Seat 1: Tae Jun Noh, Korea (466,000 in chips): One of three Korean players at the final table, the story of this 24-year-old is not dissimilar to his compatriot and final table rival Michael Chang. He is a computer IT student from Seoul and has been playing poker for two years, mainly online. He journeyed to Manila for the APT event earlier this year and returned to the Philippines, wiser and ready to make his mark. He used FPPs to buy-in, and sits in fourth chip position.

Seat 2: Lee Nelson, New Zealand (238,000 in chips): This vastly experienced Team PokerStars Pro has won events across the globe, but the crowning glory of his tournament career came in 2006 when he won the Aussie Millions and the $1.3 million first prize. He has cashed in two previous APPT events, and becomes the first Team PokerStars Pro since Joe Hachem and Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier to make an APPT final table since last year’s APPT Macau main event.

Seat 3: Van Marcus, Australia (438,000 in chips): This is the third APPT cash for this PokerStars Sponsored player – all final tables. He was fifth in this event last year, and finished ninth in the 2008 APPT Macau High Roller. An accomplished player with an excellent record in live and online play (he is a PokerStars Supernova), his standout result came at the 2007 WSOP when he finished third in the $1500 Pot Limit Omaha w/ rebuys event for more than USD $190,000.

Seat 4: Benjie Lim, Philippines (115,000 in chips): A father of four from San Juan City, this 53-year-old owns a construction materials sales business. He’s been playing poker for three years and won a tournament against a field of more than 200 in Tagatay City not long after he started playing. He bought in directly to the APPT Manila main event. A good friend of Filipino world boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, Lim will be hoping to harness the champ’s spirit at today’s final table.

Seat 5: Rainer Aquino, Philippines (40,000 in chips): The short stack entering the final table, he is the only PokerStars qualifier at the final table. The 29-year-old hails from Ilocos Sur (about eight hours from Manila) and works as a self-employed poultry supplier has been playing poker, mainly online, for several years. However, this is his first major live tournament and he was thrilled to hang on to reach the final table although he’ll be looking for a quick double-up to ensure a spot further up the payout scale.

Seat 6: Hyoung Jin Nam, Korea (561,000 in chips): A business administrator from Seoul (he also holds a medical science degree), this 34-year-old has been playing poker for less than three years and is celebrating his tournament debut in perfect fashion – with a final table appearance and enough chips to go all the way to the title. He bought in directly to play in the APPT Manila main event, and lies third in chips thanks mainly to a huge pot late on day two.

Seat 7: Manish Sansi, Hong Kong (192,000 in chips): The 32-year-old trader from Hong Kong works as a trader during the daylight hours but at nights has been working hard to improve his poker game since December 2005. His first major poker tournament experience was at the PokerStars.net APPT Seoul main event, but plenty of practise at the Hong Kong Poker House has helped him make the final table in Manila. He bought in directly, and lies seventh in chips.

Seat 8: Michael Chang (Chang Yong Suk), Korea (539,000 in chips): This computer studies student personifies the new style of Korean poker player: young, stylish, aggressive and, as shown by recent performances on the APPT, very successful. He has been playing online poker for the past 18 months and accumulated enough FPPs on PokerStars to enter the APPT Manila main event. A player that gives away very little at the table, this youngster is well placed to become Korea’s first APPT champion.

Seat 9: Ramil Tandoc, Philippines (184,000 in chips): Guaranteed plenty of support at tomorrow’s final table from his wife (with three young sons to be following at home), this 33-year-old only gained a seat to the APPT Manila main event via a mega satellite at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino last Wednesday. The former electric cooperative worker has been playing poker for two years and is in good form as shown by a top-25 finish in the Sunday Million on PokerStars last month.

The PokerStars.Net APPT Manila event has been a hive of activity in recent days, and today was no different with a dramatic finish to the day which saw the last seven players eliminated in just half an hour.

At the start of the day, American PokerStars Qualifier Michael Shell led the field, equal with Korean Chang Yong Suk. Play continued at a frenetic pace with a number of other challengers nipping at their heels.

77 other players were here to play and all sort fame and glory on the final table – at the end of the day, only nine would remain.

Early in the day, PokerStars Sponsored player Van Marcus drove through the field, careening on a one-track path to the final table, running over anyone in his way. He was loud and he was brash as he played solidly and attracted the attention of the other players.

Van never dared to settle in to cruise control, continuing to play an aggressive role that impressed spectators and players alike. Of course, a little luck was helpful, such as his one-outer against Daniel Nordstrom when he rivered the single remaining three in the deck to make quads to defeat Nordstrom's set of tens.

Fireworks erupted on other tables, as the various players continued to clash and confront each other in a desperate reach for chips. Ivan Tan's hopes of a third APPT cash disappeared when he lost a coin flip with A-K.

One of the most frustrating knockouts struck Celina Lin, who got her money all-in on a J-9-4 flop with J-9 and top two pair. Without a hope to get away from the hand (she merely checked from the big button) her chips were swept up by Mike Marvanek who had a set of fours.

Thus, in a quick sweep, we lost another PokerStars Sponsored player and the bubble was burst. In the money, the players managed to knock each other even faster, with Van Marcus continuing to cause damage.

Our overnight chip leaders had radically different fortunes, with PokerStars Qualifier Michael Shell fading in 25th place, and UK Supernova Natasha Ellis surviving until 12th place. Ellis was one of the last seven players to be eliminated in the last 30 minutes as the pace of the tournament continued to climb faster than ever before, and is the first woman to cash in both a Season 1 and Season 2 APPT event.

We had expected players to grow more timid as we approached the final table bubble, but instead, the pace escalated even further.

It included Josh Pang Ang, who went from chip leader for much of the evening to being knocked out in tenth, leaving the remaining players for the final table.

The Korean contenders, including Chang Yong Suk, Noh Tae Jun and Hyoungjin Nam managed to each amass huge chip stacks, smartly picking their spots and picking up many pots. Similarly, three Filipino players made the final table: Rainier Aquino, Ramil Tandoc and Benjie Lim. This is an improvement for the home team on last year's APPT Manila event, which saw just one.

A large part of the credit for this increased home team representation goes to the highly successful Filipino Poker Tour. The Filipinos will join the Koreans, Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson and PokerStars Sponsored player Van Marcus (who made the final table at this event last season) and Manish Sansi from Hong Kong.

Nelson and Marcus have now each made their third APPT cash, and only an elite and small legion of fellow players have achieved this milestone.

It all started when Rudy Lim’s pocket sixes trailed the pocket nines of Dimitrios Pappis from the get-go and never caught up. Lim finished 16th.

Next to go was PokerStars qualifier Rey Tuason of the Philippines, who made his move with the best hand (Ah-10d) against Noh Tae Jun’s Kh-8h but the Korean connected with the board of Jc-Kc-9d-5s-8s. His countryman June Caberoy followed in 14th spot.

The big pot of the evening came when William Te Jr pushed all-in on a flop of 10s-4c-6d, with Pappis and Hyoungjin Nam making the call. Te Jr showed Kh-10h, Pappis held 7d-8d and Nam had the made hand with pocket sixes for a set. Queens on the turn and river gave Nam a massive pot, while Pappis was crippled and Te Jr was out in 13th.

The gallant run of Tasha Ellis ended in 12th when she had the worst of it (Kc-Jc) in a three-way pot with Nam (pocket queens) and Pappis (Ac-Kh), with an ace on the flop giving Pappis brief respite before he bowed in 11th after Chang Yong Suk rivered a jack to make a pair against the Canadian’s As-10d on a board of 5d-10c-8c-8s-Jd.

The big shock of the evening was the elimination of former chip leader Josh Pang Ang in 10th. After calling a raise to 25,000, Pang Ang and Noh Tae Jun saw a flop of 10h-Kh-7h. Ang checked, Jun bet 60,000, Ang re-raised all-in and Jun called, showing Jh-9h for a flush. Ang’s As-10s was in a world of hurt, and his tournament was over when the Qc fell on the river.

This leaves us with a final table comprising three Koreans (Hyoungjin Nam, Chang Yong Suk and Noh Tae Jun), Team PokerStars Pro Lee “Final Table” Nelson, PokerStars Sponsored player Van Marcus, Manish Sansi of Hong Kong and a trio of local players – Rainier Aquino, Ramil Tandoc and Benjamin Lim. We’ll be back at 12.30pm for the start of the 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila final table.

Watch APPT Manila 08: Van Marcus on PokerStars.tv

The remaining 16 players have just been redrawn into two tables of eight. It’s become an even more interesting tournament to cover, with one table in the adjacent TV studio and one on the main tournament floor. A mixture of SMS and the odd phone call means we’re keeping up to date.

Aside from the recent double-up of Benjamin Lim at the expense of June Caberoy, it’s been a very cautious start for the remaining 16 players.

Redraw with approximate chip counts after level 16

Table 7

Seat 1: Dimitrios Pappis (Canada) 135,000 – PS qualifier
Seat 2: Hyoungjin Nam (Korea) 230,000
Seat 3: Rudy Lim (Philippines) 120,000
Seat 4: Tasha Ellis (UK) 134,000
Seat 5: William Te Jr. (Philippines) 145,000
Seat 6: Manish Sansi (Hong Kong) 302,000
Seat 7: Chang Yong Suk (Korea) 260,000
Seat 8: Lee Nelson (NZ) 205,000 – Team PokerStars Pro

Table 9 (Feature Table)

Seat 1: Rainier Aquino (Philippines) 67,500
Seat 2: Josh Pang Ang (Singapore) 226,000
Seat 3: Ramil Tandoc (Philippines) 164,000
Seat 4: Benjamin Lim (Philippines) 70,000
Seat 5: Noh Tae Jun (Korea) 154,000
Seat 6: Rey Tuason (Philippines) 58,000 – PS qualifier
Seat 7: Van Marcus (Australia) 362,000 – PS Sponsored
Seat 8: June Caberoy (Philippines) 135,000

Watch APPT Manila 08: Natasha Ellis going deeper! on PokerStars.tv

We’re down to 22 players in the APPT Manila main event, with the latest players to be eliminated Marco Andria (22nd), Nali Kaselias from Australia (23rd), Filipino Aloysius ‘Lou’ Pacia (24th) and former chip leader, PokerStars qualifier Michael Shell (25th).

There’s also a seven-handed event underway, with the final table due to start when one more is eliminated. APPT Macau High Roller runner-up Andrew Scott is prominently placed in this tournament.

Meanwhile at table 11, the PHP 250,000 buy-in (approximately USD $5000) APPT Manila High Roller event is underway, with entrants including local pros Wally “The Dream” Sombrero, Neil “Dirty Ice Cream” Arce, Singapore duo Bryan Huang and Nathanael Seet, Japan’s Yasuhiro Waki, Hong Kong-based Aussie David Steicke and Malaysian-based Swede Roger Spets. Entries are still open, so the field of nine may increase over the next hour. We'll keep an eye on proceedings as they unfold.

But back to the major focus of our coverage, the APPT Manila main event, where the field is now down to 21 players.

In a dramatic turnaround over the past hour, PokerStars Sponsored player Van Marcus leads on 295,000 but Singapore’s Josh Pang Ang has lost chips to both Ramil Tandoc (200,000) and Chang Yong Suk (260,000). Canadian PokerStars qualifier Dimitrios Pappis has steadily climbed back into contention (200,000) while Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson is strongly positioned on 195,000.

Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier and Joe Hachem are the only Team PokerStars Pros to make the final table of an APPT event (Macau main event, 2007), but Nelson is poised to add his name to this short list. Blinds are now at level 16 (2500/5000 with a 500 ante) – we could be for a while.

The craziness started when Broom raised under-the-gun to 6000, Rudy Lim and June Caberoy called, Ogura shoved all-in for 16,000, Marcus popped to 100,000 from the big blind, Broom pushed all-in, Lim and Caberoy got out of the way and Marcus called.

Marcus showed 10h-10c, Ogura Ac-7h and Broom looked well placed with his Ks-Kd. There was something for everyone in the flop of Ad-10d-4d – top pair for Ogura, set for Marcus and a flush draw for Broom. But the turn (8c) and river (3c) bricked, and Marcus was up to 220,000.

That left Broom as the 30th place finisher and Ogura 31st, while Korea’s Kil Seok Yang (a PokerStars qualifier) was officially listed in 32nd place.

Now on the TV table, Pang Ang quickly countered to take his stack above 300,000. Marcus and Pang Ang share almost 20 per cent of the chips in play.

Some interesting facts about this year’s PokerStars.net APPT Manila event with 27 players remaining – there are still two players in contention for back-to-back final table appearances (Van Marcus and defending champion Brett Parise); 10 Filipinos are assured a cash in this year’s event (up from six last year); Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson and Van Marcus have joined David Steicke and Bryan Huang as the only players to have cashed in three APPT events; and Natasha Ellis becomes the first female player to have cashed in either APPT Manila event.

After a very tight bubble period in the PokerStars.net APPT Manila main event, we’re in the money after consecutive hands – one in the feature table and one in the main tournament area.

In the TV studio, PokerStars Sponsored player Celina Lin bowed out just two spots short of the money when she found her two-pair, jacks and nines had been behind all the way against Mike Marvanek’s flopped set of fours.

Not surprisingly, it was new chip leader Josh Pang Ang who delivered the final blow against Xiaogang Lin, who moved in his short stack with Ac-8c and found himself up against Pang Ang’s Ad-Jc, with the board running out Kc-3c-5s-7s-6s.

The Singaporean’s massive stack of almost 260,000 came mainly thanks to the UK’s Tony Phillips in two pivotal hands. The crunch hand started when Phillips pushed to 6200 pre-flop and Ang called in. The flop was Jh Qc Ac. Phillips checked, Ang bet 8800 and Phillips called. The turn was Jd, Phillips checked, Ang bet 19,000 and Phillips called.

The river was a seemingly innocuous 5h. Phillips again checked, Ang pushed all-in for 65,000 and Phillips eventually called and showed Kc Qh. But Ang had rivered a set of fives, sending Phillips into an obscenity-loaded rage.

To rub salt into the wound, Ang finished him off a few hands later when he made quad threes on a board 3s-3c-4h-4c-3d holding just Qh-3h against Phillips’ pocket kings.

During the past level (12), we’ve lost PokerStars Sponsored players Wally “The Dream” Sombero (pocket deuces against Tony Phillips’ A-9, ace in the window) and a gallant Priscilla Meirelles (whose run ended when Pang Ang’s A-Q held up against her A-8) while James Obst, who was crippled when Rudy Lim made a river-river flush with A-Q against Obst’s A-K), has also been eliminated just short of his first live tournament cash.

With just a few minutes remaining in level 13, blinds will soon be up to 1500/3000 with a 500 ante. Players who finish in positions 25-32 are assured a payout of PHP 160,740 (or USD 3257.14).

Watch APPT Manila 08: Michael Shell and Lee Nelson on PokerStars.tv

Sparks are flying between mates Andrew Obst and PokerStars Sponsored Player Van Marcus. Minutes ago, Obst pushed all-in preflop, and Van insisted that he count it precisely, even instructing the dealer to not help count his chips.

The following hand, Van tried to call the clock on Obst as soon as Obst looked at his hand. But it's all in good fun, as Marcus has been showing the 18-year-old the ropes on his first trip to the Philippines.

Soon after, PokerStars Qualifier Patrick Carron from the USA pushed all-in for 12,900 with blinds of 1000/2000. Van Marcus called, and Obst pushed over the top from the big blind. Van Marcus then folded pocket sixes face-up.

Obst showed A-Q and Carron had A-8. The flop of 3c-8d-5d gives Carron the lead, with a Js on the turn. Fortunately for Obst, though, the Qc came on the river to give him a large pot of over 40,000 chips.

As the dealer cleaned up the cards, Van let out a exasperated plea to Obst, "Why you squeezing me, brother?" The mild-mannered man from Adelaide, Australia, didn't need to reply, and let his play do the talking as Obst stacked up his chips.

With blinds at 1000/2000 and a 300 ante, the 14 players with fewer than 20,000 in their stack are desperately looking for a big hand to make a move. PokerStars Sponsored player Celina Lin, one of the players feeling the pressure, said she’d barely spotted a playable hand all day.

Finally, Celina found pocket sevens which was enough for her to commit her remaining chips. She received a call (Q-3) but her pocket pair held up and she’s up to 40,000.

The good fortune rubbed off on the player seated to her immediate left – PokerStars Sponsored player Priscilla Meirelles. She committed her last 14,000 chips with A-J and found herself in a tough spot against pocket kings. But an ace on the flop has rejuvenated the stack of the 2004 Miss Earth.

One player who looks set to cruise through the bubble period is crowd favourite Melvin “The Miracle” Matibag. The exuberant Matibag is the yin to James Obst’s yang – the young Aussie displaying calmness and maturity at the table well beyond his 18 years.

Matibag called Obst’s all-in on a flop of 2d-4h-8h, but was well behind Obst’s pocket queens holding only K-2. Sure enough, another deuce fell on the river to make him trips, and the chant of “Miracle, Miracle” was off and running once again. Obst managed a wry smile.

Despite running his stack down below 30,000, the online wunderkind has since KOed two players to recover nicely as his first live tournament cash looms.

The top five in the chip count (approximately) are PokerStars Sponsored player Van Marcus (185,000), Chang Yong Suk (160,000), Hyoungjin Nam (145,000), Michael Shell (135,000) and Josh Pang Ang (120,000).

Watch APPT Manila 08: Miss Earth! on PokerStars.tv

Then there were two: only Brett Parise and Van Marcus remain in contention to make it back-to-back APPT Manila final tables after Ira Blumenthal was eliminated early on day 2 here at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino.

After Van Marcus KOed Daniel Nordstrom quads about an hour ago, this time James Andy McLEOD Obst used his Ad-10d to make quads on a board of 2d-Ac-7h-As-Ah to cripple Blumenthal (Q-7), who thought his full house was good. He was eliminated on the next hand.

In the past few minutes, we’ve also lost PokerStars Sponsored player Ivan Tan. After losing a significant number of chips (A-K versus K-8, with an eight landing on the turn), Tan’s last stand was also with A-K, but failed to hit against his opponent’s pocket pair.

There’s a palpable sense of pressure in the room just 16 spots short of the money. Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson and PokerStars Sponsored players Celina Lin, Wally Sombrero, Priscilla Meirelles and Van Marcus remain well positioned to cash – indeed, Van has just ascended to the top of the chip count on 180,000.

But it’s been a tough opening two sessions for the spiritual leader of Filipino Poker, Wally Sombrero. Fiercely determined to do well in this event, “The Dream” started the day just outside the top 10 chip counts on 60,100 but is now down to about 25,000. He’s getting plenty of support from the local fans who are spilling through the door out into the cash-game area to get a glimpse of the action.

Mixed fortunes for two players who’ve recorded excellent results on the Australian tournament scene this year. Michael Chrisanthopoulos (third at this year’s Aussie Millions main event) has just been KOed by Dane Jeppe Drivsholm after pushing his K-7 into a board of Kd-9h-3h only to find Drivsholm with a set of threes.

At an adjacent table, 2008 PokerNews Cup champion Nali “Iraqi Nick” Kaselias just sent Jong Sung Kim packing when his pocket kings held sway against Kim’s Ah-Qs. Kaselias is up to almost 50,000 in chips.

With blinds at 600/1200, and one limper, Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson raised in late position. Defending champion Brett Parise pushed all-in from the small blind for an additional 10,900 chips, and after the other player folded, Nelson was faced with a tough decision.

He calculated his pot odds in great detail, as the observers could virtually see his mind meticulously ticking over and calculating the correct move. Nelson decided to call, and revealed his 8h-6h, saying "I know I'm behind" and Parise revealed Ah-Qs.

The flop gave hope to both players, coming Ad-Jh-Qh, giving Parise top two-pair, but giving Nelson a flush draw. Ks on the turn and 8d on the river was no help to Nelson, however, and Parise doubled up to around 29,000.

The random table draw that somehow seated PokerStars Sponsored player Van Marcus next to David Saab promised fireworks, and it didn’t take long for someone at table 11 to light the wick early on day 2 in the PokerStars.net APPT Manila main event.

But before the two Aussie livewires butted heads, Marcus featured in one of the most remarkable hands in APPT history. Hang on, we’ve been covering these events since the tour’s inception, this was THE sickest hand we’ve ever seen on the APPT.

The board showed 7c-10h-Ah-3s when the money went in, with Daniel Nordstrom happy to see that his set of 10s had Marcus’ set of threes well under control. “Hit the one-outer, it’s that easy,” Saab chortled. Sure enough, the 3c sailed down the river to give Marcus runner-runner quads as the room erupted. To Nordstrom’s credit, he took the beat well, shook Van’s hand, and quietly left the tournament area.

The huge media contingent (that’s not an exaggeration, you can barely move between the tables) had barely left the area when the predicted showdown came against Marcus and Saab.

Frustrated by Saab’s willingness to raise most pots, Marcus made a stand at just the right time, with pocket kings dominating Saab’s Ad-Jc. “Get away from this table,” Marcus bellowed, only half-jokingly.

Steeled for a charge at the title after reaching two previous APPT final tables, Marcus is now in the driver’s seat with more than 150,000 in chips but still trails Chang Yong Suk, who has improved to 160,000 in the early going.

After a dramatic and utterly enthralling early afternoon session (players are taking their first 10-minute break for the day), 59 players remain of the 77 who started day 2. Michael Shell (125,000), Natasha Ellis (110,000) and Hyoungjin Nam (90,000) are also prominently placed.

Watch APPT Manila 08: Van Marcus on PokerStars.tv

In the midst of the second level with blinds at 600/1200, PokerStars Sponsored Player Van Marcus has collided with fellow Aussie and old sparring partner David Saab. In a raised pot preflop, the flop was 2h-7s-9h. Another bet and a call, and the pot was now around 45,000 chips.

The turn 6c inspired Van to push all-in for 40,000, easily covering Saab. Saab performed a series of chip dances facing an obviously tough decision of whether to commit his remaining 25,000 chips. He pondered, he thought, he ran past hands through his head, he studied the situation and he studied Van Marcus intensely.

Eventually, Saab folded QhJh face-up, and Van revealed his 8s-8c. "You call yourself a player, and you fold getting three-to-one?" said a triumphant Van. Both players managed to avoid a showdown, and with the talk at the table heating up, these two players will probably have another collision soon.

Most PokerStars.net APPT events are played over three days, and we’ve noticed a strange phenomenon as players make the transition from days one to two. Short stacks will hang on for grim death late on day 1, just for that moment in the spotlight to say “I made it”. They then return for day 2, and it’s carnage from the get-go.

The all-in button is flying around ballroom here at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino like a Mexican wrestler off the top rope, with the list of early victims including PokerStars Sponsored player Sunshine Samson, Brett Parise’s brother Rob, PokerStars qualifier David Salgado and Singapore’s Fam Yat, who finished fifth in the APPT Seoul main event two months ago.

All of those chips have to go somewhere, and a fair slab of them have fallen into the hands of two very dangerous players – Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson and James Obst.

Nelson pushed all-in over the top of Chris Roh pre-flop. The Korean called, but was agonised to see Nelson show Ad-Kd, which had Roh’s Kh-Jh dominated. The board fell Ac-Qh-8h-9s, giving Roh a stack of outs, but Nelson instructed the dealer for the 3s on the river, which she duly delivered.

Nearby, James Andy McLEOD Obst has just doubled through Kwang Soo Lee after the flop of 9d-8d-6d fit perfectly with Obst’s Kd-10d. Lee’s As-Qs improved when the Ah fell on the turn, but he was already mortally wounded and Obst was up to just under 60,000.

For those who are wondering, Obst’s obtuse online name honours an Australian footballer by the name. Andrew McLeod is recognised as one of the greatest indigenous AFL players of all-time with more than 300 games over a 15-year career with the team that Obst supports, the Adelaide Crows. James – you’re doing Andy proud.

With the clock about to tick into level 10, already 17 players have been sent to the rail and we’re down to just 60 players.

Cards are in the air for the 77 remaining players in the PokerStars.net APPT Manila main event at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino. It’s hot and steamy outside, and the action will be just as heated in the ballroom today as players first strive to reach the bubble (payouts start at 32nd position), then a spot on tomorrow’s final table.

PokerStars qualifier Michael Shell (USA) and Chang Yong Suk (Korea) hold the lead on 124,300 ahead of Scotland’s Natasha Ellis (112,100).

Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson plus PokerStars Sponsored players Ivan Tan, Van Marcus, Wally Sombrero, Priscilla Meirelles, Brett Parise and Sunshine Samson are all still in the hunt.

Incredibly three players who made the final table in last year’s event – Parise, Marcus and Thailand’s Ira Blumenthal – have made it through to day 2 in the 2008 event.

Play will be eight-handed throughout the day and there will be redraws at four tables left (the bubble) and at two tables left. The final table will be nine-handed. Structure for today’s play is:

Level 9: 500/1000 (ante 100)
Level 10: 600/1200 (ante 200)
Level 11: 800/1600 (ante 200)
Level 12: 1000/2000 (ante 300)
Level 13: 1200/2400 (ante 400)
Level 14: 1500/3000 (ante 500)
Level 15: 2000/4000 (ante 500)
Level 16: 2500/5000 (ante 500)
Level 17: 3000/6000 (ante 500)
Level 18: 4000/8000 (ante 1000)

Table 6

Seat 1: Chi Kan Tang (Philippines) 44,000
Seat 2: Wally Sombero (Philippines) 60,100
Seat 3: Rob Parise (USA) 22,000
Seat 4: Antony Phillips (UK) 52,400
Seat 5: Xiaogang Lin (China) 18,800
Seat 6: Hyoungjin Nam (Korea) 46,400
Seat 7:Chizuko Shimizu (Japan) 24,000
Seat 8: Donny Morris (Denmark) 71,700

Table 7 (feature table)

Seat 1: Tae Jun Noh (Korea) 53,300
Seat 2: Lesley Samson (Philippines) 8700
Seat 3: Ramil Tandoc (Philippines) 53,800
Seat 4: Aaron Kapphahn (USA) 20,900
Seat 5: Ivan Tan (Singapore) 37,300
Seat 6: Mattias Andersson (Sweden) 36,300
Seat 7: Michael Shell (USA) 124,300
Seat 8: Manish Sansi (Hong Kong) 12,300

Table 8

Seat 1: Natasha Ellis (UK) 112,100
Seat 2: Jong Sung Kim (Korea) 55800
Seat 3: Loi Van Tran (USA) 36,700
Seat 4: Wui Kwang Tan (Singapore) 37,400
Seat 5: Nali Kaselias (Australia) 12,400
Seat 6: Takashi Ogura (Japan) 21,100
Seat 7: William Jr Te (Philippines) 32,500
Seat 8: Reynaldo Tuason (Philippines) 32,700

Table 9

Seat 1: Chris Roh (Korea) 57,500
Seat 2: Lee Nelson (NZ) 32,000
Seat 3: Aaron Knapper (USA) 19,100
Seat 4: Brett Parise (USA) 13,300
Seat 5: Chang Yong Suk (Korea) 124,300
Seat 6: Tsutomu Nagashima (Japan) 32,700
Seat 7: Claus Valloe (Thailand) 18,700
Seat 8: Gregory Schillewaert (Philippines) 27,300

Table 10

Seat 1: Kwang Soo Lee (Korea) 29,100
Seat 2: Garamvolgyi Zsolt (Hungary) 13,400
Seat 3: James Obst (Australia) 29,700
Seat 4: Ira Blumenthal (Thailand) 18400
Seat 5: Marco D Andria (Philippines) 19,700
Seat 6: Michael Chrisanthopoulos (Australia) 28,500
Seat 7: Mike Marvanek 29,600
Seat 8: Michael Mariakis (Australia) 17,700
Seat 9: Jeppe Drivsholm (Denmark) 65,400

Table 11

Seat 1: Hans Daniel Nordstrom (Sweden) 75,200
Seat 2: Patrick Carron (USA) 30,100
Seat 3: Van Marcus (Australia) 69,700
Seat 4: David Saab (Australia) 43,100
Seat 5: Bernard Lim (Malaysia) 30,700
Seat 6: Rainier Aquino (Philippines) 15,300
Seat 7: Marissa Garcia Salgo (Philippines) 19,800
Seat 8: James Tang (USA) 8200
Seat 9: Dimitrios Pappis (Canada) 63,300

Table 12

Seat 1: Melvin Alvarez Matibag (Philippines) 56,200
Seat 2: Aloysius Gascon Pacia (Philippines) 16,800
Seat 3: Manuel Regis (USA) 19,600
Seat 4: June Canlas Caberoy (Philippines) 41,300
Seat 5: Benjamin Ong Lim (Philippines) 19,000
Seat 6: Thomas Nels Cemm (USA) 28400
Seat 7: James Crawford (Philippines) 12,800
Seat 8: Kai Paulsen (Norway) 36,200
Seat 9: Rasmus Vogt (Denmark) 31,600

Table 13

Seat 1: Nang Quang Nguyen (Vietnam) 18,200
Seat 2: Jean-Marc Hauducoeur (France) 15,300
Seat 3: Kil Seok Yang (Korea) 51,500
Seat 4: Fam Kai Yat (Singapore) 20,500
Seat 5: Arthur Kocher (Switzerland) 39,200
Seat 6: Victorino Torres (USA) 64,800
Seat 7: Priscilla Meirelles (Philippines) 24,100
Seat 8: David Salgado (USA) 8000
Seat 9: Celina Lin (Australia) 27,400

Table 14

Seat 1: James Broom (Australia) 19,900
Seat 2: Pang Leng Josh Ang (Singapore) 88,800
Seat 3: Takács Roland (Hungary) 16,600
Seat 4: Max Bloom (USA) 17,000
Seat 5: Goto Toshiki (Japan) 38,900
Seat 6: Rudy Lim (44,500)
Seat 7: Dennis Gamboa (Philippines) 24,800
Seat 8: Eric Sia (Philippines) 12,000
Seat 9: Kurt Stein (USA) 20,300

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