World Series of Poker Asia Pacific
The World Series of Poker Asia Pacific (WSOP APAC) is the third expansion of the World Series of Poker-branded poker tournaments outside the United States. Since 1970 participants have had to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to compete in the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Although the WSOP started holding circuit events in 2005 in other states, the main tournaments, which awarded bracelets to the winners, were exclusively held in Las Vegas. In 2007 the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe marked the first time that a WSOP bracelet was awarded outside Las Vegas. The WSOP further expanded to Africa in 2010 and 2012 however these events did not award any bracelets.
Konstantin Puchkov
Puchkov had gone cashless in three prior World Series of Poker Series, including 21 events in 2009 prior to winning a bracelet in his first in the money finish. He claims his 21 events without cashing is a record. He also says that at both the 2007 and 2008 World Series of Poker, he only played in the main event. He names all the horses that he breeds after poker terms. According to his World Poker Tour profile, he began playing poker exclusively in Russia, before playing internationally in 2007.