Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila 2009 Blog
Titan Poker sent 13 skilled poker players from all over the world to compete in Asia's most prestigious poker event = the APT Manila 2009. This is their story.
Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila 2009
Titan Poker sent 13 skilled poker players from all over the world to compete in Asia's most prestigious poker event = the APT Manila 2009, which took place in the capital of the Philippines at the end of January 2009.
Hotel Dusit Thani
Titan Poker's players qualified for the tournament at online satellites, each winning a $6,000 APT Package that included flights and six nights' accommodation at the luxurious Dusit Thani Hotel in Manila.
Arrival in Manila
Titan Poker players arrived in Manila, checked into the Hotel Dusit Thani, and registered to participate in the APT Manila poker tournament. Tournament Director Matt Savage announced that the $2500 + $200 Main Event has 262 runners with a total prize pool of USD $635,500. First place will take home USD $185,000 with 27 places being paid. Titan Poker's players are hopeful they will finish in the money.
Zuni Restaurant and Bar
Before the poker action begins, Titan Poker players are treated by their VIP Hosts to dinner at the Zuni Restaurant, where they have a chance to meet each other and share their expectations for the event.
Players meet each other
Titan Poker VIP Hosts Aura Macabugao and Eric Fraioli pose in the Zuni Restaurant with French players Sebastien Llavador and Christophe Petitclerc
Enjoy the meal!
Titan Poker's players, and their guests, enjoyed the full VIP treatment, including the tasty meal at the Zuni Restaurant with their VIP hosts.
Spanish player Julio Diaz
Julio Diaz, from Spain, arrived in Manila with his wife. Julio Diaz had previously represented Titan Poker at the APT Macau event in August 2008, when he finished in 5th place and won $514,600 HKD (46,000 Euros). Julio vowed to come back to Asia for another tournament and lived up to this promise by qualifying again at Titan Poker.
Players and hosts
Orjan Sundqvist (Sweden) and Peter Berger (Germany) with the Titan Poker VIP Team. The team encouraged the players and wished them well in the tournament.
Before Poker, let's relax
Wait, before the poker tournament begins, there is still chance to relax and ease away the stress. A visit to the spa is exactly what the players need!
Relaxing day at the Spa
Guest Terlad Kappus; players Dominik Leitner (Austria), Yaroslav Kondratiev (Russia), Mathias Nergin (Germany), Allan Vasconcelos (Italy).
All smiles before the massage
Players Mathis Nehring, Dominik Leitner, Yaroslav Kondratiev, and Allan Vasconcelos. Players get two types of massage: Twin Massage (two therapists working in synchronized movements to achieve mental and spiritual bliss) and the Shiatsu Massage (a Japanese-style pressure point technique based on the concept of acupuncture).
Deluxe service at the Spa
Orjan Sundqvist (Sweden), Julio Diaz (Spain) and his wife Ana Rosa, Sebastien Llavador (France), Titan Poker Host Eric Fraioli, Peter Berger (Germany), Peter Goransson (Sweden) and his guest Jonas Löfgren.
Start of the tournament
Good food and massages aside, we've come to play poker. Players take your seats. Dealers, get ready to shuffle up and deal!
The APT Trophy
In addition to a cash prize, the winner of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila 2009 tournament will win this beautiful tropy, a homage to the 7,000 islands of the Philippines.
Opening Ceremony
Protocol is protocol, and before the action begins there is a bit of ceremony and the singing of the Philippines national anthem.
Shuffle up and deal!
The APT Manila 2009 tournament took place in the Main Ballroom of the Dusit Thani Hotel.
Christophe Petitclerc
Christophe Petitclerc (France) in the opening hours of action, just before he won a huge pot.
Julio is out of the Tournament
Julio Diaz's hopes of again winning a cash prize at the Asian Poker Tour ended when he was eliminated on the first day of the event.
Allan Vasconcelos is All-In
Allan Vasconcelos (Italy) had a lucky charm - his girlfriend stayed nearby all the time as he played.
Allan Vasconcelos celebrates!
Yes! Allan wins the hand and remains in the action on Day 1A.
Dominik Leitner
Dominik Leitner (Austria) admits that he prefers cash tables to tournaments, and he is eventually eliminated from the APT Manila event.
Michiyuki Kondo
Japanese player Michiyuki Kondo was unable to join his fellow teammates at the restaurant or at the spa, but he is still quite pleased to be playing poker in Manila on behalf of Titan Poker.
Orjan Sundqvist
Orjan Sundqvist (Sweden) is keen for action after a relaxing day at the spa. The APT Manila 2009 was his second live poker tournament.
Simone Peri
With 32,000 chips, Simone Peri (Italy) is doing well at this stage of the tournament.
Christophe Petitclerc and Mathis Nehring
Christophe Petitclerc (France) advanced to Day 2 with 34,000 chips, but Mathis Nehring (Germany) was eliminated at Level 4 on the first day.
Peter Berger
Peter Berger (Germany) kept a consistent poker face, but he was eliminated in Level 5.
Peter Goransson
Peter Goransson (Sweden) qualified to represent Titan Poker at the APT Manila while he was at a party with friends. He qualified with only two weeks of online poker experience.
Sebastien Llavado
Sebastien Llavado (France) is a very intense poker player.
Simone Peri
Simone Peri (Italy) seems to be enjoying the action.
Yaroslav Kondratiev
Yaroslav Kondratiev (Russia) in action on the first day of the tournament.
Titan Poker camaraderie
None of Titan Poker's players won cash at the APT Manila 2009 tournament, but they all had a good time. Pictured are Peter Goransson, Boris Routier (won a seat last year), Titan Poker VIP Host Eric Fraioli, Dominik Leitner, Laura Carnelos (Allan Vasconcelos's girlfriend), Yaroslav Kondratiev and Jonas Löfgren. Titan Poker wishes a fast recovery to Guillaume Bordas from Belgium who had a car accident just before tournament and was unable to join the team in Manila.
