The APPT Macau: The First Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament in China!

[Matt Savage]

No cash games yet in Macau but we will have a full schedule anyway with satellites, Sit and Go's, and $500 tournaments daily. With the $2,500 Main Event and the $15,000 High Roller event both televised it will be a busy week.

Matt Savage

[TheUsher]

Hey Jeffrey/Matt,

These 2 tournaments sound amazing. There's a couple of things I'd like to address though.. since it seems like you guys are open to suggestions I'd like to echo Bond/LuckyLloyd's opinions above + some other things.

I'm just gonna ramble so I'd like to apologize in advance..

The $2500 tourney looks amazing and seems more than generous in regards to the structure. With that in mind, the $15k event seems like it could be improved slightly.

The addition of a 25/50 level would probably be the best thing to give the players more play early especially considering you're trying to market more to the Asian high rollers in the immediate area who might get a little angry if they bust in the first level or 2.

The 500/1k + 2500/5k levels would also be amazing additions and I'm wondering why they aren't in the $15k structure like they are in the $2500. This is me being a nit though but it would be awesome if they were included too! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

The $15k event would entice a ton of players who play the tourney circuit regularly to make the trip (such as me), and probably at least 10-15 of my friends who would not have otherwise made it to a $2500 main event on the other side of the world.

Also why isn't it a 3day tourney? You guys are probably expecting a very very small field but assuming high stakes cash games are available + some other reasonable comforts like reliable in-room internet (this is huge), upscale lodging, and good food then a ton of tourney circuit regs would definitely make the trip. I wouldn't make any over/under type bets but I definitely wouldn't be surprised if at least 75-100 people total would play in it. This # would depend greatly on if/how PokerStars ran satellites to the $15k, the willingness of local gamblers to risk $15k on the tourney, and a couple of other smaller variables but it isn't in the realm of possibility that a high turnout could be expected. I'm most excited to see how many locals would buyin to that tourney direct since it's the first of it's kind + such huge stakes in relation to the local currency.

I don't usually make long posts or suggestions to tournaments but upon reading this thread today I got very very excited because this would be my first Macau trip and I instantly decided I'd want to play both regardless of any plans I might have had already. (just realized on a re-read of this post that I'd be missing Thanksgiving for these tourneys)

Like I mentioned earlier, I could probably also get 10-15 of my friends who would be in the same camp as me as long as they were aware of what they were expecting once they made the long trip there and assured of a good structure for the $15k.

Not trying to knock you guys or anything btw since Matt you've been doing a hell of a good job running tourneys, with the last one being Aruba that I played under your guidance. Thanks for reading my long post.. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Alan Sass


P.S. I'd love to hear some suggestions from Alan Goehring / Barry Greenstein about the $15k too if they happen to see this.


EDIT: Any way to make this like Aruba and have the final 36 players be at 6 6max tables? Personally this is the best addition that I'd love to see because it creates so much more action and is more difficult to play in general for everyone.

[TheUsher]

[ QUOTE ]
No cash games yet in Macau but we will have a full schedule anyway with satellites, Sit and Go's, and $500 tournaments daily. With the $2,500 Main Event and the $15,000 High Roller event both televised it will be a busy week.

Matt Savage

[/ QUOTE ]

No cash games? Rigged. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] What would the buyins be on the SNGs? Possible to have higher buyins? ie 1k/2k/5k, etc?

[Matt Savage]

Thanks Alan and of course I always listen to players and like to think that I generally have some of the best structures out there like Bay 101, Aruba, and the 2004 WSOP structures. You are right that we are expecting 50-60 players for the $15,000 High Rollers Event but I would be thrilled with 100. Now here is the problem, it is a two day event due to the projected small field, the taping schedule works perfectly with most likely both days being covered, and $15,000 in chips will create two long days. I have been debating the 25-50 level and agree that it should be brought back. Keep posted and I will see what I can do

Matt Savage

[Poker Tatsu]

Hi TheUsher,

There won't be any cash games because of how they are currently regulated in Macau. We are able to proceed with Single- and Multi-table tournaments during the 7-day event period, and they will be at a variety of stakes depending on demand. If enough players are interested in a 5K game, we'll start one.

That being said, Grand Waldo Casino recently placed a Lightning Poker table on their gaming floor. When I was there yesterday they were spreading a low-stakes Limit Hold'em game, but that will likely change during the event (to a higher stakes game, likely No-Limit). For now, there aren't any live cash games in Macau, but I've heard that will change shortly (the subject of another post).

As for why the $15K tournament won't be a 3-day event, you're right in that we don't expect a very large field. We're expecting between 200-250 players for the $2,500 Main Event (as it's only four weeks away now and we have limited time to promote the events) and between 30-60 for the High Rollers Event. If it seems like 75-100 people are going to play, as you surmise, then we'll consider alternate scheduling.

Joe Hachem and a few other Team PokerStars players are confirmed for both tournaments, and we've heard from several other top professionals who are coming. Also, in response to BlueMan's comments, we know for certain that some of our favourite high-energy action-oriented players from the region will be playing. So I certainly think there's value to be had here, more than just being part of history! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

As for your comments/suggestions about structures, I'll leave that to Matt or Danny to respond to.

Jeffrey

[Matt Savage]

No cash games? Rigged. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] What would the buyins be on the SNGs? Possible to have higher buyins? ie 1k/2k/5k, etc?

[/ QUOTE ]

We will play as high as you want :-) and have structured SnG's for higher buy-ins

Matt

[TheUsher]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Alan and of course I always listen to players and like to think that I generally have some of the best structures out there like Bay 101, Aruba, and the 2004 WSOP structures. You are right that we are expecting 50-60 players for the $15,000 High Rollers Event but I would be thrilled with 100. Now here is the problem, it is a two day event due to the projected small field, the taping schedule works perfectly with most likely both days being covered, and $15,000 in chips will create two long days. I have been debating the 25-50 level and agree that it should be brought back. Keep posted and I will see what I can do

Matt Savage

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Matt,

Yeah I definitely agree with you that your structures are amazing. I also played this year's Bay 101 and I was very excited when I heard that the structure was 6max play for the last 36 players. Not sure if you noticed a couple of my edits above but would it be possible to have the same thing for the $15k? Everyone would be playing more hands which would be a double benefit to both locals who would want to play more hands, and that it allows more skillful players to have a bigger edge late in the tourney. Obviously I'm saying 2 different things but my main point is that more hands would get played which everyone would like. Thanks a ton for the quick reply.

[Matt Savage]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Alan and of course I always listen to players and like to think that I generally have some of the best structures out there like Bay 101, Aruba, and the 2004 WSOP structures. You are right that we are expecting 50-60 players for the $15,000 High Rollers Event but I would be thrilled with 100. Now here is the problem, it is a two day event due to the projected small field, the taping schedule works perfectly with most likely both days being covered, and $15,000 in chips will create two long days. I have been debating the 25-50 level and agree that it should be brought back. Keep posted and I will see what I can do

Matt Savage

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I definitely agree with you that your structures are amazing. I also played this year's Bay 101 and I was very excited when I heard that the structure was 6max play for the last 36 players. Not sure if you noticed a couple of my edits above but would it be possible to have the same thing for the $15k? Everyone would be playing more hands which would be a double benefit to both locals who would want to play more hands, and that it allows more skillful players to have a bigger edge late in the tourney. Obviously I'm saying 2 different things but my main point is that more hands would get played which everyone would like. Thanks a ton for the quick reply.

[/ QUOTE ]


Believe me that was what I wanted to do the problem is if we get 50 it might as well be a 6 handed event. I love the 6 handed format as it creates a different style of poker. And is very exciting for televised poker. Keep posted

Matt

[TheUsher]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi TheUsher,

There won't be any cash games because of how they are currently regulated in Macau. We are able to proceed with Single- and Multi-table tournaments during the 7-day event period, and they will be at a variety of stakes depending on demand. If enough players are interested in a 5K game, we'll start one.

That being said, Grand Waldo Casino recently placed a Lightning Poker table on their gaming floor. When I was there yesterday they were spreading a low-stakes Limit Hold'em game, but that will likely change during the event (to a higher stakes game, likely No-Limit). For now, there aren't any live cash games in Macau, but I've heard that will change shortly (the subject of another post).

As for why the $15K tournament won't be a 3-day event, you're right in that we don't expect a very large field. We're expecting between 200-250 players for the $2,500 Main Event (as it's only four weeks away now and we have limited time to promote the events) and between 30-60 for the High Rollers Event. If it seems like 75-100 people are going to play, as you surmise, then we'll consider alternate scheduling.

Joe Hachem and a few other Team PokerStars players are confirmed for both tournaments, and we've heard from several other top professionals who are coming. Also, in response to BlueMan's comments, we know for certain that some of our favourite high-energy action-oriented players from the region will be playing. So I certainly think there's value to be had here, more than just being part of history! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

As for your comments/suggestions about structures, I'll leave that to Matt or Danny to respond to.

Jeffrey

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Jeffrey,

Just read about the Lightning Poker tables. They look pretty nice but even regular poker tables would be amazing for SNGs, etc, and probably even preferred by many people instead of the Lightning Poker ones.

Would Stars be running satellites for the $15k event? That would definitely increase turnout and guarantee seats in advance.

What about live sats into the tourneys? Do those run at the casino there in advance? The $15k high buyin would attract many high rollers in the area such as businessmen/government types but would also alienate many people there because $15k is a massive amount in that area. I'd assume that interest is very high to play it but many locals just can't afford to direct buyin whereas they might gamble a few times on smaller buyin sats, if available.

[TheUsher]

BTW I don't know if anyone realizes it but there's 3 $15k tourneys in a span of 3 weeks. This one on November 26, the NPL Poker Open at Venetian in Vegas on December 3, and the Bellagio Five Diamond in Vegas on December 12. The end of the year is amazing. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]