Macau APT prize pool grows

LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Elated with the success of its Manila event, the Asian Poker Tour has upped the ante and announced a US$1,500,000 guaranteed prize pool for its next event in Macau.

The Asian Poker Tour Macau will be held at the StarWorld Hotel and Casino from the August 26 - 31, 2008 with the buy-in at US$5,000+$300.

With the boosted prize pool, the APT Macau champion will take home about US$500,000. This is the biggest prize pool ever guaranteed for a poker event in Asia.

The announcement was made in Manila by APT CEO Chris Parker where the APT held its Philippine tour at the Dusit Thani Manila. More than 300 poker players participated in the 6-day poker tournament which featured several of poker's big names including Huck Seed, Mansour Matloubi, Nam Le, Quinn Do, Chip and wife Karina Jett, Evelyn Ng, and Steve Sung.

David Saab of Australia emerged as the first 2008 champion of the APT, beating Korea's Chris Roh at the heads-up and taking home US$280,000. Roh won US$150,000 for second place.