The Asian Poker Tour has announced that it has received government approval to expand its offer at APT Macau. As result, the 2009 APT Macau event, which will be celebrated this August, will last 12 days instead of the original 12 and has its name has been changed to Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival. The event will run during August 12-23 at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel and Casino in Macau. The APT also sponsors the poker room at the StarWorld.

The festival will feature high-stakes ring games, Sit & Go action and a good amount of side/preliminary events which haven’t been announced yet. However, the main event is already set, running on August 19-23 and will have 3 different Day 1. The buy-in for the big dance will be US $4,300 ($4,000+300). Also
Bwin Poker returning is a “high rollers” event; tournament organizers promise a higher buy-in than in 2008, but have not yet formalized the structure.

Yevgeniy Timoshenko, from Russia, was the winner of the 2008 APT Macau Main Event, claiming the title and $500,000 in the first-ever event last year. Among the entrants there were some well-known first class players as Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, John Juanda, Huck Seed, Jack Binion, Liz Lieu, Todd Brunson, Kenny Tran and David “Chino” Rheem, among others. More than 40 countries were represented .

It seems, as said by the Asian Poker Tour founder Chris Parker, that “The Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival will feature a side event schedule never seen in Asia before”. That would be awesome news.

You can find full details on the Asian Poker Tour at the official website: www.asianpt.com.