APPT Cebu: Let's get ready to rumble

The citizens of the Philippines awoke this morning with a dilemma. Church or Pacquiao? Pacquiao or church? In this highly religious country, church is part of the weekly ritual. But this is different, this is the Philippines' favourite son - Manny "The Pacman" Pacquiao.

Judging from the hundreds packed into The Marquee here at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Pacquiao has already scored a KO win in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people. Pacquiao's fight for Miguel Cotto's WBO Welterweight world championship has even impacted on the final table of the PokerStars.net APPT Cebu Main Event.

Tournament officials have taken the decision to delay the start of the final table until the conclusion of the fight. That means we may be up to two hours away from the first hand. The fiercely patriotic Filipinos don't seem to be too concerned with the decision!

To tune up for all this toe-to-toe action in the boxing ring and at the final table, we decided to take in some claw-to-claw action in the heart of Cebu last night.

Standing room only for Saturday night's main event in downtown Cebu

Before we have PETA knocking down the door, we acknowledge that cockfighting is brutal and cruel but it's a part of Filipino society. Indeed, legal cockfights, or sabongan, are conducted in the Philippines under the Cockfighting Law of 1974 (honestly). Restrictions include one cockpit per 100,000 citizens and no cockpits near schools.

But illegal cockpits, or tigbakay, are common, and seem to be tolerated as a part of everyday life, and are especially popular among the country's poor. Along the road to Cebu, hundreds of gamecocks can be seen tied to strings. We've even seen ads on local TV for "vitamin" supplements to aid the performance of the fighting cocks!

On arrival at the cockfighting arena, a jigsaw puzzle of scaffold and tin sheets held hundreds of screaming spectators. The noise came mostly from bookmakers spread through the crowd soliciting bets (most of which seemed around 500 pesos or USD $10) but once the combatants were brought into the arena, the noise quickly subsided.

One of the world's great featherweights, the famed Filipino gamecock

Without going into the specifics of the actual contest, we discovered that the losing birds are given to the owners of the winners, the owners don't watch the fight but stay in air-conditioned comfort while the masses sweat it out on the bleachers and we never quite got our head around the betting.

And heaven knows how they tell the birds apart, but the undefeated King Arthur 16 was clearly well known by the regulars and was the most popular winner of the night. Needless to say, we might be giving KFC a miss today.

? Korea's Sim Somyung is the chip leader heading into the PokerStars.net APPT Cebu final table. A celebrity in his homeland after a successful gaming career as a Starcraft player, Somyung featured at the 2008 APPT Macau final table and is out to become the first Korean champion on the APPT.

The match to catch: Korea's Sim Somyung

His closest challenger is emerging online star David Hilton from the USA, one of four PokerStars Qualifiers at the final table. Two New Zealanders - ANZPT Queensland runner-up Phillip Willcocks and APPT Auckland High Roller champ Kevin Clark - will be waving the flag for the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Mark Pagsuyuin will be assured the lion's share of support as the sole Filipino at the final table. The other final table starters are PokerStars Qualifiers Nick Pronk (Netherlands) and Alexandr Tikholiz (Russia) along with experienced duo Terry Fan (Taipei) and Dong-bin Han (Korea).

It promises to be a memorable day here under The Marquee at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, with a charity event also scheduled to aid victims of the typhoons that have swept through the Philippines in recent months.

PokerStars.net APPT Cebu final table

Seat 1: Mark Pagsuyuin, Philippines (497,000 in chips)
Seat 2: Sim Somyung, South Korea (1,442,000 in chips)
Seat 3: David Hilton (PokerStars Qualifier), USA (995,000)
Seat 4: Terry Fan, Taipei (610,000 in chips)
Seat 5: Alexandr Tikholiz, Russian Federation (231,000 in chips)
Seat 6: Phillip Willcocks (PokerStars Qualifier), NZ (791,000 in chips)
Seat 7: Dong-bin Han, South Korea (862,000 in chips)
Seat 8: Nick Pronk (PokerStars Qualifier), Netherlands (563,000 in chips)
Seat 9: Kevin Clark (PokerStars Qualifier), NZ (191,000 in chips)

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APPT Cebu: Final table profiles

Seat 1: Mark Pagsuyuin, Manila, Philippines (497,000 in chips): Despite being one of the short stacks on the final table, there's no doubt that this PokerStars Cebu Satellite winner will go down fighting and have the crowd cheering him on along with his wife of 18 years. The 43-year-old grocer and now full-time poker player learned the game from high profile Filipino players Neil Arce and Wally Sombero six years ago. He has a PokerStars Filipino Poker Tour final table on his CV and plays online under the name ramking2266, "On no other site but PokerStars," he said.

Seat 2: Sim Somyung, South Korea, Seoul (1,442,000 in chips): When it comes to electronic gaming celebs, there were few bigger in Korea than Sim Somyung, who shocked the gaming community when he announced his retirement in 2007 at the ripe old age of 23. He reached the final table and finished ninth in the 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Macau Main Event - just his second major tournament start. He is now a full-time poker player and is aiming to join a select group of players to have reached two APPT final tables. He is the chip leader with 1.44 million.

Seat 3: David Hilton (PokerStars Qualifier), Tennessee, USA (995,000): A former retail assistant, 23-year-old David dhilton12 Hilton discovered poker at his local bar before turning professional. Hilton worked hard through Day 3 to come into the final table second in chips overall after having to suffer through a barrage of double-throughs. He plays mostly online and has several tournament victories to his name, including a Nightly Seventy Grand title on PokerStars, and despite the fact that this is only his second live tournament, he is feeling comfortable and enjoying his time in Cebu: "It's been wonderful here, truly amazing."

Seat 4: Terry Fan, Taipei (610,000 in chips): The 26-year-old former business consultant turned poker professional has already built an impressive resume, having not only scored some excellent results in Las Vegas and online but has taken several students under his wing and makes a living as a poker coach. "My birthday is in a couple of weeks so if I ship this tournament it would be a great birthday present for myself," Fan said. He holds a master degree in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University in the USA and has a WSOP Main Event cash to his name from 2006.

Seat 5: Alexandr Tikholiz (PokerStars Qualifier), St Petersburg, Russian Federation (231,000 in chips): Five players from Russia made the long trek to the Philippines. Incredibly, three cashed and two would have made the final table if not for the elimination of Oleg Poluzhnikov in 10th position. Tikholiz first journeyed to Cebu on a holiday with his family last year and was thrilled to be able to return after winning a seat on PokerStars. He's only been playing poker for one year but has already earned a spot in APPT record books as the first Russian player to reach a final table.

Seat 6: Phillip Willcocks (PokerStars Qualifier), Auckland, New Zealand (791,000 in chips): One of two New Zealanders at the final table, this 26-year-old from Auckland qualified for APPT Cebu on PokerStars, as was the case when he placed 21st in the 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final in Sydney and finished runner-up in the 2009 PokerStars.net ANZPT Queensland Main Event. He also helped New Zealand win the State of Origin title at the 2009 Victorian Poker Championships. A former molecular biologist, he now turn his microscope to the science of online poker after a friend "pushed" him into the game.

Seat 7: Dong-bin Han, Seoul, South Korea (862,000 in chips): In last year's APPT Manila Main Event, three Korean players reached the final table, including PokerStars.net Team Asia Pro Tae Jun Noh. This year, two Korean have reached the ultimate poker stage in the Philippines' biggest event. Making his first major tournament appearance, this 37-year-old businessman has been playing poker for several years and makes a significant contribution to the growth of Korean poker by working with live players wishing to make the transition to online poker. He has been among the chip leaders for the past two days and is well placed to challenge countryman Sim Somyung for the title.

Seat 8: Nick Pronk (PokerStars Qualifier), Alkmaar, Netherlands (563,000 in chips): It's been an impressive first major live tournament for the 24-year-old PokerStars Qualifier. Hailing from the town of Alkmaar, north of Amsterdam, the drenching company employee has been playing poker for four years. It was an up-and-down day three for the Dutchman but he's feeling more relaxed as he comes into the APPT Cebu final table with more than 550,000 in chips: "I'm going to go for it, play a little more loose and aggressive but I'm only going to be playing for first place." He'll be out to surpass the effort of compatriot Bas Van Liere, who placed seventh in the 2007 APPT Manila Main Event.

Seat 9: Kevin Clark (PokerStars Qualifier), Auckland, New Zealand (191,000 in chips): A 36-year-old property investor and one of two Kiwis on the final table, Kevin Clark took up poker five years ago and has been a regular at the SKYCITY Auckland Casino since it opened its poker room. Clark won the 2009 PokerStars.net APPT High Roller Event and cashed 28th in the APPT Auckland Main Event 12 months earlier. Clark has nothing but praise for the inaugural APPT Cebu event and Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa: "The resort is amazing and the venue is second to none."

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APPT Cebu: Level 21 updates

Live updates from day 3, level 21 (blinds 10,000-20,000, ante 2000) of the PokerStars.net APPT Cebu Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu, Philippines. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

7.30pm: Nam Le out in 12th

Nam Le's hopes of a second APPT title have ended in 12th position. Mark Pagsuyuin called Le's all-in with [ah] [8h], and narrowed the gap on Le's [ac] [jc] when the flop came [ad] [5h] [9h]. The Filipino made his flush on the turn [10h], the river bricked [3c] and the 2006 WPT Shooting Stars champion was on his way to the door.

7.15pm: Bansuan unlucky 13th

The top 12 players in the APPT Cebu Main Event have been decided after the elimination of Allih "Yoyong" Bansuan in 13th. The second last Filipino player in the field pushed all-in with [qh] [9h] on a flop of [4c] [9c] [qc] with Korean Sim Somyung making the call. He showed [kc] [6c] for the second nuts, with the turn [6d] and river [ah] bringing no joy for Yoyong. Players have just returned from the third break of the day, with the 12 spread across two tables.

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APPT Cebu: Level 20 updates

Live updates from day 3, level 20 (blinds 8000-16000, ante 2000) of the PokerStars.net APPT Cebu Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu, Philippines. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

7pm: Two birds with one stone

Two eliminations on the same hand have left Rody Kaka in 15th and Wei Sha 14th. Kaka, the cousin of last year's APPT Manila winner Van Marcus, was crippled when he ran pocket sevens into the pocket aces of Korea's Sim Somyung and bit the dust when pocket aces of his own - [ah] [ac] - and the [ad] [kh] of Wei Ska were overtaken after Dong-bin Han's [ac] [jc] improved to a straight on a board of [10d] [6d] [qd] [2s] [kc].

Rody Kaka finished 15th in his first major tournament appearance

6.45pm: Kers cursed by Ker

Now they're coming thick and fast ... Yow Hui (Jack) Ng is our 17th-place finisher after Alexandr Tikholiz's [ad] [qh] took the biscuits against the father of PokerStars.net Team Asia Pro Bryan Huang. Ng showed [as] [10h] and there was no love from a board of [6s] [js] [7h] [9c] [jc].

Pontus Kers completed another impressive APPT performance with a 16th here to go with his fifth in Macau. The end came for the Swedish PokerStars Qualifier when Beng Hong Ker's pocket kings found a friend on the flop against Kers' pocket aces.

6.30pm: From penthouse to poor house

David Hilton's chip lead has been slashed after a tough level 20. The US PokerStars Qualifier is down to 335,000 from a tournament-high of 960,000. The latest hit came when he called the all-in of Oleg Poluzhnikov with [kc] [qc]. The Russian showed [ah] [10c] but fell behind when the flop came [qd] [8h] [10h]. However, the turn [10d] gave Poluzhnikov trips and he took down a pot worth 215,000 when the river fell [js].

6.15pm: Bumpas bumped

Brian Bumpas has been eliminated from the APPT Cebu Main Event in 18th position, good for PHP 230,000. The American shoved all-in with [6c] [6h] but found Mark Pagsuyuin waiting with [kh] [ks]. The Filipino called and watched in delight as the board fell [10h] [qh] [jd] [9c] [3s], sending his stack north of 450,000.

6pm: Tech, Sato sent to the rail

Two eliminations in quick succession have reduced the APPT Cebu Main Event field to 18. John Tech's short stack didn't last long, with his [qs] [10d] well behind the [ah] [ad] of Wei Sha. The aces held firm on a board of [3h] [3s] [2h] [4s] [8h], and having Tech covered by just 5000, Sha scooped up the modest pot of 170,000.

Kazuhiro Sato now has two APPT cashes to his name from events in the Philippines

Kiwi Phillip Willcocks had been tumbling down the chip count until he halted the fall with black kings against the pocket eights of chip leader David Hilton. At an adjacent table, Kazuhiro Sato put his tournament life on the line with [ac] [6c] with Pontus Kers making the call, and showing [kh] [js]. The [kd] on the turn pout the Swede ahead and ended Sato's hopes of emulating his 2007 APPT Manila final table appearance.

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Jeff Pollack done with WSOP [Digg]

Jeff Pollack done with WSOP

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Jeff Pollack done with WSOP

Jeff Pollack done with WSOP

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/do-or-die-poker/~3/CPqh0k9Mgug/

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APPT Cebu: Level 19 updates

Live updates from day 3, level 19 (blinds 6000-12,000, ante 100) of the PokerStars.net APPT Cebu Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu, Philippines. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

4.45pm: Hilton leads, Tikholiz closing

Players are taking their second break of the day, with David dhilton12 Hilton looking down on the rest of the field from his lofty perch of 960,000 in chips. The big mover in the last session was another PokerStars Qualifier, the impressively named Alexandr Petrovich Tikholiz of Russia. He's up to 710,000, most of which were acquired from former chip leader Phillip Willcocks from New Zealand.

Alexandr Tikholiz has signalled his intentions to take a big stack into tomorrow's final table

The 20 players still in the APPT Cebu Main Event are spread across three tables, with the feature table in use for the first time. This will be the venue for the final table, but will be packed to capacity well before the action starts as The Marquee will be screening the WBO Welterweight world title fight between champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico and Manny "The Pacman" Pacquiao, arguably the most popular Filipino on the face of the planet.

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APPT Cebu: Level 18 updates

Live updates from day 3, level 18 (blinds 5000-10,000, ante 1000) of the PokerStars.net APPT Cebu Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu, Philippines. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

4pm: Elimination, with interest

Korea's Seong Kim "James" Ho has been KOed in 23rd position after pushing in the last of his chips with [ks] [5s], holding middle-pair on a flop of [4c] [5c] [7d]. Alexandr Tikholiz, a PokerStars Qualifier from Russia came along for the ride and showed [8d] [8s]. The board ran out [ac] [7h], and the Russian earned no brownie points from his tablemates when he told the Korean to "go home" (or "domoi" in Russian) after winning the hand.

David Hilton continues to lead the tournament on 770,000 ahead of Phillip Willcocks (540,000), Dong-bin Han (410,000), Rody Kaka (360,000) and Joe Ker (340,000). At the other end of the chip count, there've just been timely double-ups for short stacks Wei Sha and Jack Ng while Mongolian poker pioneer Batsuren Tserendorj is the outright short stack on 65,000.

3.45pm: The APPT's very own Abbott and Costello

One of the highlights of our time at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa has been the nightly visit to the players' buffet. PokerStars.net Team Australia Pros Tony Hcahem and Eric Assadourian took some time out to review the offerings:

Watch APPT Cebu 09: Dinner in Style on PokerStars.tv

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APPT Cebu: Level 17 updates

Live updates from day 3, level 17 (blinds 4000-8000, ante 500) of the PokerStars.net APPT Cebu Main Event brought to you by Sean Callander and Landon Blackhall from Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu, Philippines. Click refresh to see the latest updates below, while the latest selected chip counts can be found by clicking here.

3pm: Tasty return for satellite winner

Swede Martin Lundegren won his seat to the APPT Cebu Main Event here and carried that form all the way to 26th place, worth PHP 175,000. The short-stacked Lundegren made his last stand with [jd] [5d] only to find New Zealand PokerStars Qualifier Phillip Willcocks well ahead with [ad] [10c]. The board of [3d] [qd] [6d] [2d] [8c] gave both players a flush, but Willcocks held the nuts and scooped up the last of the Swede's chips.

Jerry Delisle's solid run has also come to an end after the American PokerStars Qualifier chased a straight draw with [7h] [8h] against the pocket queens of Allih "Yoyong" Bansuan of the Philippines, but missed his outs on a board of [6h] [2s] [9d] [4c] [3s]. Yoyong is now up to more than 400,000 with the remaining 24 players now condensed into just three tables.

2.45pm: Hilton upgraded, Harness evicted

Players have just returned from their first break of the day, where all the talk was the massive hand that sent US PokerStars Qualifier David Hilton into the chip lead and Raleigh Harness, another PokerStars Qualifier from the US, to the rail.

In three-way action, it was the [ac] [as] of US PokerStars Player Dustin Dorrance-Bowman against the [kc] [kh] of Hilton and [qs] [qd] for Harness. The room erupted when Hilton found a king on the flop of [10s] [9d] [kd] then, unbelievably, he made quads on the turn [ks]. The board ran out [jh], Bowman was down to 130,000, Harness was out and Hilton was off to the penthouse with 600,000.

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