Wednesday marked the start of big time action in Season 9 of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour with over 200 players putting up HK$25,000 to play Day 1a of the Macau Main Event. APPT 2015 Macau began on May 20th, and the culminating event to be held at City of Dreams Macau PokerStars LIVE Macau on Sunday.

Day 1a saw China’s Zhifeng Yao in the lead with 174,700 and Norwegian, Markus Garberg rounding out the top 10 with 89,000. Survivors will take a breather while another batch of players vie for their own seats Thursday in Day 1b action.

In other Macau poker news Johnny Chan and Stanley Choi helped Phil Ivey kick off Sun City’s Poker King Club at Sands China’s Venetian Macao on Friday in a charity game. The event began an era of full time poker tournament operations on the main floor of the casino. Reports indicate there will eventually be 24 tables in operation.

The Poker King brand has wide appeal, showing Sun City to be interested in more than simply the premium market.