Australian David Saab Wins 2008 APT Manila
June 3rd, 2008
The first leg of the Asian Poker Tour was completed this weekend in the Phillipines with Australian David Saab overcoming 316 other poker enthusiasts to win the event held at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel. The tournament in Manila set a new record with 317 players participating making it the biggest poker event ever held in the Philippines.
Over 6 six days of play, poker professionals and internet qualifiers from all over the world fought for the chance to take home a share of the guaranteed $1 million prize pool, but it was 35 year old David Saab who held his cool to defeat South Korea’s Chris Roh after six hours of heads-up play, taking home $280,000 for his troubles.
The final table was as follows:
David Saab, Australian - 782,000
Chris Roh, South Korea - 455,000
Michele Ferrari, Italy - 444,000
Man Jin Yun, South Korea - 426,000
Satoru Ishii, Japan - 396,000
Kwang Soo Lee, South Korea - 255,000
Gerasimos Deres, Sweden - 177,000
Terry Gonzaga, Phillipines - 164,000
Don Carmona, Phillipines - 64,000
David Saab was the chip leader going into the final table, ahead of Chris Roh and Michele Ferrari. Sweden’s Gerasimos Deres was the first to be eliminated coming up short against Roh’s triple fives, followed by Philippine locals Gonzaga and Carmona.
The last European Italy’s Michele Ferrari finished up in 5th place, with Kwang Soo Lee following soon afterwards. Once Japan’s Satori Ishii was kicked out, it left heads-up play between Roh and Saab.
Saab’s winning hand of A 8 was enough to beat Roh’s K 4 to take the first Asian Poker Tour title of the year.
The APT now moves onto Macau at the end of August for the $5,000 buy-in event. The guaranteed prize pool has been upped to $1,500,000 with over 500 players expected at the StarWorld Hotel and Casino.
APT Manila Final Standings:
David Saab, Australia - $280,000
Chris Roh, South Korea - $150,000
Satoru Ishii, Japan - $100,000
Kwang Soo Lee, South Korea - $73,000
Michele Ferrari, Italy - $55,000
Man Jin Yun, South Korea - $45,000
Don Carmona, Phillipines - $35,000
Terry Gonzaga, Phillipines - $25,000
Gerasimos Deres, Sweden - $20,000
