Asian Poker Tour Premier Team Takes Off For Aussie Millions Tournament

MANILA, Philippines - The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has sent its premier team of players known as The
2009 Asian Poker Tour Poker Pack  Poker Pack to the world-famous Aussie Millions Poker Championship at Crown Casino, Melbourne.

The Poker Pack is a team of specially selected players of Asian origin who are ambassadors for the Asian Poker Tour (APT) and they are already making huge waves on the world poker circuit both as individuals and collectively as a harmonious and effective team.

The world-class poker players that make up The Poker Pack are Steve Sung, Quinn Do, Nam Le, JC Tran and David 'Chino' Rheem. This awesome line-up of poker talent will be pitting their wits against a world-class field in an event now widely regarded as one of the best outside the United States. They have been joined on this trip by Kwang Soo Lee.

Kwang Soo Lee is the first Asia based member of The Poker Pack and hails from South Korea. Lee is a renowned master at MMORPG games but has switched his attention to poker. Lee has already made an impact on the poker world by finishing third at the 2008 Asian Poker Tour Philippines and further success is predicted as a member of the successful Poker Pack.

The Poker Pack became a reality in August 2008 when JC Tran, Nam Le, Quinn Do and Steve Sung penned contracts after the Asian Poker Tour event in Macau. Highlights of their performances at a host of major tournaments in recent months are significant.

Most recently David 'Chino' Rheem celebrated joining The Poker Pack by taking down the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Classic at the Bellagio for $1,538,730. This capped a marvelous and record breaking year for Chino after his 7th place finish in the WSOP Main Event in November.

Other highlights include a WSOP bracelet and a superb win for JC Tran at the PartyPoker.com Premier League III in November where he overcame an elite field including Phil Hellmuth and Tom 'Durrrr' Dwan. There was also a HK$3.7 million (US$473,915) win for Nam Le and final table for Quinn Do at a high rollers' event in Macau and a runners-up cheque of $943,215 for Nam Le at the WPT Festa Al Lago last October. After making the final table at the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Classic in December along with Chino, Steve Sung's star is also in ascendancy. Sung is making an impact offline but is also an online star playing under the screen name 'MuGGyLiCiOuS'.

The Aussie Millions, held at Melbourne's Crown Casino, will provide The Poker Pack with the perfect test of their abilities. The 23-day extravaganza features 18 different championship events, with virtually every variation of poker played. More than 2,000 players are expected to take part in total, with more than 800 individuals competing for the guaranteed first prize of AUD$2 million when the AUD$10,500 Buy-In No Limit Holdem 'Main Event' gets under way on January 18.

Tom Hall, Chief Executive Officer of AsianLogic Limited said: "We're absolutely delighted to have The Poker Pack represent us at the prestigious Aussie Millions. They are very much looking forward to playing in Melbourne."

David Courtney, Crown Casino's Chief Executive Officer, said: "The Aussie Millions has become a major stop on the international Poker circuit, and continues to grow every year. We're thrilled to welcome The Poker Pack to Melbourne, who will be joining some of the world's best poker players in the Crown Poker Room in the hunt for the AUD $2 Million first place prize. The action will be bigger and better this year, and with the help of our broadcast partner Fox Sports Net, will be broadcast into over 100 million homes worldwide."

Next stop for The Poker Pack after the Aussie Millions will be the Asian Poker Tour Philippines, which takes place January 27-February 1 at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Manila. The main event has a $2,500 + $200 buy-in and excellent side action including a 13 card game and PLO tournament.

The Asian Poker Tour is supported by the iPoker Network, Titan, Dafa Poker, PKR, PartyPoker, Everest Poker, 888, JBet Poker, 32 Red Poker, National Poker League, Microgaming Network and the Japanese Poker League. Full details can be found at /pass/links/?linkId=895&curId=4030/.