The fourth tour of the Pokerstar’s sponsored portfolio is the Asian Pacific Poker Tour (APPT). It’s in its fourth Season and has been very successful. I suspect there is a lot more to come as it’s obvious that the Asians, and especially the Chinese, love their poker!

I’ve never really ventured into Asia before so it’s going to be an eye-opener travelling to Macao. It has the reputation of being the “Vegas” of Asia, which is a lot to live up to. I have a pre-conception that it is likely to be a lot seedier than Vegas is today. Maybe something more akin to the Vegas of my youth. The one that Dave Colclough remembers vividly in his blog.

The Main Event is a HK$40,000 buy-in, around $5,100. If they get 350 runners then first prize will be around £300,000. That would be nice! It’s been a while since we have smelled any money.

Our Guest in Macau is especially selected for his colonial experience. Lawrence is old school in every sense of the phrase. Known as “The Paperboy” as he is rarely seen without either a scruffy Post or Telegraph under his arm, he has the look of a 1950’s MI6 liaison posted to some African territory. I first met him when he was the only decent dealer in the Vic. And then I used to play in his Cricklewood game. They were the days...

But Lawrence is our Stone to the Asian’s Scissors. Horses for courses. One thing’s for certain, he is the shortest price any Guest has been to make Day 2!

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