Manila Millions poker up at Resorts World

MANILA, Philippines - More than 40 big-name poker players, headed by last year’s champion Allan Le, vie in the Manila Millions 2013, the country’s richest poker tournament which begins today at Resorts World Manila in Newport City, Pasay.

The two-day event, which also features 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Joe Hachem, World Series of Poker 2-bracelet champion JC Tran and 2006 World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting Star winner Nam Le, is expected to post a record-setting high stakes contest at the exclusive Genting Club.

The Manila Millions 2013, co-presented by the Asian Poker Tour, will have a buy-in of HK$1,000,000 and a total pot prize similar to last year’s at the HK$32 million mark (or over US$4 million), making it the biggest in the country and one of the biggest in Asia.

The event serves as the highlight of APT Philippines 2013, which got going yesterday until April 24 at Resorts World Manila. The integrated resort has been the official venue of APT Philippines since 2010.

The posh Resorts World Manila, the only tourism destination in the country capable of accommodating large-scale and world-class poker events, also hosts the National Poker League of Australia every November, drawing hundreds of tourists to the country.