CASINO GRAND LISBOA, MACAU, May 23, 2010 – PokerStars qualifier Victorino Torres just gave a whole new meaning to the phrase, “V for Victory.” The 33-year-old attorney from the Northern Mariana Islands won the 4th annual PokerStars.net APPT Macau Main Event**, turning a victory in a $22 rebuy satellite on PokerStars into more than $3.2 million HKD(approx. $416,000 USD).



Torres entered the final table as its second-shortest chip stack and quietly worked his way up the leaderboard as other players hit the rail. Torres
stole the chip lead from **runner-up Chong Wing Cheong** once play became four-handed and from there, he never looked back. “My whole experience here in Macau has been exceptional to say the least,” Torres said. “PokerStars ran this tournament beyond belief. To every player, if you have the opportunity, come out here and play.”

A trial lawyer by trade, a jubilant Torres said he expects to spend a little more time enjoying one of his other hobbies – farming – upon returning home:

“I think I’ll spend a little more time on the farm now that I won. I love farming. I find it soothing, it’s relaxing, and it’s beneficial. I love it.”

Cheong’s runner-up finish is notable, as it makes him the **highest-placing Chinese player in the event’s four-year history**. Cheong earned HKD$2,088,000 (approx. $267,600 USD) in prize money for his efforts.

**FINAL TABLE PAYOUTS** (Amounts listed in HKD):

1st: Victorino Torres, PokerStars Qualifier (USA) - $3,246,200
2nd: Chong Wing Cheong (Hong Kong) - $2,088,000
3rd: Cole Swannack, PokerStars Qualifier (New Zealand) - $1,177,600
4th: Jeppe Drivsholm (Denmark) - $891,000
5th: Kenny Nielsen, PokerStars Qualifier (Denmark) - $700,000
6th: Brian Green, PokerStars Qualifier (Costa Rica) - $572,900
7th: Kai Paulsen (Norway) - $445,600
8th: Albert Kim, PokerStars Player (USA) - $350,100
9th: Keith Hawkins (England) - $254,608

Please [CLICK HERE](https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AuWwLpqRZf9cdEk4OEsyWFRwWi1qOS0xNFNEdU5fZlE&hl=en) for complete **prizepool and payout information**

More than **40 countries** were represented at the HKD $40,000 (USD $5,160) buy-in Main Event, which attracted a total of 342 players from all six inhabited continents on Earth. Australia boasted the most entrants with 42, followed by the United States with 37 and Hong Kong with 26.

The geographical demographics of the final table epitomized the Main Event’s International flavor, as seven different nations were represented including China, Norway, Denmark, Costa Rica, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom.