Welcome to the WSOP APAC Event #8 $5,000 8-Game Mixed

Welcome back to the 2014 World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific. Today one of the most prestigious tournaments on the 10-event schedule will take place — Event #8: $5,000 8-Game Mixed. Last year this event attracted 91 entries and saw Phil Ivey emerge victorious to capture his ninth gold bracelet (he now has 10) and a AU$51,840 first-place prize.

Whether or not Ivey will return to defend his title remains to be seen. Ivey was originally schedule to be at the WSOP APAC, but certain obligations held him up in London all week. His business in the UK recently concluded, and now rumors are swirling that he may be headed to Melbourne. We'll have to wait and see if that proves true.

Some players that we do know are here and are expected to play today are current WSOP Player of the Year leader Brandon Shack-Harris; 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Jonathan Duhamel; recent WSOP APAC bracelet winner Jeff Lisandro; Poker Hall of Famer Gary Benson; 2012 WSOP Champ and Player of the Year Greg Merson; and reigning WSOP APAC Main Event champ Daniel Negreanu.

Players will start with 15,000 in tournament chips, and the play for the day is to play 10 one-hour levels with a 15-minute break every two levels. There will be a one-hour dinner break after Level 6, and late registration will remain open for eight levels.

Cards will be in the air at 2:10 p.m. local time, which is a little over an hour from now. Join us then as we bring you all the 8-game action from the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia.