PH hosts world poker tourney Jan. 2

THE WORLD’S finest poker players will see action in the World Poker Tour National Philippines set Jan. 2 to 8 at the grand ballroom of Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque.

Dubbed the Festival of Poker, the tournament will have 300 of the world’s top-tier players clashing with some of the Philippines’ best.

“This is going to be a historic event for poker in Asia and in the Philippines, and I assure you the top players will be here,” said Poker King Club CEO Winfred Yu during yesterday’s presser at Solaire’s Eclipse Lounge. “The Philippines is a mature market for poker.”

The tournament will feature one of the richest-ever poker events in the country, the “Super High Rollers,” which will have a buy-in of $196,000 on top of a $4,000 entry fee.

But action will be in the Main Event with $1,500 buy-in and $150 entry fee where the career poker players will be taking part.

Andrew Gaw, who made the champion’s table last year, will banner the Philippine campaign along with internationally renowned players Marc Rivera and Ian Brion.

Top Asian player Richard Yong of Malaysia and Solaire’s Cyrus Sherafat joined Yu and WPT president-CEO Adam Pliska in yesterday’s press launch.