Although Freddy Deeb managed to triumph over the World Poker Tournament’s Celebrity Invitational, he made it certain that the real winners were the kids. Before going into the final battle field on Monday he announced a generous donation of 50 percent of his winning at the event which he plans on giving to a charity association for children. Within the next four hours, Freddy Deeb; the 2007 H.O.R.S.E world champion had bagged another $50,000 for Mekhi Phifer’s The Vine Group securing a second World Poker Tour title for himself. It was the actor Nick Gonzales who was defeated by Deeb in the heads-up play to win the $100k grand prize that came along with a shiny World Poker Tour bracelet and a chance to enter into April’s $25k World Championship at Bellagio.

Deeb told Mike Sexton, the WPT announcer that even though it’s been a great a pleasure for him; he initially didn’t plan to attend the event for he had $80,000 in the cash game. But he changed his mind in the 11th hour and decided to go and have a few drinks with some celebrities and enjoy the night. However Freddy got weary at the final table. He said he had made up his mind to play well for the kids and forget about the occurrences of the last two days. It was not the first time that the Invitational raised money for charity, an astonishing amount of $78,720 was raised by the participants for the Vine Group that helps African under-privileged children in pursuing their education. Ending up in first place, it was Deeb’s generous offer that bumped the amount to almost $130k. All pro poker players participating in the tournament donated part of their winnings. 

It was not an easy job to earn the first place for Deeb as he picked off a dramatically poor bluff made by Tom Hall, the Asian Poker Tour founder in order to take the lead while three-handed. Only a few hands later Deeb flopped a set of sevens which made Hall experience his final moments in the tournament. Leading to a heads-up grudge battle between Deeb and Gonzales it wasn’t long before Deeb practically held the title in his hands even before the final showdown. As anticipated Gonzales had to settle for the second position winning $50,000 and Deeb won the title and the Grand Prize not only for himself but also for the welfare of the children.

Posted by Diana Sterling in APT, Poker Articles, Poker News | No Comments » March 7th, 2009

A favorite of the indigenous Philippines Neil Arce only three hours to triumph over the Sunday Asian Poker tour Philippines Main Event final table and claim all of the chips. Bagging the first prize valued at $185,000 Arce had to battle it out with 262 players bringing the field down to nine. Finishing up in the same event at the 35th position in 2008 Arce had strategically drafted out his game plan resulting in a tense and an adrenaline rushing final table which awarded him with the grand title. Initiating the play at noon local time the seating assignments and the first hand dealt on Sunday are as follows:

Seat 1: Ron Kluber (USA) – 310,000
Seat 2: Cicurel

Didier (Switzerland) – 182,000
Seat 3: Steven Yea (South Korea) – 754,000
Seat 4: Vesa Leikos (Finland) – 94,000
Seat 5: Neil Arce (Philippines) – 377,000
Seat 6: Kim Tae Hyung (South Korea) – 168,000
Seat 7: Susumu Toge (Japan) – 102,000
Seat 8: Liz Lieu (USA) – 144,000
Seat 9: Casey Kastle (Slovenia) – 503,000

The first hand played by Cicurel Didier was the mood setter for the day when he promptly rose 17,000 from under the gun. Calling from middle position Arce was followed by Kim Tae Hyung who went all in for 167,000. Provoking everyone to fold Arce made the call after some deliberation, Didier showed and the race was on. Didier was eliminated at the ninth position earning $12,000 for his efforts whereas Arce had come quite close to nearing Yea’s 600,000 chips. Being the Chip leader Yea had no intentions, of sitting back and enjoying the show and quickly got into the action involving betting on multiple pots. Using his position as a chip leader as an added advantageYea’s bet of 30,000 quickly filtered out some more players moving him up past the 850,000-chip mark. After a quick break to color up the chips, play resumed with Yea still in the lead with 1.44 million, Arce next with 677,000, and Kastle in third with 529,000.

The next couple of pots weren’t in Kastle’s best interest and it looked as if he might make a move, but his fortunes had a different route planned out for him. When the heads up play was initiated Yea held 1.57 million to Acre’s 1.05 million. It was quite evident that these two would make it to the end as both Arce and Yea had been chip leaders following Day 1a and Da1b respectively. Yea won the consolation prize worth $100,000 whereas the title was awarded to Arce

Posted by Diana Sterling in APT, Poker News, Poker Pro Players, Poker Tournaments | No Comments » February 3rd, 2009

Lasting for an excruciating twelve hours Day 1a of the Asian Poker Tour Philippines main event wrapped up on Thursday around midnight. With a total of 75 runner ups coming out of one of the two day schedules day ones for this $2,700 Buy-in Main Event a local pro Neil Arce brought the day to a screeching halt when he triumphed over his opponent Norihito Suzuki of Japan. This main Event also featured some big poker celebrities such as the 1990 World Series of Poker Championship Main event Winner Mansour Matloubi and Philippines native Toto Leonidas, holder of the famous World Series of Poker bracelet and a U.S. Poker Championship title.

Instructing the dealer to shuffle up and deal Leonidas proudly took it upon him to fulfill this duty Shortly after noon and the players began to analyze the tactic the would have to employ to built their first stack of 10,000. Playing through some very crucial and defining moments, after ten one hour levels only 19 contenders remained when the last hand was dealt. A scuffle between Damien Oborne and Yoshie Watanabe in level 2 led to the conducting of an early exchange of chips.

Mark Cornwell had been staggering from an early position therefore seeing the sensitive nature of the situation Oborne made a large raise which  Watanabe immediately called. Though Oborne had made a good start Watanabe had doubled up to 21,000 whereas he had moved back down to 12,100.  To the dismay of most contenders the unfortunate elimination of the attractive Lara Morena had conjured up a few anguished sighs. At the end of level 3 Morena was only left with a lousy sum of 700 chips. The board wasn’t being too generous wither and Morena had to go home.

Approaching the dinner break a new contender emerged from the depths of the poker tables  becoming the chip leader , pushing out to more than 57,000 chips, many of which he had scuffled over with Toto Leonidas with whom he had shared a table for most of the first six levels. When the commencement of the 9th level took place only three tables of players were left and Suzuki managed to maintain his healthy chip advantage. Too much confidence can be hazardous for your health and in this case it became deadly for Suzuki as Neil Arce caught up with him and before the night was over the hand moved arce up to 89,000 while Suzuki was left with 78,000.

Posted by Diana Sterling in APT, Poker News, Poker Pro Players, Poker Tournaments | No Comments » January 31st, 2009

The hottest poker event to ever exist in the history of the Asian continent has finally arrived and is deemed as Asia’s most ostentatious and original poker tour. The APT was acquired by Asian Logic in early 2008 and is all set to hold at least four of its major events in 2009 .The Asian Poker tour events have specific prescribed properties that possess the capabilities of luring both live and internet players.

Highly anticipated by enthusiasts and poker players from around the world the Asian Poker tours main events bring with them a treasure cove of entertainment. With sizzling hot venues such as manila and the Philippines, the 2009 Asian Poker Tour will showcase the worlds most renowned and distinctive poker players from around the world.

Transpiring at the Dusit Thani Hotel on February 1st these Poker pros will be gracing the felt this year by playing a $2,500+$200 Main Event. Expected to attract over 300 participants from both the indigenous and global communities the Asian Poker Tour is all set to enter 2009 with a bang. In 2008 Australian David Saab took home Philippines leg of the APT title and an extravagant amount estimated at $280,000.  Battling a gruesome field of 316 contenders David confirmed that he’ll definitely be making a comeback this year as well so his aficionados can see him hit the felt on Day 1B of the Main event.

Popularly known as the most desired poker tournament in Asia the Asian Poker Tour is also fêted for its tempestuous parties. Sailing into the same direction this year Asian poker tour will also be offering you excruciatingly exciting highlights that include a FHM/DafaPoker Player Party.

Spicing it up with the addition of cover models that will surely be the envy of the town and a chauffeured bus assisting in transporting players to all the trendiest nightspots in Manila the Asian Poker tour knows how to take care of its esteemed customers. Do not be disappointed if you were unable to get in on the action you still have a chance to join the Asian Poker Tour by simply purchasing a piece of The APT Poker Pack, a six hand selected brand ambassadors and poker professionals that go by the names Nam Le, JC Tran, David ‘Chino’ Rheem, Kwang Soo Lee, Steve Sung and Quinn Do on leading poker staking website ChipMeUp.

Posted by Diana Sterling in APT, Poker Pro Players, Poker Tournaments | No Comments » January 30th, 2009