Thursday, 28th March 2024 23:26
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Out of 140 players returning for today’s second day of play in the $100,000 (HKD) Asia Championship of Poker Main Event, Japan’s Hirotoshi Nakabo came back to the fewest chips of everyone, his stack of 2,600 placing him dead last in 140th to start today.

They’ve played through the remaining hour of Level 5 and most of the 90-minute Level 6, during which stretch Nakabo has managed to improve his situation somewhat, chipping up to about 12,000 and more than 20 big blinds. With 115 players left he’s no longer in last position, although he’s still behind most of the field.

Nakabo doesn’t need chips to gather attention, however. His boisterous personality often assures that. He’s well known here in Macau as one of the more demonstrative players, often filling the poker room with shouts when the spirit moves him.

Friendly and well liked, Nakabo will also grab attention with his fashion occasionally, such as today thanks to his choice of a yukata, a light kimono usually worn during the summer months.

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It should be noted, however, that as a poker player Nakabo is hardly all style and no substance. In fact, just last week he won a preliminary event in the 2012 ACOP, the $7,200 (HKD) No-Limit Hold’em Six-Handed Championship in which he topped a field of 177 players to earn a $304,600 (HKD) first prize and a coveted ACOP trophy.

That marked the largest of more than a dozen cashes Nakabo has earned in Macau since 2010. “For two-and-a-half years I have worked so hard to get a trophy,” Nakabo told Zenix “Kaka” Lam following his triumph in the six-handed event. “Winning an ACOP title is very big for me!”

We’ll continue to pay attention to Nakabo as play moves into Level 7. Of course, he kind of makes it hard not to.

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Martin Harris is Freelance Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.

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