The APT Kickoff 2017, the Asian Poker Tour’s first event of the year, is in full swing at Resorts World Manila with the Main Event coming down to the last day with final 8 survivors. With Anthony Gabitan getting eliminated in 9th place last night, the Final 8 of the Main Event has been formed. Leading the way is the local pro Czardy Rivera with 1,276,000 in chips. All final 8 players will be returning today for the race to the first APT Main Event championship title of 2017.
A Glance at the Final 8 Contenders:
1.Czardy Rivera – Philippines – 1,276,000
The local pro Czardy Rivera, who started his Day2 with an average stack, leads the fray with 1,276,000 in chips. Back in 2013, he got his biggest live score of US$98,927 at the APT Asian Poker Series Manila. Later, he cashed big at the Macau Poker Cup, finishing 4th at the No Limit Hold’em II for US$32,957. In 2011, Rivera missed the trophy at the Manny Pacquiao World Poker Event but took home a huge payout of US$27,505. Currently, he is sitting on 10th position in the country’s All Time Money list.
2.Takumi Samejima – Japan – 1,193,000
Takumi Samejima, who is a recreational poker player, had a good run at 2017 APT Kickoff main event this time. It is for the fist time that he has made a final 8 appearance at a poker event. Samejima is almost out of the danger zone among the final 8 players, as he sitting par with the chip leader with 1,193,000 in chips.
3.Karl Peter Wittmann – Germany – 749,000
The German poker player Karl Peter Wittmann takes part in a few APT events. Last year, he finished 3rd in 2 APT side events. He came 2nd at one of the last side events of the APT Finale Macau. He has been running well for the last two days and has a chance to win the Main event title. He is sitting 3rd in chips. It is his first Final 8 appearance.
4.GACKT – Japan – 721,000
GACKT, a recreational player from Japan, is also among Final 8. When Day2 began with 47 players, he was the chip lead. The rest of days saw him coming up and down. However, he played well and maintained his stack. He is in commandable position now with 721,000 in chips. For him also, it is first Final 8 appearance.
5.Samad Razavi – UK – 385,000
The English poker pro Samad Razavi is the most well-known player in the Final 8. He has been the APT Player of the Year 4 years in a row between 2012-2015. While the list of his cashes and wins is long, he holds two APT Main Event titles. Razavi’s biggest live tournament score came at the ANZPT IV- Grand Final in 2012 when he won the Main Event for US$339,745. Last year, finished 2nd at the APPT 10 Manila Main Event for a US$73,552 payout.
6.Yoichi Uesugi – Japan – 211,000
Yoichi Uesugi is the Japanese APT regulars who had a good ran last year. He finished 4th place at the APT Daegu Main Event. His largest payout came last year at the APT Philippines Main Event when he finished 5th for US$18,800. He is now on the hunt for his first APT Main Event title and trophy.
7.Alexis Lim – Philippines – 130,000
Alexis Lim is another well-known poker player with an APT Main Event title, which he claimed just 3 months ago at the APT Manila to earn US$15,849. Last year, Lim took part in several local events and cashed 12 times. He must be looking forward to adding yet another title in his kitty.
8.Phua Si Yang – Singapore – 126,000
Phua Si Yang is a newbie at the APT Main Event Final 8 and is on hunt for his first live tournament title. Now it will be interesting to see if he can make it to his biggest live score today at the main event.
India’s Kunal Patni Exits on Day 2
The Adda52Live Pro Kunal Patni had a good run with a respectable chip stack. He entered Day 2 with a huge stack of 87,100 but failed to make it to Day 3 of the 2017 APT Kickoff Main Event. He was eliminated by Japan’s Jun Saito at Level 13 when his 9s-4c lost to Qc-Qs on the board of 8s-6d-7c-4s-Jc.