By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

TINIAN — After warming up for weeks in super satellites to prepare for the 2007 Asia Pacific Poker Championship this week at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, poker aficionados will again face off each other to compete for the pot estimated at more than $100,000.
On Saturday, four more won entries to the APPC worth $1,500 each after beating 32 others who played for at least seven hours at the casino.
The four — Min Kyung Chan, Rem Diaz, Kim Jin Seup and Jack Manglona — will join the six others who had won in previous poker super satellites.
Travis Henley, pit manager at the casino, said they look forward to hosting the APPC event on May 25-27 or the Memorial Weekend at Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.
Saipan resident Connie Coward who did not win in the latest super satellite said she still plans to join the major tournament.
“It’s the challenge,” said Coward who has been playing poker for three years now. “It’s a mind game and there’s really nothing else to do.”
“I’m here to have fun not to be a sore loser,” she added.
On April 28, Coward joined at least four other women in the poker satellite but lost to three men who emerged as top winners.
Tony Jackson, tournament manager, said rebuys were quite “feverish” that night and there were a lot more participation.
His wife, Kiri Jackson, casino marketing and promotions coordinator, said 22 rebuys were made at $50 each and seven add-ons at $100 each were made by the players, enabling them to raise the prize pool that night to at least $5,000.
The super satellite tournament on May 12 started shortly before 9 p.m. and ended around 3 a.m. the next day.
The players focused on their cards for hours, carefully watching their opponents’ nonverbal cues as the card dealer shuffles the cards, hoping luck to be on their side.
Hour by the hour, their numbers are reduced until only a few played in a single table.
More than 100 poker players from Japan, the Philippines, the Northern Marianas, China and South Korea, are expected to join the APPC.
The winner of the tournament will represent the Asia-Pacific Region in the 2007 World Poker Series in Las Vegas this July.
A South Korean man who has been playing poker professionally for 20 years said he has prepared extensively for the major tournament.
Entry fee to the APPC is $1,500 each. It includes three nights accommodation at TDHC, ground transportation, welcome reception and $5,000 in tournament play chips will be issued to each player.
Organizers said although players must provide for their own airfare special rates would be available for them
In Guam, inquiries can be made thru 649-2894 Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or call Kiri Jackson at 1-670-328-2233 ext. 2205 or visit the Web site .net” www.asiapacificpokerchampionship.net.
APPC is sponsored by TDHC with Marianas Variety, Taga Air, Sorensen Media Group, Tinian Mayor’s Office and Marianas Visitors Authority as co-sponsors.