* CLICK TO REFRESH FOR CONTEMPORARY UPDATES* Day 1B will last 9 levels, with the primary 3 levels lasting 40 mins, and 60 minutes thereafter.* ME registration closed, total numbers & prize pool info bobbing up shortly

7:05pm: Photo opportunity time. DeniedLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100)

Dean Alred greater than doubled to nearly 40,000 a short time ago after a three-way flop all-in, and desired to take a photograph of the cards, however the dealer wasn't within the mood to decelerate for him. It's unsure even if Alred managed to get the shot - it was so as regards to tell that it was like a photograph finish.

The flop was 2♠A♠9♥ and Alred held A♣K♥ to his opponents' Q♠Q♥ and A♥J♥. The K♠K♣ turn and river run out could've been worse for the Englishman and he was super enthusiastic about it, as I'm sure you've all worked out. -- MC

6:40pm: Wittmann and Paik pushLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100)

APPT Seoul champion Albert Paik is on the town going for back-to-back APPT titles and he was only one card clear of eliminating Karl Wittmann.

After an under the gun raise to 2,000 Wittmann moved all in for 14,800 and when it folded around to Paik, he moved all in excessive with enough to hide. The remainder of the table folded and the cards went on their backs.

Wittmann: A♥Q♥Paik: A♦K♠

Paik had Wittmann dominated and by the turn it seemed Wittmann's run was all but over until the river card brought a straight on board with the community cards showing 4♣6♠7♣5♦3♥.

They both took their bets back and must be content chopping up the blinds and antes. -- BK

6:30pm: The receptionist hanging onLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75)

Winfred Yu, who joked about working as a receptionist to earn another buy-in earlier today is hanging in there with a brief stack.

He been patiently folding, obviously looking forward to a hand to make a move with. When he found said hand, he didn't get a choice. He three-bet all-in for 7,500 from the button after the cutoff had raised to 1,700. The cutoff then tank open-folded red fours.

A few hands later, Wu open shoved but received no callers. Sorry sir, are we able to put you on hold until we discover a showdown hand so that you can play? -- MC

6:15pm: Mishira makes an exitLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75)

Don Mishira has just left us near the tip of Level 6 here once you have his money in good and failing to carry against Han Wool Jang.

After a raise to 1,500 from late position, Jang called at the button. Mishira had other ideas, however, as he moved all in for an additional 6,850. The initial raiser quickly folded but Jang called to place Mishira at risk.

Jang: A♠T♥Mishira: A♥K♣

Mishira had Jang dominated and looked good to secure himself a double up. That was until the J♣K♥Q♠ flop saw Jang flop Broadway to go away Mishira drawing thin to a chop or even thinner to a win.

The 5♣ turn was no help and neither was the 8♥ river and Mishira's elimination was confirmed. With the tournament now locked out he do not have the risk to re-enter. -- BK

6:10pm: Even stars burn outLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Alan Lau's ascent was clipped back slightly after he let a hand go at the river to drop back to 55,000.

He raised to 1,800 off the button and called after the massive blind three-bet to 3,700. The flop fell A♣T♥5♠ and the large blind continued for 4,500. Call. Both players checked the 6♥ turn before the massive blind led for 12,500. Fold.

We reported recently that Vivian Lim was in trouble. Unfortunately she never made a comeback and the re-entry period ended at the start of this level, so it's gg for the principle event for the Team PokerStars Pro. --MC

5:55pm: Im in troubleLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Team PokerStars Pro Vivian Im's tournament life is at the ropes after losing a pot to Colombia's Jaime Ballesteros.

Azusa Maeda kicked things off with an early position raise to 1,500 before Im played back at him to the tune of 3,500. It folded around to Ballesteros who cold-called within the big blind, and Maeda tossed within the extra 2,000 to look a flop of Q♣2♠J♥.

The action was quickly checked around and at the 3♣ turn it was checked over to Im who wagered 6,000 - leaving herself only 2,725 behind. Ballesteros asked to look her stack before calling, and when Maeda folded the dealer revealed the 4♥ river.

The two remaining players checked their options and Ballesteros showed J♣T♣ for a couple of jacks. The hand was good as Im mucked to depart herself with not up to five big blinds. -- BK

5:40pm: Lau uses position to collect more chipsLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Alan Lau's stack has gotten as much as 68,000 after he won a beautiful simple pot using aggression and position.

After a cutoff raise to 1,200 he three-bet to 3,200 from the button. The massive blind and the unique raiser called to look a K♥K♣T♠ flop. The action checked to Lau and he continued for 4,000. Both opponents folded. Simples. -- MC

5:10pm: Scheduled break

It's time again for players to take a break. Coverage will recommence in 10 minutes. -- BK

5pm: No miracle comeback for TollefsenLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Norway's Henrik Tollefsen found himself with not up to four big blinds and got the last of it in preflop against four other players.

The flop landed 5♠2♣K♣ and after a raffle from one player just one call meant Tollefsen had two less opponents to cope with. The action was checked down during the 6♦ turn and 3♣ river. Tollefsen tabled A♥9♦ for just ace-high however it wasn't enough against A♦4♦ for a rivered straight.

Tollefsen dusts off that bullet right before break and the close of registrating - we are not sure if he'll choose to re-enter. -- BK

4:50pm: If Carlsberg made river cards...Level 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Danish player Martin Stausholm is creating a better fist of his second bullet - as much as 35,000 - after flopping second pair and making trips at the river. It have to be to do with the performance enhancing beer he's drinking.

He raised to 800 from the cutoff and was called by the button and small blind en path to a 6♦8♥A♣ flop. Stausholm continued for 1,000 and was only check-called by the small blind before both checked the 6♣ turn. The river was the 8♦ and Stausholm had another 2,700 check-called. He opened 9♠8♣ for trips and his opponent mucked. --MC

4:45pm: Reigning APOY risingLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Reigning Asia Player of the Year Alan King Lun Lau is here and doing damage - he just knocked a tablemate out of the running.

The cards were spread 9♥6♦5♦A♠K♠ and after the large blind checked, Lau moved all in from the cutoff with enough to hide his opponent's final 17,000.

The player hesitated but eventually called off and Lau flipped over 9♠9♣ for a flopped set. Resigned to his fate Lau's tablemate knocked the table with a nod before leaving the tournament area. -- BK

4:35pm: Team Pro countsLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Vivian Im

Vivian Im - 27,200Celina Lin - 17,400Kosei Ichinose - out2015 Asia Player of the Year Alan Lau may be back today and has a healthy 37,000. --MC

4:20pm: Bart blazing a trailLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Bart Luyckx was steadily climbing here today and he just took down another pot after putting the pressure on with a turn check-raise.

On a flop of J♠8♠9♣ Luyckx check-called a chance of 2,700 to look the dealer turn the 3♦. Luyckx checked again before his opponent bet 4,000 of his remaining 10,000 in chips. There wasn't much hesitation before Luyckx flicked in two 5,000-denomination chips to place his tablemate to a call for his entire stack.

The move was met with a scrunched up face and after a minute's deliberation Luyckx's opponent threw it within the muck. With that pot Luyckx builds to a stack of 54,000. -- BK

4:13pm: Kings cost StausholmLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25)

Martin Stausholm immediately bought back in after he busted holding pocket kings.He was within the under the gun position and battling post flop with a player to his direct left. The board on the turn, when Stausholm committed his last 11,025, was J♣7♣4♦Q♦. The Dane opened his K♥K♠ but was behind to his opponent's J♥7♥ and the A♦ river changed not something. --MC

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4pm: Maeda takes from TollefsenLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25)

Henrik Tollefsen recently sat down next to Team PokerStars Pro Vivian Im, and the Norwegian has since lost a couple of chips to Azusa Maeda.

With the flop showing 3♣T♥J♦ Tollefsen led at it for 2,500 from the large blind before Maeda called from the button. Both players then checked throughout the 5♥ turn and the J♦ arrived at the river.

Tollefsen checked his option but quickly folded when Maeda had a stab at it for 3,600. With that Tollefsen drops to 16,025 while Maeda moves as much as 46,200 in chips. -- BK

3:45pm: Lai takes one awayLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25)

Patty Pei Yu Lai's stack has risen to around 30,000 after she took two players off a stack, out of position.

Patty at the rise

She was within the small blind and called a cutoff raise together with the button. The flop fell 6♠K♦9♠ and the action was checked around to the button who bet 1,825. Both opponents called to the A♥ turn where Lai led out for 6,500. It perceived to take her opponents unexpectedly and one at a time they folded. -- MC

3:20pm: Shaq shows up with the goodsLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25)

A player known to us only as 'Shaq' just won an overly healthy pot after a crafty river check-raise. The board read 6♣7♣7♦Q♥T♥ and Shaq checked into two players from the small blind.

Next-to-act Roger Spets fired for 2,500 and Don Mishira made the decision before the action was back on Shaq. He took his time before flicking 13,000 into the center. Spets looked befuddled but after a minute or so he committed to a call.

Mishira got out of how and Shaq tabled 6♥6♦ for a flopped full house. Spets nodded and paused momentarily before relinquishing the inferior hand. -- BK

3pm: Three hands with CelinaLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300

Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin played three hands in a row leading as much as the break, winning two and losing one, to peer her hover slightly below starting stack.

In the primary hand, she and Albert Paik made it to the turn of a Q♣9♥4♦2♠ board with around 5,000 chips within the middle. Lin led out for 5,000 from the small blind and Paik folded from the hijack.

The next hand saw Lin open raise from the button taking the blinds and antes.

Lin keeping busy

Hisashi Ogi opened to the pot the following hand, raising to 700 from the hijack. Lin called within the seat and Chung Ying Chen called from the massive blind. Ogi continued for 1,000 at the 6♠4♣7♥ flop before Lin raised to 2,500. Chen check-called from the massive blind and that was enough to scare off Ogi. Lin was then scared off at the 4♥ turn after Chen bet another 2,500.

The players are on their first 10-minute break of the day. --MC

2:50pm: Li seeking to re-enterLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300

Yan Li was all the way down to not up to 3,000 in chips when she opened to 700 from middle position. Azusa Maeda on her direct left made the decision but Graeme Siow Wei Lik popped it as much as 3,000. Li called off for her tournament life and Maeda came along to a flop of J♥Q♥4♥.

"I desire a re-entry" Li said, flashing us what gave the impression of 7-3 off suit.

Li was already walking to the registration booth before the opposite two checked to peer the Q♠ turn. The action checked right through and the T♥ river completed the board.

Lik had the most efficient of it with A♠J♠ sooner than Maeda's T♦7♦ and Li's rags and he took down the pot. Li must be back within the field momentarily. -- BK

2:35pm: Ozawa outta hereLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300

Japan's Naoya Ozawa has fallen within the third level here after a nasty beat sent him packing.

He got one and all of his chips in preflop holding K♥K♣ and looked set for a double up against his tablemate Andy Asihwardji's Q♠Q♣.

That was until the 7♠Q♥3♠ saw Asihwardji take the lead and Ozawa left chasing two outs. Neither of these would come because the A♦ turn and T♦ river rolled off and Ozawa left his seat.

Asihwardji moved as much as 63,700 in chips. -- BK

2:30pm: Lucky suit for Yu?Level 3 - Blinds 150/300

Winfred Yu fired two bullets yesterday without luck and he's back for more today, and wearing a dapper suit, as you will discover from the below photo.

Winfred Yu looking the part....of a receptionist

He told the blog that he needed to are available in early to work a couple of hours behind the registration desk to earn the money for the today's entry, therefore he had to dress the part. We believe times are that onerous Winfred, we actually do. -- MC

2:20pm: Cry me a river for HolleyLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200

Matt Holley did the old reverse psychology trick at the deck to win a race to come back to starting stack.

He was at the button and got his stack in with A♦Q♠ and was called by a player within the hijack holding 8♣8♠. The board ran to the turn as 9♣4♠4♣2♠ when Holley said, "Nice hand, you win," while tapping the table. Then the river came because the A♣ handy him the pot, and he continued, "Sorry!" --MC

2:15pm: Celina Lin takes a seatLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200

Today's PokerStars Team Pro roster seems like it's doubled here today with Celina Lin spotted at the tournament floor. She joins teammate Vivian Im who was seated at first of play.

A few more familiar faces on the tables include Pete Chen, Christopher Soyza, Bart Luyckx, Iori Yogo and Winfred Yu. -- BK

2:00pm: Tang takes one downLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200

We arrived on the table to peer an already bloated pot and cards on their backs with the board reading Q♦2♠2♦7♦K♦ and Jing Tang with a 6,700 all-in out in front of him.

His opponent had called with A♣A♦ to place Tang in danger however the latter flopped the sector holding Q♠Q♣ for a whole house.

The dealer cut out the right amount from the opposite player's stack and pushed the pot Tang's way. He now has 29,000 in chips to play with. -- BK

1:50pm: Five-way action on table 17Level 2 - Blinds 100/200

Marcuss Liow bet into four opponents on table 17 and once you have called in two spots he would've been happy to peer a favourable turn card.

The flop was 9♠A♦5♠ and his 500 bet from the hijack was called Kian Chong Cheong and Fu Bang Huang within the next two seats. The turn was the 5♣ and he upped the pressure with a 3,000 bet, only called by Cheong. The board filled out with the J♦ and Liow bet 6,000. Cheong called all over again and mucked upon seeing his opponent's 5♦6♦ for trip fives. -- MC

1:40pm: High Roller champ caught outLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

While Day 1a of the principle Event was on last night, China's Yan Li was busy shipping the High Roller Event and pocketing herself ₱3,527,400. She's back within the poker site today for Day 1b of the principle Event, but things haven't quite been going her way so far.

In a contemporary hand the action went four-way to a flop of K♣2♦4♠ and after the large blind checked, Li barrelled for 525 from early position. Azusa Maeda made the decision next-to-act and after the fourth player folded, the large blind stuck around and the 3 went to the T♣ turn.

Another check from the large blind saw Li continue for 1,700 which was met by a choice from Maeda and a fold from the large blind. The T♠ river completed the board and Li loaded up again, firing for 6,325 at the end. Maeda didn't take long to make the proper call and saw his K♥J♥ was good when Li tabled 3♣3♦. -- BK

Yan Li

1:35pm: Chang and Panti feel positional painLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

The power of position in poker is so important as many people know. Kunal Patni and definitely Carlos Chang know that, after tangling with Kitamura Makoto.

Panti raised to 425 from third to behave after a player had limped under the gun. Chang was at the button and studied Patni before calling. Makoto didn't need anytime to think at the button and immediately made it 1,500 to head. The limper folded but Patni and Chang called to a A♦3♠2♦ that every one three checked throughout the. turn was the J♥ and Patni checked to Chang who bet 2,400, just for Makoto to quickly raise again, to 6,000. Patni got out of ways to permit Chang to name to the 6♠ river where he check-folded (dropping to 13,000) when Makoto moved all-in. --MC

1:15pm: Field swells and familiar facesLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

There are still players lined up on the registration booth and with 152 already seated - and unlimited re-entry available, it seems like there have to be an excellent field size today.

We've already spotted a couple of familiar faces on the tables. Donald Lange is back again, he'll be hoping to run better this afternoon after having his pocket kings cracked yesterday. Also a number of the field are Kunal Patni, Gab Yong Kim and Team PokerStars Pro Vivian Im.

Im was the one Team Pro who played yesterday not to qualify for Day 2, with Bryan Huang, Yaxi Zhu, Kosei Ichinose and Chen An Lin all securing theirs seats. Also expected to play today is teammate Celina Lin, but we have not seen her within the poker site just yet. -- BK

1pm: Cards within the air!Level 1 - Blinds 50/100

Players are actually of their seats and play is underway. We'll be hitting the tournament floor to look if we will spot any notable names within the mix. Stay tuned! -- BK

12:30pm: Welcome to Day 1b!

It's almost time again for one more group of poker hopefuls to drag up seats and take a look at their luck on this APPT Manila Main Event. Yesterday saw 228 entries and ultimately 62 survived the nine levels of play. With re-entry available on this tournament we're expecting some of yesterday's casualties to make a return appearance in addition to a gaggle of latest faces within the mix.

Today's runners could be chasing yesterday's chip leader Jen-Yen Chien who bagged up 286,900 on the conclusion of play. He had a really perfect day on the felt, spinning up his 20,000 starting chip stack to over tenfold within the day.

And now only HALF-HOUR remain until the action commences again here at PokerStars LIVE Manila. As always we'll have the entire action from here at the tournament floor. Make sure to stick with us here on the PokerStars Blog! -- BK

Fred Leung explaining what a float is, in his regular morning lesson

PokerStars Blog reporting team in Manila: Brad Kain and Marc Convey. Photos by Kenneth Lim Photography.

The APPT Manila festival at PokerStars LIVE on the City of Dreams runs until Monday, August 8. Full details can be found at the official APPT website or via the PokerStars Manila page.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Asia Pacific Poker Tour]