Australian Van Marcus Wins Asia Pacific Poker Tour Manila

Lance Bradley | November 18, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Apparently you don’t need a first name like Steve, John or Joe to win on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour. Van Marcus, a 25-year-old Australian professional online poker player, took down the APPT stop in Manila on Monday after the longest final table in tour history.

The 16-hour final table gave Marcus the win and the $162,856 US first place prize. It was his third APPT final table in the past 15 months and improves upon his fifth place performance at the 2007 APPT Manila.

“I guess it is third time lucky on this tour. I have now made three final tables on the APPT - it feels great to finally hold a title,” said Marcus. “And even better I get a ticket to the Sydney Grand Final. Hopefully I can replicate this week’s performance in front of a home crowd,” commented Van directly following his win.

The Manila stop was the fourth on the APPT tour in its second season. The final table included three local players as well as three Korean players, one Hong Kong resident, a New Zealander and the Australian Marcus.

“We are thrilled to see an Australian champion on the APPT as we head into the Sydney Grand Final. It is great to see all final table players coming from countries across the Asia Pacific,” said APPT President Jeffrey Haas. “The Philippines is the beating heart of poker in Asia today and so it was very fitting to have three locals included in the final nine today.”

APPT Manila Final Table Payouts

1. Van Marcus - $162,856.98 US
2. Noh Tae Jun - $103,142.75 US
3. Hyoung Jin Nam - $54,285.66 USD

4. Michael Chang - $37,999.96 US

5. Ramil Tandoc - $29,314.26 US

6. Lee Nelson - $21,714.26 US

7. Manish Sansi - $16,285.70 US

8. Benjie Lim - $12,485.70 US

9. Ranier Aquino - $9,228.56 US