Hey, poker playas!
Now that tournaments are back in full swing. there is so much to talk about. It sad that we only sometimes hear the results of a game and the hand but never the stories behind the game.
There is so much to it. so here we go
The Asian Poker Tour back in Resort World Manila
The Asian Poker Tour will be held in Resort World this week, from April 27 to May 8, 2022.
This is also the first biggest tournament in Manila (exceeding a 10 million guarantee) Ever since the lockdown began 2 years ago.
The action will definitely be at Resort World Manila this week.
for a quick view. hit the link below.
Must read
Updated tournament schedule
Outstanding players during the Metro Summer Event
Last week the Metro Summer event was held and finished yesterday. most people only know about the results as it was reported. the hands and the outcome. Seldom the things worth mentioning are written.
There were players that excelled during that event and are worth mentioning. so here we go
The BIGTIME proving why he is a champion!
Anybody who had battled with Christopher “BIGTIME” Mateo will tell you how crazy his gameplay is. Anybody who knows the BIGTIME will tell you how crazy he is.
His range is wide and he could raise you with any hand.
There are times you would believe he is crazy
But he is an APT Champion.
So what made him great? well, this week we bear witness to his true strength. He is a great player reader and never ever do anything to him that would make you target the Bigtime.
Once he set his eyes on a target, like a hungry lion looking for prey, he would pounce on you and attack you with everything he got.
That was pretty much what happened last week. Sitting down on a new table in the middle of day 2, He found the chip leader during that point in the game and decided he was hungry for his chips. In a few succeeding hands. he was able to get a lot of it.
Even on the final day, he was pissed with one player for a reason. and before you knew it he was the one that eliminated that player.
He can read the situation and the players putting them on ranges and probable hands. He made huge bluffs knowing his enemy would fold.
Whether he has a small stack or a big stack. He is a serious threat on the table when he is serious. With APT coming this week. He could win a few events if he is in the mood. so watch out for him!
Edgar Asehan – climbing the ladder higher.
Edgar Asehan was a rising star until the lockdown started. He even bagged an event just before everything shut down.
During the pandemic, he put his focus online and won quite a few of the big ones back to back and even helped struggling players out.
When events finally came back, He won a few and run deep in some of the events.
Main events still elude him however, he does run deep in Main events but the luck seems to always put a stop to his run.
The last APT event was the APT RWM mystery bounty weekend. He qualified for day 2 but He run into Ace-King versus his pocket queen and was able to put his opponent all-in preflop. But he got rivered.
Even the Metro Summer Event was not that easy. but he did what he could. As luck would have it, he was in one of the toughest tables in the field with all players having the main event champion under their belt.
Still, he did great as he was able to knock out a seasoned pro and even munch the chips of the qualifying day chip leader.
The finest sword has to go through the hottest of fire, and currently, that is what is happening, Even on the last day when there were only 2 tables left. The other table was easier. but fate places him on a harder table in the worst position.
He bubbled the main event final table (8 players) and finished in 9th place. but his run is getting deeper and deeper. With a major event finally coming to Manila. Will lady luck finally stop playing with him and give him a decent chance?
Stay tuned.
Jessie Leonarez, Renniel Galvez and standing for what is right
Cheating issues were a hot topic the past few weeks internationally and once that made the big news is on Bryn Kenney Allegedly operating a cult-like syndicate.
Let us admit that the Philippines may also not have the best reputation as well.
A few weeks back while having a fun game. a foreigner commented how Filipino tend to play the game cunningly to win.
An incident happened last week when a player tried to collude with another player (Player A) which was rejected outright by the other player(Player B).
Players A tried to send a message via messenger to text to the other player about his hand that he tried to soft play and was called out.
Player B outright rejected it and told him to just play your hand.
Upon realizing what was happening and realizing player B was too soft-spoken to call it out loud. Both Jessie Leonarez and Renniel Galvez who was on the same table outright bash Player A.
“Do not involve other players in your cheap tactics. You want them to have “utang na loob” or debt of gratitude to you when you fold a good hand. Player B is just making a decent living. Do not involve them.”
Both Jessie Leonarez and Renniel Galvez continuously scolded player A and even the Christopher “Big time” Mateo joined in.
“Naglalaro young players ng maayos, gusto mo ata maban young player eh. wag mong idamay, gumagawa silang ng disente hanapbuhay”
The Philippines have great and decent players, and they do have players that are outspoken and would reject such cheap tactics.
People who are not there would never know of such an incident happening. It is always about the results.
But sometimes those small incidents are the ones that can help the industry to grow. playing the game honestly and fairly.
Kudos to both Jessie Leonarez and Renniel Galvez for calling out that player and making sure the game is run fair. You make the Filipino players proud.
