Out and about in Macau |

This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2015 issue of World Gaming magazine.

The who’s who of Macau’s VIP social and entertainment scenes…

Macau has become a regular stopover for the world’s biggest stars in recent times and the past few months have been no exception. Having already visited in mid-2014 for the red carpet opening of their film The Expendables, action greats Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were back alongside Stephen Baldwin to watch Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Chris Algieri ringside at the Venetian Macao.

Also spending some time in Macau was martial arts legend Jackie Chan, who shot a number of scenes for his upcoming movie Skiptrace in and around MGM’s Grande Praça alongside actress Fan Bingbing and director Renny Harlin.

Football legend David Beckham was back again, this time to speak to Sands China Ltd staff about the secret to his success both on and off the pitch and to attend a football clinic with 40 youths from Macau’s Under-15s and Under-17s football teams.

And there was plenty to celebrate in the poker world with a couple of big parties welcoming players to some of the biggest events in Asia – the World Poker Tour’s new Philippines leg and Macau’s Asia Championship of Poker.

What an exciting way to round out the year!

BRAND BECKHAM

David Beckham presented a signed copy of his book to Chang Chin Nam, Vice President of the Macau Football Association, at a football clinic organized by the Sands China Community Academy

David Beckham watched on from the sidelines as members of Macau’s Under-15s and Under-17s football teams played a friendly match during the football clinic

MOVIE STARS

Martial arts great Jackie Chan, actress Fan Bingbing and director Renny Harlin at MGM’s Grande Praça during a break in shooting for the upcoming film Skiptrace

Left to right: Action movie great Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sands CEO Ed Tracy, fellow action star Sylvester Stallone and boxing promoter Bob Arum ringside at Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Chris Algieri at Cotai Arena

Fan Bingbing and the film crew prepare to shoot a scene for Skiptrace

Actor Stephen Baldwin was another famous face at the Manny Pacquiao fight

POKER PARTIES

WPT commentator Mike Sexton (far left) and tournament director Matt Savage (far right) flank Nicky and Brian Sombero – sons of Filipino poker royalty Wally Sombero – at the WPT National Philippines welcome party

Party organizer and friend of WGM Ben Abrahams is interviewed by Calvin Ayre (above), while party goers including WPT expert analyst Tony Dunst celebrate at the WPT party (below)

Local poker pro Bryan Huang enjoys a drink (above), while PokerStars player Liv Boeree and high stakes specialist Igor Kurganov indulge in some beer pong at the ACOP welcome party at City of Dreams Macau

Local Macau models enjoy the revelries at the ACOP party with 2010 WSOP November Niner Joseph Cheong, Canadian poker pro Xuan Liu and heads-up specialist Jason Mo