PokerStars APPT Season 8: Sameer Rattonsey and Rajeev Kanjani Head for APPT Manila

While WSOP rolls out in the western part of the globe, the eastern half is witnessing the excitement of the 8^th annual Asia Pacific Poker Tour. Started in 2007, APPT is sponsored by PokerStars, just as the European Poker Tour, North American Poker Tour and the Latin American Poker Tour. The first season had just 5 events, while this 8^th edition has 17 events, with two new stops at Manila and Beijing.

Currently, the ACOP Platinum Series V has just ended on June 29, at City of Dreams, Macau, with the Main Event that featured a buy in of HKD $5,500 and a prize guarantee of HK $500,000. An important part of this series is the fact that the top ten winners of each Platinum Series Main Event will be automatically qualified for the ACOP Platinum Series Playoff, taking place online at PokerStars on October 5, 2014, with the chance to win HKD $100,000 ACOP Main Event seat.

The next event lined up on APPT season 8 schedule is the APPT Manila, a newly added stop to be held at the Metro Card Club, from July 2 to 7. Next will be the 2014 Beijing Millions at the Beijing Star Poker Club, China from July 18 to 27, with a buy in of RMB 3000.

In recent years, there has been a surge in the number of poker pros thronging the eastern tournament circuit. There were a number of Chinese poker players in attendance at the Macau Millions, 629 in fact, making them a whopping 35% of the entire contingent. Emphasizing the growing popularity of the game, it was but natural for China’s Hao Chen to wrest the title for the 2014 Macau Millions, along with the prize money of HK $550,000.

Keeping in mind the rise of poker in China, APPT decided to bring the tournament to China (Beijing Millions), which will finally begin on July 18, with several exciting side games, besides the Main Event.

All eyes however, will be on the Manila stop, played at the Metro Card Club, which sees a dramatic return after its last stop in 2010. Binh Nguyen won the last event held there in 2010, as part of APPT season 4, beating 430 players, for the prize catch of $260,700 in the Pagcor Chairman’s Cup.

APPT Manila will re-debut with a changed format allowing eliminated players from Day 1A the option of re-entering on Day 1B. The 6-day festival carries a PHP 50,000 Main Event and includes five official Asia Player of the Year Events. The Main Event winner will receive HKD $100,000 entry for the ACOP Main Event, which will be taken from the prize pool and value accommodation.

A notable point for Indian poker fans will be the inclusion of two fellow Indians at this series – Sameer Rattonsey and Rajeev Kanjani. Hopes will be high, expecting the two to repeat Apoorva Goel’s win in ACOP earlier. In 2013, Goel became the first Indian to win an ACOP event. He outlasted 137 players in the 2-day event, taking home HKD $ 288,100.

Sameer Rattonsey is the co-Director of India Poker Championship (IPC) and an accomplished poker player with several title wins and final tables to his name. A regular on the tournament circuit, Sameer currently ranks 12^th on the India All Time Money List and has a total earnings of $88,806. He has grabbed his highest live earnings of ₹12,79,800 at the APT- Asian Series Goa in Nov 2011.

Rajeev Kanjani is a poker enthusiast and founder of the successful tournament series, Aces Unlimited. Kanjani is now a co-Director in India Poker Championship and an active cash game player in Mumbai. He currently ranks 23^rd on the India All Time Money List with a total live earning of $49,006. In Sep 2011, he landed his highest cash win to date, ₹14,00,000 at the World Gaming Festival Goa.

PokerGuru spoke to the two Indian players…. Here are the excerpts:

Why did you choose APPT at Manila over the biggest poker extravaganza, the WSOP?

Sameer: Well of course as a poker player, I would rather be in Vegas playing the WSOP, but unfortunately Vegas is 20+ hrs away and if you intend to play the Main Event and a few sides, that makes for an easy three week long trip. Currently I can’t take that kind of time off. The APPT in Manila is the next best thing for me; it should be a nice event, way shorter travel time and is about a week long. So, that checks off all the boxes for me.

Rajeev: Well, I am definitely not ready to take up something as big as WSOP for the moment. I need to get some tourneys under the belt for the time being. As the local scenario has dried up, there have been lesser chances to play. I will try to play as many series possible this year, to be ready for the next WSOP. Also, most importantly, to go to the WSOP, a player needs to spend considerable time in the States, which I can’t afford due to other work commitments. Hence, for now the short Asian tours suit me the best.

How do you fancy your chances at the APPT this year?

Sameer: I haven’t played too much live poker since the Red Dragon back in January so my primary motive is to get back into the groove and make sure to do the basics right. I am not going with any specific target in mind but I am looking forward to a deep run in the Main.

Rajeev: Well, I have had reasonable success in Manila in the past. Have finished 11th in the ME of an APT Event with 350+ entries, so hoping to better that for sure.

What are you most looking forward to in this trip?

Sameer: In any major series, the Main Event is always the biggest attraction. I’ve played at the Metro Card Club before and they’ve got a pretty good setup. I’m sure they’re going to do a great job hosting their first APPT event. The other upside is that Manila has a very strong base of local players, so I am expecting a pretty good turnout for the Main Event.

Rajeev: Main event is the only event I look forward to any series. Side Events are just warm up events for me.

What are the other things you do apart from playing poker, while in Manila?

Sameer: Most of these international series are quite tight time-wise. There is barely enough time to rest between events and for me, rest and recovery after a 12-hour journey from Mumbai will be crucial. Manila is a chilled out place, so apart from poker, I like to visit the casino floor and play some of the table games. Resorts World Manila’s Bar 360 always has some entertainment or the other in the evenings including some very talented local bands performing there. So, if I get busted early that’s where you’ll find me.

Rajeev: The food and shopping is great here. It’s affordable, the people are nicer, and of course I actually get to play a lot more Cash Games here than Macau because of the numerous Card Rooms operating here.

Care to share any memorable moments from your previous visits to Manila?

Sameer: I haven’t played too many APPT events, but my most fond memory of this series is when I final tabled the Main Event in the Cebu edition back in 2012.

Rajeev: Well, besides coming 11th in the ME, it has to be the after poker parties. Can’t get specific here!

The Schedule of events at APPT Manila is as follows:

Stay tuned here at PokerGuru to catch all the APPT frenzy, as it unfolds.