Poker, contrary to most people's perception, is not just a game of luck. In first-rate championship battles, competitors seriously prepare for the mental as well as physical stress of the game. Poker, as a competitive sports, demand the same degree of preparation, strategy, mental and physical conditioning similar to that of tournaments in chess, backgammon, bridge and other mind games.

The recently concluded Philippine Poker Tour Hold'em Philippine Championship has again proven that to win a highly competitive non-wager poker tournament, one needs not pure luck but lots of patience, mental discipline, physical endurance and sustained keen perception. All of these you have to possess during long hours of intense struggle with yourself and with hundreds of others.

When the smoke of battle cleared after three months of satellite tournaments and two days of games in the Main Event, the first Hold'em Philippine Champion emerged - congratulations to Jo Derek Bautista from Baguio City.

THE MARK OF A POKER CHAMPION

Twenty-eight year old Derek was the last man standing during the grueling 16-hour Philippine Poker Tour's battle-to-the-finish Hold'em championship held over the weekend at the Airport Casino Filipino Paranaque.

Derek won P1 million plus the coveted gold Champion bracelet. His plans for his cash winning includes allocating a portion to his ongoing charity projects in Baguio City that includes the Baguio City Jail inmates, Home for the Aged, and street children.

This young real estate businessman also intends to spend part - or the rest - of his prize money on a well-deserved vacation. Because for Derek, what he would cherish most is the gold Champion bracelet, a prestige trophy that marked his masterful conquest of 159 competitors in the Main Event of the championship.

It was not surprising that Derek emerged as the toughest man to dominate the 160-strong tournament. While he confesses to have been playing poker for 10 years now, it was only two years ago that he seriously studied how to play Hold'em.

At the tables, Derek was conspicuous in the way he maintained his composure in the face of long hours of intense struggle. He kept his focus as he studied his opponents' behavior, and did not act impulsively, and generally kept an even keel even when the right cards were not coming his way.

Ricky Sarmiento, who faced Derek in the last round, was similarly a good player. Because he was also prudent with his moves, the pace of the duel was measured. Ultimately, only one man could take home the Grand Prize at stake. Ricky, a registered nurse, settled for second-best.

Third place went to Ikaika Villa, a two-time surfing champion residing in Honolulu, Hawaii. When he learned about the tournament on the Internet, he decided to bring his newly-wed wife to Manila for an extended honeymoon and to compete. Others who made it to the top ten are Mike Tyler, Manuel Regis, Michael Alonzo, Ruben Tan, Benny Gonzalez, Jun del Prado and Eric Sia.