The first trophy won by a Filipino at the APT Hanoi Billions was that of journeyman Hernan Jaybee Villa who took down the No Limit Hold’em Freeze out tournament on Day 2 of the festival. | Photograph COURTESY OF RHEN VILLANUEVA FB
In a development that could shift poker focus away from Vietnam, organizers of the Asian Poker Tour last Saturday decided to cancel the remaining two days of its highly-touted APT Hanoi Billions 2023 at the National Convention Center.
No specific details were given although in a statement via its online platforms, the APT said the decision "is rooted in extenuating circumstances that despite its utmost efforts, they were unable to overcome."
It also assured that players' funds were intact and prizes to the remaining events — the Main Event and the Double Stack — will be paid out via ICM chops.
Speculations abound as to why the eerily silent APT, despite producing incredible numbers since the series started last 1 December has to cut short the biggest poker festival in the region.
Some pointed to the strict Vietnam laws on cash games and online poker as the culprit although live multi-table tournaments such as the one APT was holding in Hanoi are legal and therefore allowed. Others pointed to the venue — the National Convention Center — which is a government property.
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It may also have something to do, railbirds said, with the sponsor Natural8, Asia's largest poker room which shares traffic with GGNetwork, the world's largest in 2023.
Whatever the reason, news of the cancellation came as a shock to the poker community and a setback to the APT which has shattered records since the series started.
The development has raised concerns about poker's future in Vietnam, a country that has witnessed a boom in the mind sport since last year. It also led to speculations that it could augur well for the Philippines, which could be the next mecca of poker in Asia after Vietnam.
No less than Fontillas had intimated in an earlier interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE that they have plans of returning to the country next year despite the challenges of staging events of this magnitude.
Three Filipino players—Christopher Pacion, John Tech and Ian Carlos were still in the running for podium finishes in the Main Event when play was stopped. The cancellation likewise doomed the bid of two-time Asian winner Edwin de la Cruz a.k.a Hit D Heat, who was seeking a rare grand slam in the regional circuit.
The Main Event was down to 47 players at the end of Day 3 with Vietnam's Nguyen Van Sang as chip leader. Nguyen will receive the highest payout of VN 4,376,859,231 (~$180,330).
Over at the Double Stack side event, 166 players reached Day 2. Filipino John Costiniano topped the chip counts and will be paid the equivalent of VN 294,795,095 (~$12,145).
