Earlier this month we ran down the major no-limit hold’em events scheduled to run at APT Incheon, when the Asian Poker Tour returns to the Paradise City Casino on the Korean island of Yeongjongdo from August 7-16.
The series has an overall guarantee of around $2.7 million, including $1M set aside for the $1,700 Main Event, August 9-15.
The surging popularity of the APT means expectations are high for the Incheon festival, which will once again offer events such as the Superstar Challenge, the Zodiac Classic and the National Cup.
But aside from huge fields and constant action, the APT has also carved an impressive reputation as a paradise for mixed-game poker lovers.
And with the full schedule for APT Incheon now available, we can take a closer look at some of the other less traditional tournaments running this August.
Drawmaha mix and Omaha 21 make their debuts
As is fast becoming tradition, the schedule for the next APT stop is packed with the type of game variants and formats that are fun to play, but often hard to find.
From the very first day, which features 5-card PLO8, triple draw mix and super hold’em (NLH with 3 hole cards), players looking to try their hand at lesser-known games will be well catered to.
Many of these games are dreamed up by APT President Neil Johnson.‘Choose your own adventure’, which was played in April at APT Taipei, will be returning in Incheon on August 9. Every player is dealt three hole cards, before the player in the big blind decides which game they will play. Anything from PLO to 7-card stud, badugi, razz and more is on the table.
ROSET will also run on August 9, a game mix that includes razz, O8, stud, stud8 and 2-7 triple draw, all in the no-limit format.
A 12-game mix featuring only stud games is scheduled for August 10, while a hi-lo variant of super hold’em brings a novel twist to proceedings on August 11.
A drawmaha mix tourney is also not to be missed on August 12; half the pot awarded to the best Omaha high hand and the other half to the best draw, 2-7 draw or badugi hand, in rotation.
Omaha 21 on August 13, meanwhile, is a 5-card Omaha variant where two cards must be used to make a PLO hand, with the remaining 3 cards used to make the best blackjack hand.
The schedule will also include PLO bomb pot events, win the button, 'Cry me a river’ and other fun twists you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
The huge variety of games available gives the APT an atmosphere all of its own.
9 women’s events and the return of mind sports
In addition to indulging the quirkier side of poker, APT Incheon will also be doing a few things that, while hard to find, really shouldn’t be.
A women’s heads-up event is a rare find on the tournament schedules of many major tours, but there’s no reason that should be the case. A $200 tourney in that format will take place on August 10.
What’s more, it’s just one of 9 women’s events during the series, including a Main Event, a high roller and a big bounty tourney.
And following the record-breaking launch of mind sports/poker fusions at APT Taipei, a chess/poker event and a go/poker tournament are also on the calendar for APT Incheon.
9 passes to the APT Championship $5M GTD freezeout in November will also be awarded during APT Incheon.
The full tournament schedule for APT Incheon is available now.
Images courtesy of the APT.
