When emotions take control over mind, when steam boils within, when you want to punch that dummy across the table, it’s time for fists and threats. And that is poker. And if in our countries we’re not used to deal with that kind of problems like gentlemen, aboard everything’s way more civilized

Recently the biggest fight in the history of poker could have happened.

Seriously. Jokes aside.

Super high roller David “Doc” Sands challenged to fight Douglas Polk who also specializes on very expensive tournaments and nosebleed-cash.

In parallel with APPT Manila that takes place in Philippines, there is the game at extreme stakes, the biggest at the history of the country: $2,500/$5,000 ante $10,000! As Winfred Yu, the godfather of Macau poker has promised the Highrollers are trying the new place out.

Today we’ll know the name of APPT Manila Main Event new champion. To be honest, there is nothing extraordinary to be expected about the culmination of the tournament. There is about $557,000 in the prize fund, way too small of the money in comparison with EPT. Though it’s a big deal for Philippines – almost 600 men in the chip count, that’s a record!

Recent cardinal changes on Full Tilt Poker mark the beginning of the new era of world poker development. Poker is now becoming targeted only on amateurs. These changes in online poker may doom it forever.  Regular players have to find new fishy places and with time there is great possibility that they’ll end up in live poker rooms.

We do not discuss online poker very often; we follow some other aspects of poker life. But sometimes changes in virtual world are so massive that they affect live poker also.

And that is the case here.

First “let’s-make-poker-more-user-friendly” changes at Full Tilt Poker were made few days ago. Their logic: the number of deposits decreasing, regulars are over their heads, we need to find new stream of noobs or we are going to die soon. Changes in poker terrify.

Man of steel, aka Big Bet King, aka $500,000 Aria Super High Roller Bowl champion, aka one of the best super high rollers of modern poker. One of the Big Three: Rast – Esfandiari – Laak. Brian Rast. 33 years of age. American. Married to Brazilian spouse.

 “…as hard as a hammer and as bent as the sickle that crosses it,” – this description of one of the heroes of a famous movie “Snatch” characterizes our today’s person in interest the best.

He is that tough. He has such a poster at his home:

It is only 2-hour flight from Macau to the Philippines capital Manila.  But there are no fewer differences between these places than between any twin brothers – that means plenty. At least if we’re talking about poker development. Ivey, Dwan, Cates, Yong, Mo and many others started to visit Manila more and more often.

October last year new poker room of Solaire Casino in the city Paranac (Manila agglomeration) hosted World Poker Tour stage for the first time. There were two tens of quite huge tournaments, including $2,200 Main Event and $25,500 High Roller.

TV Show High Stakes Poker was filmed here, famous WET fountain is situated nearby, Cirque du Soleil performs here and the most famous poker players gather on this place.

Short info:

Name: Bellagio

Owner: MGM Resorts 

Place: Las Vegas, NV, USA

Total gambling area: 10,800 sq. m.

Opening Year: 1998.