While everyone is digitally on their phones to record the action, there's an OG reporter there still using a pen and paper, going analog. LOL   Hello, friends! It's been a while. I took a hiatus from poker things to focus on art the past month. As I am writing this, I have a group show opening on May 8 at the Quest Plus Hotel and Conference Center in Filinvest City, Alabang, which will run until May 31st. I got back just in time from APT Taipei 2026, where I did my usual live reporting duties from April 25 to May 2. I got to cover the APT Super High Roller, the Mystery Bounty, the Main Event, the Superstar Challenge, the Zodiac Classic and the APT High Roller - all the major events of the APT that require a little bit more media attention. As usual, it was great to be at work to see some familiar faces. My thanks to Ben Wilson - lead media coordinator - for getting me the gig in the last minute. He celebrated his birthday during the tour and we had a chance to have a decent dri...

Abby Merk Like I said earlier, I was going to shout out to friends. Thing I love about the APT series is that everyone here - dealers, floor managers, tour directors, media colleagues, big bosses, players - they're all like family.  As a live reporting covering the action on the poker table, I get to witness some of the highs and lows of some of the players at the poker table. Professionally - I'm just supposed to do my job and not react, but then some of them are already personal friends, so when I swing by their seat I wish them a polite good luck. When I see the hands they play well, I also say good job or nice hand. And when they get hurt, sometimes I hear them out during the breaks. I'll be like - I saw that, that was brutal. And the players sometimes need someone - not a fellow player - to talk about it subjectively or just to give support.  Like, for example, APT Jeju 2025 Main Event Champion Abraham Ceesvin was in hand where he hit top pair and had a nut flush draw....