The Asian Poker Tour Macau will host over 20 events with 14 official side events, with the first four events taking place from August 12th – 16^th. Side events include a HK$2,500 ($320) welcome event on August 12^th guaranteeing HK$100,000 ($12900), an Asian Poker Tour Open re-buy on August 13^th,  a HK$2,500 ($320) Greed event guaranteeing HK$100,000 ($12900) and a super HK$1,150 ($160) re-buy and add-on tournament that guarantees HK$150,000 ($19.000).

The Festival will also include a series of headhunter, six-handed, eight-handed, invitational, and celebrity tournaments as well as the first ladies' tournament and heads-up event in the region. The headhunter tournaments will feature members of 'The Poker Pack' and ambassadors of The Asian Poker Tour Johnny Chan, JC Tran, Nam Le, Steve Sung, David 'Chino' Rheem, Quinn Do and Kwang Soo Lee.

Another highlight includes the 'Battle of the Nations' team event. The tournament will feature teams composed of three members from the same country facing other teams in a six-handed No Limit Hold'em. The comprehensive side event schedule also includes a HK$164,000 ($21.160) buy-in high rollers event with other side events having a buy-in as little as HK$1,000 ($13).  Day 1A of the Main Event kicks off on August 20^th, the final table will recorded in front of a live audience on August 23^rd. The buy-in for the Main Event is set at HK$34,400 ($4438).

The Asian Poker Tour Macau will also be the backdrop to the filming of the first Chinese language poker film, 'Poker King,' starring A-list Chinese actors, actresses and pop stars. With such a high profile film being made, many believe it could have the same impact on the Asian region as 1998 Hollywood movie Rounders did on aspiring poker players in the western world.

"We're delighted with this schedule - it really shows just how far the game has come in this part of the world. Our objective was to put player's interests first in all scheduling as Macau will be a poker heaven in August!" said Tom Hall, CEO of AsianLogic, owners of the Asian Poker Tour.

Players from around the world can qualify for the 2009 APT Macau Poker Festival though any of the satellites available on PartyPoker, Bwin Poker, PKR.com, Dafa Poker, JBET Poker, Betfriends, 888, Titan Poker and 32Red Poker.