Phil Ivey at this year’s Aussie Millions
We are told none other than Phil Ivey and Tom “durrrr” Dwan seem confirmed for the event.
The event will be held at RWM on Friday April 20. This is just one day before the start of this year’s Asian Poker Tour Philippines main event, also to be held at RWM. It’s also the very day the APT has set aside for its high roller event, which at a US$5,000 (HK$39,000) buy-in now seems puny in comparison to the Manila Millions. The APT high roller may well become a sideshow for the Manila Millions super high roller HK$1 million buy-in event.
RWM has recently shown an increased commitment to the Asian poker scene, moving its premier poker events from the normal tournament poker area to its high rolling exclusive Genting Club, normally reserved for the most elite players.
RWM’s exclusive Genting Club
It has long been known that Ivey and Dwan are regulars at the nosebleed stakes Macau “Big Game”, so their links to the Asian poker scene are growing. The big question is: are there enough players in Asia who can afford the HK$1 million buy-in for the Manila Millions to be a success?
With the APT road show in town at the time, and the Big Game players as a potential source of runners, there’s no reason to think this event can’t work. If RWM gets the numbers, it will be quite a coup.
The Macau Big Game is held behind closed doors, so this may be a rare opportunity for Asia’s poker community to see the likes of Ivey and Dwan strut their stuff in a relatively public place, and for serious amounts of money.
We’re also told that RWM will soon be announcing the Genting Poker League. World Gaming will have more news on this development as it comes to hand.
