Macau is the second leg of the Asian Poker Tour with events running from the 25th August to the 9th September.  It is being held at the glitzy Galaxy StarWorld Casino in the ‘Las Vegas’ of Asia.  The main event has the largest prize money of any poker tournament in Asia.  It has already taken place and it has been won by a 20 year-old Russian called Yevgeniy Timoshenko. 

The growth of the APT was illustrated by 257 players from more than 40 countries taking part in this main event.  Doyle and Todd Brunson, Johnny Chan John Juanda, Liz Lieu and 2008 WSOP finalist David “Chino” Rheem were all competing for a slice of the $1.5 million prize fund.

The final table of 8 consisted of Chong Wing Cheong, Julio Diaz, Rober Karian, Kasey Castle, Quang Nguyen, Michael Pedley, Joon Hee Yea together with Timoshenko.

Timoshenko dominated the final table knocking out 5 of the 6 players on his way to the heads-up with South Korean, Joon Hee Yea the remaining Asian player of the three that reached the final table.  Chong Wing Cheong of Hong Kong busted out in seventh place and Quang Nguyen from Vietnam finished in sixth place.

Timoshenko continued his excellent form into the heads-up winning the event with a Q-Q to defeat Hee Yea on the final hand of play.  Still, Hee Yea must console himself with $250,000 (£140,180) and the fact the next APT leg is on home soil in South Korea – with the APT Seoul event.

Timoshenko’s biggest win prior to the APT Macau in a major live poker tournament was $163,303 (£91,544) in the 2007 Paddy Power Irish Open.  After winning this Macau event he has eclipsed that as he has added $500,000 (£280,271) to his bank account.

The final table standings were:

Yevgeniy Timoshenko - Russia $500,000 (£281,544)
Joon Hee Yea - South Korea $250,000 (£140,180)
Rober Karian - Thailand $126,000 (£70,560)
Casey Kastle - USA $90,000 (£50,400)
Julio Diaz - Spain $67,500 (£37800)
Quang Nguyen – Vietnam $52,500 (£29,400)
Chong Wing Cheong – Hong Kong $37,500 (£21,00)
Michael Pedley - Australia $26,250 (£14,700)

The Galaxy StarWorld has an APT sponsored poker room in which members of the public can go into and play poker on eight poker tables.  It has apparently so far proved very popular and has been full to the rafters with people wanting to play.

Tom Hall, AsianLogic’s CEO said, “Adding eight tables to the APT poker room may not sound like a big move to the well established western poker community but you have to remember that this is Macau where baccarat is king.  Poker is in its infancy – this is a significant step forward and further evidence of the growth and potential in this market.” 

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