The widely respected and highly professional president of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour, Danny McDonagh, is leaving the Macau-based job to return to his native Australia “for family reasons” and departs his post tomorrow (Thursday).
“I’m returning to Australia for family reasons. I’m also contemplating a career break,” he told local reporters.
McDonagh’s association with the APPT began in 2007 after he was headhunted to be the director of its first season, and he has played a leading role in making it one of the most successful international poker tournament enterprises in the industry.
The tour holds poker tournaments attracting players from across the world at venues around the Asia Pacific region, and this year includes stops at casinos in Seoul, South Korea; in Manila, the Philippines; and Melbourne, Australia, as well as Macau.
Speaking to the publication GGR Asia, McDonagh said he continues to believe in the future for PokerStars Live events in Macau.
“It’s one of the places in the world where there is an increase in the number of players,” he claimed. “I would say 50 percent of our players in most tournaments are from China – the exception being the biggest prize pool tournaments that draw via the Internet [qualification rounds] players from further afield.
“India is also an important market for players. If India ever gets direct flights to Macau, I can see the number of Indian players here really growing rapidly,” he added.
McDonagh’s successor has yet to be announced