By Sean Callander


The frenetic pace has finally slowed as the field has been reduced to 22 in the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour: Asian Poker Open.

The tournament has been condensed into four tables to one side of the Grand Waldo casino floor, with railbirds packed around trying to get a glimpse of the action.

Team PokerStars has been reduced to two representatives: 2005 WSOP champion Joe Hachem and Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier. After bowing out on the opening day of the first two APPT events, Hachem has wielded his stack to great impact. He was responsible for the elimination of fellow Aussie James Potter in 30th position.

Hachem’s charge isn’t the only talking point among the Australian contingent in the room, as they’ve just discovered that on their return home, they’ll have a new Prime Minister after today’s Federal Election was won by Kevin Rudd’s Labor Party, ending the 11-year reign of John Howard.

On a momentous day for Australian politics, Hachem is in a great position to claim an equally historic win in the first No-Limit Texas Hold’em poker tournament to be held in the People’s Republic of China.

But to do so, he’s going to have to overcome the man seated to his immediate right: PokerStars’ sponsored player Guillaume ‘Grrrr...’ Patry.

The Korean-based Canadian has taken a huge chip lead in the past 30 minutes. Like ‘Elky’, Patry made the move to Seoul in 2000 where he became the world's premier Starcraft gamer (and the first ever non-Korean professional gamer in South Korea).

Patry, who’s only major tournament experience has been in the three APPT events, has rocketed to more than 700,000 in chips to be almost assured a spot at the final table.

Liz Lieu assured of finishing as the top female after the young Australian Celina Lin busted out just before the dinner break in 24th place. Other recent eliminations include Lance Yuen (Taiwan, 22nd), Chris Levick (23rd, Australia), former chip leaders Tobias Schulze (25th) and Luca Carlone (Italy, 26th) and Swedes Anders Carlsson (28th) and Kenneth Matsson (29th).



Current chip count (approximate)

1. Guillaume Patry (Canada) 706,000


2. Alan Tan (Singapore) 280,000


3. Dinh Le (Vietnam) 274,000


4. Joe Hachem (Australia) 235,000


5. Bradley Fu (Canada) 220,000

PokerStars Video Blog
Alison interviews Emad Tahtou after he busts out day two, a dissapointing finish, today he got his kicks Bungee-jumping from the Macau Tower today.