Tom Dwan and Phil Ivey Join Manila Millions Super High Roller

American poker stars Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan and Phil Ivey have signed up for “Asia’s biggest super high roller event” ever as numerous big-name pros are expected to be attracted to the HKD$1 million (about $129,000) buy-in Manila Millions Super High Roller next week.

Organisers are expecting about 30 players to sit down come next Friday at Resorts World Manila’s Genting Club – just a day ahead of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Philippines main event kicking off – “with other big names to be announced soon”.

With Lebanon-born Australian Joe Hachem – who took down the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event for $7.5 million– already certain to play in the $2,700 buy-in APT main event on his debut as a tour ambassador, will the former Team PokerStars Pro also be joining American superstars Dwan and Ivey? Let us hope so.

Philippines Event Will ‘Make Poker History’

APT chief executive officer Jeff Mann is undoubtedly excited by the event, saying that the tour – in conjunction with Resorts World Manila – will “make poker history once again – and this time it’s by staging Asia’s biggest super high roller event”.

Certainly, it does appear that Asia is becoming a much more attractive market for poker stars, with Mann adding that, with such an impressive buy-in – and the payouts to match – the Philippines will secure a well-earned place “on the world poker map”.

New Jersey’s Dwan – an online specialist in high-stakes No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha – and Las Vegas-based eight-time WSOP bracelet winner Ivey won’t have too far to travel, however, as they have been playing in some of the word’s largest cash games in Macau against the likes of Titan Poker Pro Sam Trickett, Danish star Gus Hansen and 10-time WSOP bracelet winner Johnny Chan.

Resorts World Manila Want Big-Name Pros

Also, with this year’s Macau Millions postponed until an uncertain future date, leisure brand Resorts World are determined to get in on the high stakes action by promoting this huge event in the Philippines – and encouraging the stars of poker to make Asia a regular destination for competition.

Hakan Dagtas, who is the vice-president of casino operations at the Genting Group-owned Resorts World Manila, sees this as the perfect opportunity to make the Manila Millions “an integral part of our Genting Poker League”, although he also stressed that the Philippines event “is just the first of many poker initiatives we have planned”.

Dagtas continued by emphasising that he believes the Malaysia-based Genting “have the perfect combination for growth, particularly in the Philippines – a fast developing poker scene”, which has the added attraction of among “the very best internationally recognised beaches, resorts and recreational activities, all within easy commute”.

APT Stop Begins With Heads-Up Asian Championship

The APT Philippines kicks off next Thursday with the $500+$50 buy-in Heads-Up Asian Championship before ending with the main event final table on Wednesday, April 25.

Two more APT events follow on from the Philippines stop, with the APT Asian Series Goa event arriving in India from May 21 to 27 at the Casino Royale, while the last leg pulls into Macau’s StarWorld Hotel & Casino from July 25 to 31.

APT Philippines 2012 Full Schedule of Events (all buy-ins in US dollars, unless stated)

Thursday, April 19

13:00, Event 1a, $500+$50 buy-in Heads-Up Asian Championship flight A (maximum 64 entries, 32-player cap for flight A)

15:00, Event 1b, $500+$50 buy-in Heads-Up Asian Championship flight B (allows re-entry for flight A eliminated players)

15:00, $130+$20 buy-in Main Event Super Satellite with Re-Buys and Add-On

17:00, Event 2, $200 buy-in Add-On for Charity

18:00, $280+$20 buy-in Main Event Mega Satellite with Re-Entry

Friday, April 20

13:00, Event 3, $4,700+$300 buy-in High Rollers

14:00, Event 4, $250+$20 buy-in Mix Game (No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha Hi)

15:00, HK$995,000+HK$5,000 buy-in Manila Millions Super High Rollers (Special Event)

15:00, $130+$20 buy-in Main Event Super Satellite with Re-Buys and Add-On

18:00, $280+$20 buy-in Main Event Mega Satellite with Re-Entry

Saturday, April 21

13:00, $2,500+£200 buy-in APT Philippines Main Event Day 1a

15:00, Event 5, $130+$20 buy-in Ladies of Poker

17:00, $130+$20 buy-in Main Event Super Satellite with Re-Buys and Add-On

19:00, $280+$20 buy-in Last Chance Main Event Mega Satellite with Re-Entry

Sunday, April 22

13:00, $2,500+£200 buy-in APT Philippines Main Event Day 1b

15:00, Event 6, $320+$30 buy-in Freezeout

18:00, Event 7, $150+$20 buy-in Deep Stack Turbo 1

Monday, April 23

13:00, $2,500+£200 buy-in APT Philippines Main Event Day 2

15:00, Event 8, $320+$30 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha Hi

18:00, Event 9, $150+$20 buy-in Deep Stack Turbo 2

Tuesday, April 24

13:00, $2,500+£200 buy-in APT Philippines Main Event Day 3

15:00, Event 10, $250+$20 buy-in Head Hunter

18:00, Event 11, $150+$20 buy-in Deep Stack Turbo 3

Wednesday, April 25

13:00, Event 12, $250+$20 buy-in Six-Handed

15:00, $2,500+£200 buy-in APT Philippines Main Event final table