preflop raise to 250. On a flop of {Q-Spades}

, Steicke checked to the preflop raiser. That player bet 600. After the player in between folded, Steicke check-raised to 1,700 and was called.

The turn was a blank, the {2-Clubs}

. Steicke bet another 2,700 chips and was called again. A potential flush filled with the {7-Diamonds}

river. Steicke made a weak lead of 2,400, then snap-called when his opponent jammed all in. Steicke's opponent showed the second nut flush, {K-Diamonds}

, but it was no good against Steicke's nut flush, {A-Diamonds}

.

Just like that, Steicke has a 10,000-chip lead on the field.

Tags: David Steicke

08-20-2009 12:34 UTC+8

A Few Late Arrivals

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A few late arrivals has opened up a couple of new tables and boosted the total number of entrants for the opening flight up to around 125.

We've spotted Daniel Neilson, Kristian Lunardi, Jonathan Karamalikis, Theo Tran, James Potter and fresh from his win in the APT High Rollers Side event earlier in the week, Hong Kong resident David Steicke.

08-20-2009 12:26 UTC+8

Our Schedule Today

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TD Matt Savage has informed the players that the plan is to play 10 levels today, with a 60-minute dinner break occurring at the end of level 6. That should fall at roughly 6:30pm local time. Play should wrap just before midnight.

08-20-2009 12:18 UTC+8

First Sweep

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There are about 100 players in the room right now. That makes spotting notables a bit easier than it otherwise might be. In attendance this morning are: Emanuel Seal, David "the Dragon" Pham, Tony Dunst, Jay Kinkade, Kai Paulson, and Andrew Scott. Additionally clustered all at the same table in the back of the room are Mel Judah, Kim Wooka and Casey Kastle. Kastle final-tabled this event last year and also made the final table of APT Manila.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

08-20-2009 12:03 UTC+8

Shuffle Up and Deal!

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Matt Savage just said the magic words. Players are in their seats and cards are in the air.

08-20-2009 11:16 UTC+8

2009 APT Macau Main Event Begins

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Ah, Macau. It feels like coming home.

For the second year in a row, this Special Administrative Region of China -- a major gambling destination with gambling revenues exceeding even those of Las Vegas -- is playing host to the Asian Poker Tour Macau Main Event. And for the second year in a row, PokerNews is here to cover the action.

257 players comprised the 2008 APT Macau Main Event field. The tournament stretched across four poker-filled days and was ultimately taken down by young Yevgeniy Timoshenko in one of the most dominating final-table performances we've seen on the poker circuit. His reward was half a million U.S. greenbacks.

This year the buy-in has been lowered slightly, from $5,300 to $4,400. That, along with the Asian Poker Tour's continued expanding presence in the region, should result in a larger field. The action promises to be just as exciting as it was last year.

Non-pareil TD Matt Savage will call for cards in the air at noon local time, in about 45 minutes. From that moment until the new champion drags the last pot, PokerNews is your source for all the happenings. See you soon!