Masato Yokosawa Leads The Way After Day 1a
The first of two starting days for the PokerStars.net Asia-Pacific Poker Tour in the Paradise Casino Walkerhill Seoul drew a crowd of 118 players. After eight levels of play, Masato Yokosawa came out on top.
The tournament action was fast-paced as just 45 players managed to make it through to Day 2. Team PokerStars Pros Bryan Huang and Celina Lin did not make it, while Japanese World Series of Poker bracelet winner and PokerStars Team Online member Naoya Kihara bagged up 39,200 in chips.
The start of the day, unlike at many other events around the world, was fast and furious. The players in the Main Event mainly hail from China, Australia, and Hong Kong and it became apparent they did not come here to sit around. After Director of Poker Operations and WSOP bracelet winner Kevin Song spoke the most famous words in poker, "shuffle up and deal," the action started and it was interesting all the way throughout.
Among the high rollers that showed up for today's flight were Ping San Chan, who finished fourth in the APT Manilla Millions for over $530,000, but his experience in bigger buy-in events did not help him today. Chan was knocked out, which could not be said for his friend Winfred Yu. Yu, who's known as the host of some of the biggest cash games in the world, played a patient game and managed to make it through to Day 2 with 36,900 in chips.
One of the most successful players in the Asia-Pacific region of the last couple of years has been Sam Razavi, and he came to play. Razavi, who won the APPT Grand Final in 2012, had a swingy day, but managed to survive with 37,300 in chips. Bernard Geom wasn't as lucky, and he got knocked out during the fifth level of play after losing a big hand with jacks to queens. Interestingly, Geom was left with chips behind after he ran out of the room upon seeing his jacks had lost, and the rest of his stack was eventually blinded out.
Huang, a regular on the APPT, had an unsuccessful day as he was knocked out. Huang lost the hand for his tournament life with ace-queen to pocket fours that sent him packing. Huang will have plenty of opportunity to redeem himself this week in one of the many side events, or at the cash-game tables, which have been jam packed all day. Day 2 also wasn't reached by Lin, who ran two pair into a set, ultimately busted out holding ace-eight to the ace-ten of her opponent.
In the meantime, Japanese player Yokosawa was stacking up chips left and right, and his smart play got him the overnight chip lead. One of the players looking to challenge Yokosawa on Day 2 is PokerStars Team Online's Kihara. Kihara had a great day and he eventually bagged up a little under average.
Last, but certainly not least, there was defending champion Aaron Lim. Lim had a day filled with swings and eventually he bagged up 23,900.
That's it for Day 1a, and please make sure to tune back in with us tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time for the second and final starting day of this event. Once again, PokerNews.com will bring you all the live updates.