WPT National Philippines Festival of Poker Runs Jan. 2-8; Features $1,650 Buy-in Main Event and $200,000 Buy-in Super High Roller

Hot on the heels of the wildly successful WPT® National China Main Event at MGM Grand Sanya, where 882 players competed for their share of a nearly $1.4 million main event prize pool, World Poker Tour® today announced the schedule for the Season XIV WPT National Philippines festival at the luxurious Solaire Resort & Casino from January 2-8. For a second-consecutive year, Solaire will play host to a $1,650 buy-in WPT National Main Event and a diverse selection of side events, including a $200,000 buy-in super-high roller, the largest buy-in tournament held in World Poker Tour history.

The action kicks off on January 2 with the $275 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed Poker King Cup, then heats up on January 3 with the start of the two-day, $200,000 buy-in Super High Roller. Organized by Poker King Club and Cali Group, the Super High Roller will pit top professionals against wealthy enthusiasts to compete in this massive buy-in event.

President and CEO of Poker King Club, Winfred Yu says, “We at Poker King Club always aim to push the boundaries of poker, which led to us being named the ‘Home of the World’s Biggest Game.’ That aim is now coming to WPT National Philippines with a Super High Roller, and we are happy to add the gravitas of well-known poker players into that mix, such as Aussie Millions champion and businessman, Mr. Richard Yong.”

Day 1A of the $1,650 buy-in WPT National Philippines Main Event begins on January 4, and is followed by Day 1B on January 5. Late registration for each starting flight closes at the start of Level 7, and one re-entry per day is allowed. Players who bag chips on Day 1A may play again on Day 1B, and their largest stack will be put into play on Day 2.

The WPT National Philippines festival also includes a $330 buy-in deep-stacked event, a $275 buy-in pot-limit Omaha event, a $165 buy-in ladies event, a $5,400 buy-in high roller, and a $770 buy-in second-chance tournament. At least six $180 buy-in satellites to the WPT National Philippines Main Event are already scheduled from January 2-4, and there will be many more opportunities to qualify in single-table satellites on property.


A leading poker and resort destination in Asia, the Philippines is home to countless professional and recreational players, including WPT Champions Club™ member Noli Francisco. Solaire Resort & Casino is the premier gaming property in Manila, featuring unparalleled hotel, entertainment, and dining amenities. Whether you simply want to enjoy a cocktail in the comfort of the bar, or prefer to take in the sunset over Manila Bay from a world-class pool, Solaire truly has something for everyone.

“We are looking forward to kicking off 2016 with the exciting WPT National Philippines Festival,” said Cyrus Sherafat, SVP of Casino Marketing for Solaire Resort and Casino. “Last year, both local and international players showcased their skills at Solaire, and we are confident they will continue to demonstrate the very best in poker during Season XIV of the WPT. We also believe poker fans enjoy watching the world-class poker competition here at Solaire, and look forward to welcoming back the great fans and players.”

WPT President and CEO Adam Pliska adds, “After experiencing tremendous success in Manila Bay during Season XIII, and generating yet another million-dollar prize pool this season in Sanya, World Poker Tour is proud to return to the Asia-Pacific region this January for the WPT National Philippines festival at Solaire Resort & Casino. With the addition of the $200,000 buy-in Super High Roller, the largest buy-in in WPT history, we look forward to welcoming some of the best poker players on tour to the Philippines, along with some of the world’s wealthiest enthusiasts. Having personally spent time at Solaire Resort & Casino, I am confident that all of the attendees will discover that it is one of the finest resort destinations in the world.”

For a full schedule of World Poker Tour events, head to WPT.com.

About World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour (WPT) is the premier name in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in more than 150 countries and territories, and is currently producing its 14th season, which airs on FSN in the United States. Season XIV of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com, a unique online membership site that offers inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club available in 35 states across the United States. ClubWPT.com also sponsors Season 2 of the new WPT Alpha8 series of super-high roller poker tournaments which is currently in production and which airs on FOX Sports 1 in the United States. WPT participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities. WPT Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of Ourgame International Holdings, Ltd. For more information, go to WPT.com.

You can also check:
www.WorldPokerTour.com

Oasis Garden Cafe - Solaire Resort and Casino

For desserts or if you just feel like you're craving for something sweet then this is what I will recommend. One of our stops in Zomato Foodcrawl.

Oasis Garden Cafe is a refreshing centerpiece to the spacious Sky Tower atrium. Bedecked in elaborate bird’s nest interiors, this restaurant is highlighted by a transparent glass roof that brings life to a multihued backdrop of foliage, blooms, and cascading water features.

From morning until early evening, Oasis Garden Cafe offers a wide selection of coffee, tea, traditional snacks, and artisanal finger sandwiches. By sundown, the vibe turns into that of a stylish lounge that offers a full complement of cocktails and drinks served with the usual Solaire panache.

We got Red Velvet Cake with vanilla mascaporne filling and fresh strawberries, Layers of almond caramel filled with caramell butterscotch parfait and roasted almonds, Butter Scotch Macaron Cake and Caramel Cheese Cake. Of all the three pastries I must say that the sweetness are not very overpowering but rather just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth so I'm sure that even diabetics will love it. By the way, before anything else, the desserts that was served to us was not part of their regular menu except for caramel cheese cake so I posted what you can find from their display instead.



And to match those sweet desserts we had Oasis Blend Tea(Oasis Specialty) and Earl Grey(Aromatic Combination of Earl Grey and Vanilla Cream). I'm already sold out on the Ambiance of this Cafe and like it even more when I got a taste of their desserts.

Yakumi Japanese Restaurant in Solaire

Another Restaurant that became a part of our Food Crawl that same day was with Yakumi a Japanese Restaurant in Solaire Resort and Casino.

Whether it’s Sushi, Sashimi, Robatayaki or the freshest fish and crustaceans, world-class ingredients are the highlight of Yakumi. Solaire Resort and Casino’s signature Japanese restaurant in Manila, Philippines offers only the best Japanese dishes created by some of the world’s top Japanese chefs. This Japanese dining destination features an expansive open kitchen that allows patrons of the restaurant to witness how the ingredients–sourced largely from Japan, are prepared carefully like a perfected way of life, and how it is blended using aged traditional techniques, and modern presentations to provide dining customers’ palate, an incredible experience, no other Japanese restaurant here in Manila can provide. Two private Teppanyaki rooms for intimate occasions are available for customers’ exclusive special gatherings and our Sake sommeliers will be by your side during your dining stay to provide their recommendations from our wine selections to complement your meal.

What we had there was something new for me and it is called Fortune Maki Roll or Ehou Maki, which is not the other maki's that I use to taste, this one is pretty special because it is a Japanese Tradition to eat  this maki in whole and I mean everything and it is not the sliced version of maki were you can eat in pieces, and what even astounded me more is the actual size of that maki which is probably a few more centimeters thicker than my arm and I think around 12 inches long so I can just imagine the kind of appetite that you should have to take that challenge. I learned that they do not cut it because if they do it like cutting up your fortune or the money that should be flowing in your house. Fortune Maki can be composed of 7 ingredients which you may choose the composition of your Fotune Maki according to your preference. What I tasted filled my stomach for as you know maki always does that to me, but for heavy eater this is a recommended dish in Yakumi.

One small note is that I like the wasabe that they have because it is not the powdered version. So the effect is definitely different, not the spice that will jump in your nose upon tasting so it is all natural and goes well with your Ehou Maki.

Red Lantern Signature Cantonese Restaurant

As they say the name is a beacon calling out to diners from all over the world who enjoy the best Cantonese dishes to come to Solaire Resort and Casino’s signature Chinese restaurant, Red Lantern. Suckling Pig, Peking Duck, a wide array of delicious homemade dim sums are just the beginning of the restaurant’s list of mouthwatering, and authentic gourmet spectacles that dining patrons here in Manila, Philippines can enjoy. Ingredients arrive daily from Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, all for the enjoyment of food lovers here in Manila. Whether you gather for a private party or simply feel like feasting, Red Lantern signature Chinese restaurant at Solaire Resort and Casino will sure impress.

This next food crawl stop that we had was awesome as well, dinning in to the Signature Cantonese Restaurant in Solaire and got to taste one of their specialties which is the Wuxi Braised Ribs which outsiders often called 'Wuxi Meat Bones' a traditional dish of local cuisine, came from Wuxi San Fong Bridge braised meat, one of the old Chinese villages in China.

Wuxi Braised Ribs

It has color red sauce, crisp into the fragrant, moderate sweet and savory and definitely delicious. Another tender meat treat that I had that day and this is of course highly recommended.

Waterside Restobar

Got a Chance to experience a fine dine of Surf n Turf in this restaurant which is pretty good, I can say that it you can be filled with chunky, fresh and delicious meal. This is going to be the first restaurant for Solaire Resort and Casino that I will blog about.

An all-day dining restaurant that enjoys a fascinating bayside ambience. It serves Latin American and Mediterranean specialties and features a unique ensemble of show kitchens, which includes a paella cooking station, churrascaria, rotisserie, and tapas bar.

Lets start with the Paella which is perhaps not your ordinary paella although I didn't really ate everything in it, from what I tasted, It has something more and you can taste all the ingredients that is in the presentation of the dish and they used Spanish Bamba Rice from Levante for this. And for the preparation of Paella, they recommend that you give them around 30 minutes for preparation.

For Surf n Turf it is composed of Hangar Steak, Pork Back Ribs, Prawns, Salmon. I think there is also a salad but of course knowing me..I didn't pay attention to that part being a carnivore.

This such a treat that's what I can say, I personally like the salmon part of the platter, really tender and satisfies my taste bud, as well as pork back ribs that taste a little sweet, the fresh prawns that is around 6-8 inches big from my estimate, and the juicy hangar steak that is a pretty good combination and something that a meat lover like me will love, this meal can be shared by 4 and probably 6 people and I will recommend that you order some extra rice for this.