PartyGaming News: World Poker Tour® Announces Matt Savage As WPT Executive Tour Director
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LOS ANGELES (June 16, 2010) – World Poker Tour® (WPT) announced today renowned tournament director Matt Savage will join their team as Executive Tour Director. In his new role, Savage lends his years of experience and vast knowledge base to WPT committing himself to improving player communication, tournament offerings, tour cohesiveness, and event growth.
“Matt is one of the world’s foremost experts on poker tournaments,” said Steve Heller, World Poker Tour CEO. “Matt’s expertise and relationships in the poker community will greatly enhance our upcoming ninth season.”
“I am excited about this opportunity to work with WPT as their Executive Tour Director,” said Savage. “WPT is one of the most respected and recognizable brands in poker and I am happy to be a part of its efforts to improve tournament poker for players, fans and casinos.”
Savage has appeared on more than 300 televised poker shows on Fox Sports Net, Travel Channel, GSN, ESPN, and numerous others. He was also the host of a nationally televised show called “Inside Poker” and is an actor in the Warner Brothers movie “Lucky You.” A founder of the Tournament Directors Association and recipient of the inaugural Benny Binion award for outstanding service in the poker industry, Savage has directed some of the most successful poker tournaments including WPT’s Bay 101 Shooting Star and Los Angeles Poker Classic.
Players may contact Savage directly at msavage@worldpokertour.com to discuss tournament ideas, concerns, or pose questions.
ABOUT WORLD POKER TOUR
World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT has aired globally in 150+ countries, currently airs in the United Sates on Fox Sports Net and is preparing for its all-new ninth season. WPT also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which operates in 38 states across the U.S. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc. For more information, see visit www.worldpokertour.com
About PartyGaming:
PartyGaming Plc is the world’s leading listed online gaming company. The Group is a constituent of the FTSE 250 share index with its shares listed on The London Stock Exchange under the ticker: PRTY. In the year to 31 December 2009, PartyGaming’s Continuing operations generated revenue of $446.2m and Clean EBITDA of $135.0m. PartyGaming’s principal brands are
PartyPoker.com, one of the world’s largest online poker rooms, PartyCasino.com, the world’s largest online casino, PartyBingo.com, PartyGammon.com, PartyBets.com, InterTrader.com, FoxyBingo.com, GetMinted.com, GameBookers.com and WorldPokerTour.com. None of the Group’s sites accept real money customers located in the US. PartyGaming is regulated and licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and it is also certified as a responsible gaming operator by GamCare, the leading UK authority on the provision of advice, practical help, support and counselling in addressing the social impact of gambling. PartyGaming’s shares are also a constituent member of the FTSE4Good Index Series, which enables investors to identify companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards. For more information, please visit PartyGaming
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Notice of Pre-close Trading Update
28 Jun 2010
PartyGaming Plc, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, will announce a pre-close trading update on 6 July 2010.
Reflecting the fact that the Eurozone has become the predominant economic environment in which the Group’s gaming companies operate based on the currencies with which players fund their accounts, as well as the expected opening of a number of newly regulated regimes in France, Italy and other Eurozone markets, the Group intends to change its functional currency from US dollars to Euros.
In line with International Accounting Standard 21 the change will take effect from the date the Group determined that the characteristics required to identify the functional currency had changed. The Group determined this occurred during 2010 and for accounting purposes, this is effective from 1 January 2010.
In addition, the Group will from this date change the reporting currency used for its financial statements of the Group and other reporting from US dollars to Euros.
All prior financial data will be converted using the exchange rate at 1 January 2010 of 1 US dollar = 0.695 Euros. An updated summary containing the Group’s historic financial data in Euros up to and including the Q1 2010 Key Performance Indicators will be made available at www.partygaming.com on 6 July 2010. The Group’s interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2010 will be reported in Euros when they are announced on 6 August 2010. A separate notification containing details of the analyst presentation and simultaneous webcast and dial-in broadcast for the interim results announcement will be made in due course.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
PartyGaming News: French online poker and sports betting licences awarded
PartyGaming News: French online poker and sports betting licences awarded
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28 June 2010
PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, announces that it has been awarded licences by ARJEL, the French Gaming regulator, to operate online poker and sports betting websites for residents in France. The Group can offer sports betting immediately and will offer poker on http://www.partypoker.fr when the market is opened, which is expected to be later this month.
As previously announced, the Group has signed three exclusive B2B deals this year to form a significant French poker network with PMU, the country’s largest pari-mutuel horse racing company, AB Groupe, a leading TV broadcaster, and Aviation Club de France, one of France’s most prestigious card rooms and private members clubs. This network will now benefit from pooled poker player liquidity that will be provided by PartyPoker.fr
About PartyGaming:
PartyGaming Plc is the world’s leading listed online gaming company. The Group is a constituent of the FTSE 250 share index with its shares listed on The London Stock Exchange under the ticker: PRTY. In the year to 31 December 2009, PartyGaming’s Continuing operations generated revenue of $446.2m and Clean EBITDA of $135.0m. PartyGaming’s principal brands are
PartyPoker.com, one of the world’s largest online poker rooms, PartyCasino.com, the world’s largest online casino, PartyBingo.com, PartyGammon.com, PartyBets.com, InterTrader.com, FoxyBingo.com, GetMinted.com, GameBookers.com and WorldPokerTour.com. None of the Group’s sites accept real money customers located in the US. PartyGaming is regulated and licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and it is also certified as a responsible gaming operator by GamCare, the leading UK authority on the provision of advice, practical help, support and counselling in addressing the social impact of gambling. PartyGaming’s shares are also a constituent member of the FTSE4Good Index Series, which enables investors to identify companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards. For more information, please visit PartyGaming
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28 June 2010
PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, announces that it has been awarded licences by ARJEL, the French Gaming regulator, to operate online poker and sports betting websites for residents in France. The Group can offer sports betting immediately and will offer poker on http://www.partypoker.fr when the market is opened, which is expected to be later this month.
As previously announced, the Group has signed three exclusive B2B deals this year to form a significant French poker network with PMU, the country’s largest pari-mutuel horse racing company, AB Groupe, a leading TV broadcaster, and Aviation Club de France, one of France’s most prestigious card rooms and private members clubs. This network will now benefit from pooled poker player liquidity that will be provided by PartyPoker.fr
About PartyGaming:
PartyGaming Plc is the world’s leading listed online gaming company. The Group is a constituent of the FTSE 250 share index with its shares listed on The London Stock Exchange under the ticker: PRTY. In the year to 31 December 2009, PartyGaming’s Continuing operations generated revenue of $446.2m and Clean EBITDA of $135.0m. PartyGaming’s principal brands are
PartyPoker.com, one of the world’s largest online poker rooms, PartyCasino.com, the world’s largest online casino, PartyBingo.com, PartyGammon.com, PartyBets.com, InterTrader.com, FoxyBingo.com, GetMinted.com, GameBookers.com and WorldPokerTour.com. None of the Group’s sites accept real money customers located in the US. PartyGaming is regulated and licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and it is also certified as a responsible gaming operator by GamCare, the leading UK authority on the provision of advice, practical help, support and counselling in addressing the social impact of gambling. PartyGaming’s shares are also a constituent member of the FTSE4Good Index Series, which enables investors to identify companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards. For more information, please visit PartyGaming
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Saturday, June 19, 2010
Poker News Media: PartyGaming News: PartyGaming’s Corporate Responsibility Credentials Receive Four Endorsements
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PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, is proud to announce that its corporate and social responsibility (CSR) credentials have been endorsed by four leading corporate, charitable and gaming industry bodies.
FTSE4Good Index:
PartyGaming has retained its membership of the FTSE4Good Index series which measures the performance of companies against globally recognised corporate responsibility standards. Membership is based on transparent criteria including environmental sustainability, upholding and supporting universal human rights, ensuring good supply chain labour standards and countering bribery. All of these criteria are independently assessed by the Experts in Responsible Investment Solutions.
GREaT Foundation:
PartyGaming has won a ‘Gold Award’ from the Gambling Research, Education and Treatment Foundation in recognition of its financial and professional contributions towards tackling problem gambling. Formerly known as the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, the GREaT Foundation was established as a charity in 2002 and is Britain’s largest funding body responsible for tackling problem gambling through financing research, education and treatment from voluntary donations.
Geoffrey Godbold, Director of GREaT, said:
“We are extremely grateful to PartyGaming as one of the industry’s leading companies that has made an extra effort in supporting our fundraising campaign.”
eCOGRA:
PartyPartners, which is PartyGaming’s affiliate marketing programme, has been awarded the eCOGRA Affiliate Trust Seal. The award certifies that PartyPartners observes best practice for fairness and efficiency in dealing with affiliate marketers. eGOGRA is the independent standards authority for the online gaming industry, overseeing fair gaming, player protection and responsible operator conduct.
Commenting on the award, eCOGRA chief executive Andrew Beveridge said:
“We were impressed by the competency of both PartyPartners’ staff and their systems, which we thoroughly tested at full capacity to determine efficiency and consistency levels. In our opinion it is among the most professionally managed businesses we have encountered in hundreds of eCOGRA reviews and audits at major Internet companies.”
GamCare:
For the sixth year in succession, PartyGaming has been certificated as a responsible operator by GamCare, a registered charity which is a leading authority on the provision of counselling, advice and practical help in addressing the social impact of gambling in the UK.
Andy McLellan, Chief Executive of GamCare, said:
“I am delighted to be able to renew PartyGaming’s GamCare Certification in public recognition of their longstanding commitment to player protection. Players who choose PartyGaming have the assurance from GamCare Certification that there are appropriate measures in place to help them gamble responsibly and that the right advice is there for anyone who wants to know more about staying in control.”
Martin Weigold, Group Finance Director who has executive responsibility for PartyGaming’s CSR matters, said:
“These corporate responsibility endorsements are welcome recognition of our commitment to act responsibly, which remains one of the four pillars of our business strategy. Being recognised in this way is a source of genuine pride for all of PartyGaming’s 1,300 employees whose commitment to undertaking pro bono community projects in 2009 was also recognised as ‘placing the Company well ahead of its peers’ by the GoodCorporation that undertakes CSR reviews for a number of public companies around the world.”
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PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, is proud to announce that its corporate and social responsibility (CSR) credentials have been endorsed by four leading corporate, charitable and gaming industry bodies.
FTSE4Good Index:
PartyGaming has retained its membership of the FTSE4Good Index series which measures the performance of companies against globally recognised corporate responsibility standards. Membership is based on transparent criteria including environmental sustainability, upholding and supporting universal human rights, ensuring good supply chain labour standards and countering bribery. All of these criteria are independently assessed by the Experts in Responsible Investment Solutions.
GREaT Foundation:
PartyGaming has won a ‘Gold Award’ from the Gambling Research, Education and Treatment Foundation in recognition of its financial and professional contributions towards tackling problem gambling. Formerly known as the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, the GREaT Foundation was established as a charity in 2002 and is Britain’s largest funding body responsible for tackling problem gambling through financing research, education and treatment from voluntary donations.
Geoffrey Godbold, Director of GREaT, said:
“We are extremely grateful to PartyGaming as one of the industry’s leading companies that has made an extra effort in supporting our fundraising campaign.”
eCOGRA:
PartyPartners, which is PartyGaming’s affiliate marketing programme, has been awarded the eCOGRA Affiliate Trust Seal. The award certifies that PartyPartners observes best practice for fairness and efficiency in dealing with affiliate marketers. eGOGRA is the independent standards authority for the online gaming industry, overseeing fair gaming, player protection and responsible operator conduct.
Commenting on the award, eCOGRA chief executive Andrew Beveridge said:
“We were impressed by the competency of both PartyPartners’ staff and their systems, which we thoroughly tested at full capacity to determine efficiency and consistency levels. In our opinion it is among the most professionally managed businesses we have encountered in hundreds of eCOGRA reviews and audits at major Internet companies.”
GamCare:
For the sixth year in succession, PartyGaming has been certificated as a responsible operator by GamCare, a registered charity which is a leading authority on the provision of counselling, advice and practical help in addressing the social impact of gambling in the UK.
Andy McLellan, Chief Executive of GamCare, said:
“I am delighted to be able to renew PartyGaming’s GamCare Certification in public recognition of their longstanding commitment to player protection. Players who choose PartyGaming have the assurance from GamCare Certification that there are appropriate measures in place to help them gamble responsibly and that the right advice is there for anyone who wants to know more about staying in control.”
Martin Weigold, Group Finance Director who has executive responsibility for PartyGaming’s CSR matters, said:
“These corporate responsibility endorsements are welcome recognition of our commitment to act responsibly, which remains one of the four pillars of our business strategy. Being recognised in this way is a source of genuine pride for all of PartyGaming’s 1,300 employees whose commitment to undertaking pro bono community projects in 2009 was also recognised as ‘placing the Company well ahead of its peers’ by the GoodCorporation that undertakes CSR reviews for a number of public companies around the world.”
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Friday, June 4, 2010
Study finds some poker players use performance-enhancing substances - 2nd June 2010
Elite and pro athletes using drugs to enhance performance is nothing new. But poker players? Really?
In a recent study, some players admitted to using drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, Valium, plus other prescription medication. They also said they relied on caffeine, energy drinks and guarana to try to maintain an upper hand against their competitors.
That's what researchers from Nova Southeastern University in Florida found when they interviewed 198 professional, semi-pro, amateur and recreational players from the U.S. and around the world about their use of cognitive and performance-enhancing drugs, as well as dietary supplements and other substances, to improve performance while playing poker. Researchers also asked how the drugs were acquired and the motivation for using them. The preliminary results of the study were presented recently at the annual meeting of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists in San Antonio, Texas.
The study did not include the use of anabolic steroids.
Among the players (most of them men in their mid-20s), 28% said they took at least one prescription medication to improve their performance. Of those who took a cognitive and performance-enhancing medication, 73% said it was to help them focus or concentrate. The most popular medication was amphetamines or dextroamphetamines, followed by benzodiazepines (tranquilizers), hydrocodone (a painkiller), and methylphenidate (usually used to treat attention deficit disorders).
As to how they got the medications, 38% obtained them from a physician, 26% were given the drugs by players, 26% bought drugs from players and 10% purchased them online.
Prescription drugs weren't the only substances the players relied on -- 71% used caffeine, 51% drank energy drinks, 34% smoked marijuana and 30% used alcohol. In addition, 46% took a dietary supplement such as vitamin B-12 or guarana.
"The use of these substances could allow poker players to stay awake longer, as well as focus and concentrate better, which would be a competitive advantage," said Kevin Clauson, an associate professor at NSU's college of pharmacy, in a news release. Clauson, the principle investigator in the study, added, "Stamina is important for any poker player because tournament poker and cash games can go on for many hours.' (Credit: Los Angeles Times)
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In a recent study, some players admitted to using drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, Valium, plus other prescription medication. They also said they relied on caffeine, energy drinks and guarana to try to maintain an upper hand against their competitors.
That's what researchers from Nova Southeastern University in Florida found when they interviewed 198 professional, semi-pro, amateur and recreational players from the U.S. and around the world about their use of cognitive and performance-enhancing drugs, as well as dietary supplements and other substances, to improve performance while playing poker. Researchers also asked how the drugs were acquired and the motivation for using them. The preliminary results of the study were presented recently at the annual meeting of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists in San Antonio, Texas.
The study did not include the use of anabolic steroids.
Among the players (most of them men in their mid-20s), 28% said they took at least one prescription medication to improve their performance. Of those who took a cognitive and performance-enhancing medication, 73% said it was to help them focus or concentrate. The most popular medication was amphetamines or dextroamphetamines, followed by benzodiazepines (tranquilizers), hydrocodone (a painkiller), and methylphenidate (usually used to treat attention deficit disorders).
As to how they got the medications, 38% obtained them from a physician, 26% were given the drugs by players, 26% bought drugs from players and 10% purchased them online.
Prescription drugs weren't the only substances the players relied on -- 71% used caffeine, 51% drank energy drinks, 34% smoked marijuana and 30% used alcohol. In addition, 46% took a dietary supplement such as vitamin B-12 or guarana.
"The use of these substances could allow poker players to stay awake longer, as well as focus and concentrate better, which would be a competitive advantage," said Kevin Clauson, an associate professor at NSU's college of pharmacy, in a news release. Clauson, the principle investigator in the study, added, "Stamina is important for any poker player because tournament poker and cash games can go on for many hours.' (Credit: Los Angeles Times)
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Monday, May 24, 2010
PKR World Cup Poker Series
PKR.com has just launched its World Cup Poker Series.
The Series runs until June 26 and will see six $5 buy in $3,000 guaranteed tournaments where players can earn points towards participating in one of 12 national teams.
The top four players from each country at the end of the Series will be selected for their national team with the two remaining slots picked up by sit ‘n’ go players also aiming to top the leaderboard.
The 12 teams, including one 'Rest of the World' team will then compete for the title of World Cup champions receiving $750 prize and a signed legends World Cup shirt.
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The Series runs until June 26 and will see six $5 buy in $3,000 guaranteed tournaments where players can earn points towards participating in one of 12 national teams.
The top four players from each country at the end of the Series will be selected for their national team with the two remaining slots picked up by sit ‘n’ go players also aiming to top the leaderboard.
The 12 teams, including one 'Rest of the World' team will then compete for the title of World Cup champions receiving $750 prize and a signed legends World Cup shirt.
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Monday, May 17, 2010
World Poker Tour Grand Prix De Paris Final Table Battle Taken To The Race Track! Live Reporting Main Event And Highrollers
LIVE REPORTING FINAL TABLE AT WORLD POKER TOUR® GRAND PRIX DE PARIS
Amourette hot to trot as World Poker Tour battle taken to the race-track!
(PARIS) May 15, 2010 – ‘Shuffle up and deal’ has been called for the final table of the World Poker Tour® Grand Prix de Paris Main Event at Aviation Club de France.
Live updates from the eight handed final table, including videos from WPT Live Updates hostess Jacque Williams can be found at World Poker Tour
The finale of the €10,000 main event is being filmed for worldwide television broadcast and started with a healthy total of 247 runners and total prize pool of €2,347,797. There are now eight players left, while 27 players in total make the money. First place scoops €633,902, a $25,000 seat to the WPT World Championship, and the coveted title of WPT Champion, while every final table participant is guaranteed at least €70,000.
The second televised event, the ACF’s €20,000 No Limit Hold ‘em High Roller Freeze Out tournament is also getting underway shortly and can be followed on live updates. Amongst those set to lock horns are Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier, Bruno Fitoussi, Sorel Mizzi, Freddy Deeb and Andrew Feldman. The televised final table takes place on Sunday.
In a first in World Poker Tour history, there was a very special event on Friday evening for the participants of the final table of the World Poker Tour Grand Prix de Paris Main Event. Le PMU et le Cheval Français and ACF generously invited the players for a very special night of trotting at the superb state of the art Vincennes horse racing track. The main race, the ‘Finale du WPT Grand Prix de Paris’, took place at 8:48pm CET. At 10.30pm, however, the real fun started – all eight final table players took part in their very own televised horse and cart race!!
The winner on the night was France’s Antoine Amourette, who dramatically passed Bruno Fitoussi, who joined the final table participants in the race, on the line. ‘This was a brilliant experience, I hope it bodes well for the final table,’ said the hot to trot Frenchman. All round Danish action man and chipleader Theo Jorgensen played a key part in rounding up the players for the challenge. ‘What a brilliant race and what a way to to welcome PMU to the world of poker ! I am glad I beat Arnaud Mattern. He may have been voted the sexiest poker player in France but all that face saw was the back of my horse!’
Coverage of the race will be released on the internet soon. On a fantastic night, courtesy of Le PMU et le Cheval Français, there were a fair share of winners and losers. Swedish final table participants Jimmy Ostensson and Per Linde saw their gamble on ‘Swedishman’ fail, while the rivalries and banter between the final table participants were taken to a whole new level.
WPT Grand Prix de Paris – presented by PartyPoker.fr – final table
Seat 1: Mickael Guenni -- 538,000
Seat 2: Theo Jorgensen -- 2,693,000
Seat 3: Antoine Amourette -- 489,000
Seat 4: Per Linde -- 584,000
Seat 5: Jimmy Ostensson -- 436,000
Seat 6: Nourredine Aïtaleb -- 810,000
Seat 7: Fabrice Touil -- 1,183,000
Seat 8: Arnaud Mattern -- 678,000
Theo Jorgensen has cashed twice before on the World Poker Tour for a total of $33,000. Both cashes were way back in season three, with a best finish of 22nd at the 2005 World Poker Open. The remaining seven have not cashed on the World Poker Tour before. France has a strong contingent at the final table, with Arnaud Mattern fifth in chips. In a dramatic day four there were large swings for the majority of players but Jorgensen’s stack was consistent throughout. The bubble for the final table stretched late into the night, lasting six hours, with the unfortunate bubble boy being Ilan Boujeneh.
World Poker Tour announcer Mike Sexton said: ‘I would like to wish all the players the very best of luck for Saturday’s final table. With a significant chip lead, Theo has to start as favourite but there is a long way to go. I have played in Paris enough times and know you don’t underestimate the French contingent. The racing event sounds brilliant, I would like to thank Le PMU et le Cheval Français and ACF on behalf of everybody at the World Poker Tour.’
Amongst those who made the money included French actor and poker Patrick Bruel, Antony Lellouche and Russia’s Alexander Kravchenko. Bruel had a large supporting contingent on the rail and they were visibly deflated when he departed. Those who have hit the rail in this WPT 2010-2011 season kick-off event before the money included WPT Champions Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier, Guillaume Darcourt, Tommy Vedes, Freddy Deeb, Thomas Bichon, and Surinder Sunar (who took down this event in 2004), as well as other top names such as, John Juanda, Men ‘The Master’ Nguyen, Aussie Millions champion Tyron Krost, Sorel Mizzi, Isabelle Mercier, Ludovic Lacay, Roger Hairabredian, David Steicke, Casey Kastle, Roberto Romanello, Andrew Feldman and Remy Biechel. Coverage of the event is produced by Matchroom Sport.
For more information and the complete WPT tour schedule, visit World Poker Tour
ABOUT AVIATION CLUB DE FRANCE
Home of the best cash games in Europe, Aviation Club de France is located in the heart of Paris on the Champs-Elysées, known as ‘the Most Beautiful Avenue in the World.’ The Aviation Club de France was created in 1907 by a group of aviators whose achievements conjure the most remarkable moments in aviation history. In addition to elegance and sophistication, the Club offers a variety of table games including Baccarat, Poker Black Jack (Parisian Style), Punto Banco, Caribbean Stud Poker and more.
ABOUT WORLD POKER TOUR
World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom h the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT is now broadcast globally in 150 countries and is currently filming its all-new eighth season for broadcast on Fox Sports Net’s national sports network in the United States. WPT also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which operates in 38 states across the U.S. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc. For more information, see World Poker Tour
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Amourette hot to trot as World Poker Tour battle taken to the race-track!
(PARIS) May 15, 2010 – ‘Shuffle up and deal’ has been called for the final table of the World Poker Tour® Grand Prix de Paris Main Event at Aviation Club de France.
Live updates from the eight handed final table, including videos from WPT Live Updates hostess Jacque Williams can be found at World Poker Tour
The finale of the €10,000 main event is being filmed for worldwide television broadcast and started with a healthy total of 247 runners and total prize pool of €2,347,797. There are now eight players left, while 27 players in total make the money. First place scoops €633,902, a $25,000 seat to the WPT World Championship, and the coveted title of WPT Champion, while every final table participant is guaranteed at least €70,000.
The second televised event, the ACF’s €20,000 No Limit Hold ‘em High Roller Freeze Out tournament is also getting underway shortly and can be followed on live updates. Amongst those set to lock horns are Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier, Bruno Fitoussi, Sorel Mizzi, Freddy Deeb and Andrew Feldman. The televised final table takes place on Sunday.
In a first in World Poker Tour history, there was a very special event on Friday evening for the participants of the final table of the World Poker Tour Grand Prix de Paris Main Event. Le PMU et le Cheval Français and ACF generously invited the players for a very special night of trotting at the superb state of the art Vincennes horse racing track. The main race, the ‘Finale du WPT Grand Prix de Paris’, took place at 8:48pm CET. At 10.30pm, however, the real fun started – all eight final table players took part in their very own televised horse and cart race!!
The winner on the night was France’s Antoine Amourette, who dramatically passed Bruno Fitoussi, who joined the final table participants in the race, on the line. ‘This was a brilliant experience, I hope it bodes well for the final table,’ said the hot to trot Frenchman. All round Danish action man and chipleader Theo Jorgensen played a key part in rounding up the players for the challenge. ‘What a brilliant race and what a way to to welcome PMU to the world of poker ! I am glad I beat Arnaud Mattern. He may have been voted the sexiest poker player in France but all that face saw was the back of my horse!’
Coverage of the race will be released on the internet soon. On a fantastic night, courtesy of Le PMU et le Cheval Français, there were a fair share of winners and losers. Swedish final table participants Jimmy Ostensson and Per Linde saw their gamble on ‘Swedishman’ fail, while the rivalries and banter between the final table participants were taken to a whole new level.
WPT Grand Prix de Paris – presented by PartyPoker.fr – final table
Seat 1: Mickael Guenni -- 538,000
Seat 2: Theo Jorgensen -- 2,693,000
Seat 3: Antoine Amourette -- 489,000
Seat 4: Per Linde -- 584,000
Seat 5: Jimmy Ostensson -- 436,000
Seat 6: Nourredine Aïtaleb -- 810,000
Seat 7: Fabrice Touil -- 1,183,000
Seat 8: Arnaud Mattern -- 678,000
Theo Jorgensen has cashed twice before on the World Poker Tour for a total of $33,000. Both cashes were way back in season three, with a best finish of 22nd at the 2005 World Poker Open. The remaining seven have not cashed on the World Poker Tour before. France has a strong contingent at the final table, with Arnaud Mattern fifth in chips. In a dramatic day four there were large swings for the majority of players but Jorgensen’s stack was consistent throughout. The bubble for the final table stretched late into the night, lasting six hours, with the unfortunate bubble boy being Ilan Boujeneh.
World Poker Tour announcer Mike Sexton said: ‘I would like to wish all the players the very best of luck for Saturday’s final table. With a significant chip lead, Theo has to start as favourite but there is a long way to go. I have played in Paris enough times and know you don’t underestimate the French contingent. The racing event sounds brilliant, I would like to thank Le PMU et le Cheval Français and ACF on behalf of everybody at the World Poker Tour.’
Amongst those who made the money included French actor and poker Patrick Bruel, Antony Lellouche and Russia’s Alexander Kravchenko. Bruel had a large supporting contingent on the rail and they were visibly deflated when he departed. Those who have hit the rail in this WPT 2010-2011 season kick-off event before the money included WPT Champions Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier, Guillaume Darcourt, Tommy Vedes, Freddy Deeb, Thomas Bichon, and Surinder Sunar (who took down this event in 2004), as well as other top names such as, John Juanda, Men ‘The Master’ Nguyen, Aussie Millions champion Tyron Krost, Sorel Mizzi, Isabelle Mercier, Ludovic Lacay, Roger Hairabredian, David Steicke, Casey Kastle, Roberto Romanello, Andrew Feldman and Remy Biechel. Coverage of the event is produced by Matchroom Sport.
For more information and the complete WPT tour schedule, visit World Poker Tour
ABOUT AVIATION CLUB DE FRANCE
Home of the best cash games in Europe, Aviation Club de France is located in the heart of Paris on the Champs-Elysées, known as ‘the Most Beautiful Avenue in the World.’ The Aviation Club de France was created in 1907 by a group of aviators whose achievements conjure the most remarkable moments in aviation history. In addition to elegance and sophistication, the Club offers a variety of table games including Baccarat, Poker Black Jack (Parisian Style), Punto Banco, Caribbean Stud Poker and more.
ABOUT WORLD POKER TOUR
World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom h the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT is now broadcast globally in 150 countries and is currently filming its all-new eighth season for broadcast on Fox Sports Net’s national sports network in the United States. WPT also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which operates in 38 states across the U.S. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc. For more information, see World Poker Tour
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Poker News Media: Australian Mark Webber Leads Monaco Grand Prix, by Greg Tingle - 17th May 2010
It's hard to dispute that in the world of professional sports (and pseudo sports), there's brands and individuals that have a tendency to dominate the headlines (and grab the best sponsorship deals in the process). Some of the hype is manufactured while some is genuine and fueled along by the sportsmen and women, and their worldwide fan base.
Media Man and Gambling911 have noticed the ever growing trend of sports, entertainment, poker (namely poker) merging, and brands and their stars race to the top, and do their best to maintain pole position, ready to pounce for the next championship.
Even pro wrestling living legend 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair (Fliehr) and his son, Richard, are doing the NASCAR rounds in the U.S.A, and 'Natch' feeling and getting lucky, also came to biz terms with the North Carolina and South Carolina Education Lottery. Woooooo! Son of Hulk Hogan, Nick Hogan, is also showing promise in professional auto racing circles, in a great comeback following the highly publicised Hogan Jr car wreck (in the suburbs) a few years back.
Australia has certainly been making waves in professional sports and news media circles of late.
Of course Aussie Mark Webber has now taken the lead in the Monaco Grand Prix as of last night. Webber is the first Australian to accomplish this feat since the legend Jack Brabham some 51 years ago.
Sports betting firms have plugged into the action with Betfair and Paddy Power being most prominent in the F1 sector and motorsport as a whole.
Interestingly, the current excitement of the F1 sector has seen some of the poker and casino world plug right into the action..
A few weeks ago Richard Branson's Virgin Racing came to sponsorship terms with Full Tilt Poker.
As recently outlined at Gambling911, a number of weeks before the public Virgin - Full Tilt Poker deal, PartyGaming's PartyPoker signed up F1 superstars Jaime Alguersuari and Giancarlo Fisichella as brand ambassadors. Poker legend and World Poker Tour mainstay Mike Sexton remains the global PartyPoker ambassador. Last month following the sporting theme, PartyPoker also signed up Italian football legend Francesco Totti. The financial terms of the poker sponsorship deals are not currently known, as all parties appear to want to keep the details under wraps. PartyGaming, keen to ramp up in Europe, in line with their global strategy is currently running some sports cars promotions (sorry, no F1's as the prize), but here's the specs...
PartyCasino - Grand Win Auto - Win A Maserati GranTurismo
PartyPoker - Drive The Dream - Win a Aston Martin DB9 Coupe
Meanwhile Back To The Action...
Webber's rise has sent bookies and punters into a frenzy, with 50% James Packer owned Betfair taking big money, and Irish owned Paddy Power also seeing a jump in numbers and new accounts.
It is the first time an Australian has led the championship since Alan Jones in 1981.
Webber led from his fourth pole to the finish. It was his second recent win after Spain last weekend.
He finished unchallenged ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel as the Red Bulls delivered their third successive one-two and fourth in six races this year, this time ahead of Pole Robert Kubica who was third for Renault.
Webber, who has been linked to a move to Ferrari next season, started on pole position and was never really challenged around the tight street circuit.
"To be up there achieving things that Jack Brabham achieved is special for me and difficult to take in just now," Webber said before starting formula one's most iconic race, which he led from start to finish.
"He is a legend in the Webber house and if it was not for Jack Brabham I would not be here now. My dad followed him closely and was a big fan - he always followed open-wheeled racing much more than what we call 'taxi-racing' at home. He has been an inspiration and a friend and he has done a lot for me."
Webber, who last week won the Spanish Grand Prix in similar fashion, shot to the lead at the first turn in his Red Bull dream machine ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Spectators didn't have to wait long for drama, with Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) crashing at 270km/h in the tunnel on the first lap, bringing out the safety car.
Button was the next casualty, with his McLaren's engine overheating on lap three. The safety car departed the track on lap six and the racing resumed. "I think it got a little bit hot on the way to the grid," Button told the BBC. "We left a [air intake] bung in on the left-hand side of the car that obviously you're meant to take out on the way to the grid. That's cooked the engine."
Webber, who could be Ferrari's potential replacement for the Brazilian Felipe Massa next season, set several fastest laps before narrowly avoiding disaster on lap 74 of 78 when two back-markers crashed in front of him. He went to the chequered flag just after the fourth safety car of the race left the track, with Vettel pipping Robert Kubica (Renault) for second place.
Vettel said "I couldn't keep up with him today. He was gone too far away for me and I had to race to stay second this time."
Kubica "I tried to pass Sebastian, but I lost the place on the first lap and that was it."
Massa came home fourth for Ferrari ahead of the 2008 champion Briton Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren with seven-times champion German Michael Schumacher, 41, taking sixth for Mercedes after a controversial move behind the Safety Car to pass Spaniard Fernando Alonso on the final lap.
Schumacher was later penalised 20 seconds for the manoeuvre by stewards and relegated to 12th spot.
Schumacher's Mercedes team-mate and compatriot Nico Rosberg was promoted to seventh ahead of another German Adrian Sutil of Force India. Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi was ninth th in the second Force India.
Webber was almost drawn into a late drama when he came into the Rascasse hairpin to find Italian Jarno Trulli of Lotus colliding with Indian Karun Chandhok of the Hispania team in spectacular fashion.
"He flew in the air and I was just hoping there would be some room to go through on the inside and I would have some options," said Webber. "Thankfully I did."
Chandhok "Jarno Trulli has just apologised to me - there was absolutely no way he could get through there. It's a real shame because I was driving my best race of the year so far and I was on track to be the best of the new teams.
"His car just missed my head. I ducked down and it came over and hit the roll hoop."
Understandably, Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali took a dim view of Schumacher's passing of Alonso behind the safety car.
"That should be the rule... you can't overtake on the final lap. Our understanding of the regulations is pretty clear, but let's just and see what the stewards say."
While Trulli's crash may have been spectacular, it was no more horrifying than the two that saw the two Williams men eliminated earlier when they crashed out - German rookie Hulkenberg in the tunnel and Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello at Massanet - in separate incidents.
Both were huge accidents that caused great damage to the cars, ripping off wheels and wings. "After my pit stop, the car was not together, the steering wheel felt numb," said Barrichello. "Something was not good until the crash. They are analysing what went on.."
For Webber, there was no immediate analysis pending. "I predict a few sore heads in the morning," he said. "You have to celebrate your wins and they don't come any better than this."
Meanwhile, Australia scored a rare double at Monaco, with 20-year-old Daniel Ricciardo claiming victory in the final support race.
Ricciardo, from Perth, earned his first win in the World Series by Renault with his debut drive at Monaco and has already been touted a formula one star of the future.
Driving for French Team Tech 1, Ricciardo never looked back after claiming pole position.
Media Man very occasional mentor (but full time inspiration), Sir Richard Branson, quite the business and sporting daredevil all-rounder, summed it up beautifully a few months ago..."We're going to make racing fun and sexy again". Fun and sexy for your Virgin Racing - Full Tilt Poker pairing too we note, but PartyGaming is also in the race. Could be not long until we see a James Packer' Crown Casino - City Of Dreams or Betfair F1 car doing laps, and winning? Don't laugh, stranger things have happened...
Australia in the lead and online poker rooms sponsoring Branson's Virgin Racing... anything is indeed possible as the world of professional motorsport and poker evolves. As real life superhero Bill Goldberg (and his monster truck team say), "Whose Next"? Go Aussie Go!
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover over a dozen industry verticals including gaming and sports betting. Media Man publish Australian Sports Entertainment
*The writer has conducted b2b with various arms of Betfair, PartyGaming and Virgin
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited and Virgin
Website Network
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Casino
Media Man Poker
Media Man Games
Australian Sports Entertainment
Media Man and Gambling911 have noticed the ever growing trend of sports, entertainment, poker (namely poker) merging, and brands and their stars race to the top, and do their best to maintain pole position, ready to pounce for the next championship.
Even pro wrestling living legend 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair (Fliehr) and his son, Richard, are doing the NASCAR rounds in the U.S.A, and 'Natch' feeling and getting lucky, also came to biz terms with the North Carolina and South Carolina Education Lottery. Woooooo! Son of Hulk Hogan, Nick Hogan, is also showing promise in professional auto racing circles, in a great comeback following the highly publicised Hogan Jr car wreck (in the suburbs) a few years back.
Australia has certainly been making waves in professional sports and news media circles of late.
Of course Aussie Mark Webber has now taken the lead in the Monaco Grand Prix as of last night. Webber is the first Australian to accomplish this feat since the legend Jack Brabham some 51 years ago.
Sports betting firms have plugged into the action with Betfair and Paddy Power being most prominent in the F1 sector and motorsport as a whole.
Interestingly, the current excitement of the F1 sector has seen some of the poker and casino world plug right into the action..
A few weeks ago Richard Branson's Virgin Racing came to sponsorship terms with Full Tilt Poker.
As recently outlined at Gambling911, a number of weeks before the public Virgin - Full Tilt Poker deal, PartyGaming's PartyPoker signed up F1 superstars Jaime Alguersuari and Giancarlo Fisichella as brand ambassadors. Poker legend and World Poker Tour mainstay Mike Sexton remains the global PartyPoker ambassador. Last month following the sporting theme, PartyPoker also signed up Italian football legend Francesco Totti. The financial terms of the poker sponsorship deals are not currently known, as all parties appear to want to keep the details under wraps. PartyGaming, keen to ramp up in Europe, in line with their global strategy is currently running some sports cars promotions (sorry, no F1's as the prize), but here's the specs...
PartyCasino - Grand Win Auto - Win A Maserati GranTurismo
PartyPoker - Drive The Dream - Win a Aston Martin DB9 Coupe
Meanwhile Back To The Action...
Webber's rise has sent bookies and punters into a frenzy, with 50% James Packer owned Betfair taking big money, and Irish owned Paddy Power also seeing a jump in numbers and new accounts.
It is the first time an Australian has led the championship since Alan Jones in 1981.
Webber led from his fourth pole to the finish. It was his second recent win after Spain last weekend.
He finished unchallenged ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel as the Red Bulls delivered their third successive one-two and fourth in six races this year, this time ahead of Pole Robert Kubica who was third for Renault.
Webber, who has been linked to a move to Ferrari next season, started on pole position and was never really challenged around the tight street circuit.
"To be up there achieving things that Jack Brabham achieved is special for me and difficult to take in just now," Webber said before starting formula one's most iconic race, which he led from start to finish.
"He is a legend in the Webber house and if it was not for Jack Brabham I would not be here now. My dad followed him closely and was a big fan - he always followed open-wheeled racing much more than what we call 'taxi-racing' at home. He has been an inspiration and a friend and he has done a lot for me."
Webber, who last week won the Spanish Grand Prix in similar fashion, shot to the lead at the first turn in his Red Bull dream machine ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Spectators didn't have to wait long for drama, with Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) crashing at 270km/h in the tunnel on the first lap, bringing out the safety car.
Button was the next casualty, with his McLaren's engine overheating on lap three. The safety car departed the track on lap six and the racing resumed. "I think it got a little bit hot on the way to the grid," Button told the BBC. "We left a [air intake] bung in on the left-hand side of the car that obviously you're meant to take out on the way to the grid. That's cooked the engine."
Webber, who could be Ferrari's potential replacement for the Brazilian Felipe Massa next season, set several fastest laps before narrowly avoiding disaster on lap 74 of 78 when two back-markers crashed in front of him. He went to the chequered flag just after the fourth safety car of the race left the track, with Vettel pipping Robert Kubica (Renault) for second place.
Vettel said "I couldn't keep up with him today. He was gone too far away for me and I had to race to stay second this time."
Kubica "I tried to pass Sebastian, but I lost the place on the first lap and that was it."
Massa came home fourth for Ferrari ahead of the 2008 champion Briton Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren with seven-times champion German Michael Schumacher, 41, taking sixth for Mercedes after a controversial move behind the Safety Car to pass Spaniard Fernando Alonso on the final lap.
Schumacher was later penalised 20 seconds for the manoeuvre by stewards and relegated to 12th spot.
Schumacher's Mercedes team-mate and compatriot Nico Rosberg was promoted to seventh ahead of another German Adrian Sutil of Force India. Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi was ninth th in the second Force India.
Webber was almost drawn into a late drama when he came into the Rascasse hairpin to find Italian Jarno Trulli of Lotus colliding with Indian Karun Chandhok of the Hispania team in spectacular fashion.
"He flew in the air and I was just hoping there would be some room to go through on the inside and I would have some options," said Webber. "Thankfully I did."
Chandhok "Jarno Trulli has just apologised to me - there was absolutely no way he could get through there. It's a real shame because I was driving my best race of the year so far and I was on track to be the best of the new teams.
"His car just missed my head. I ducked down and it came over and hit the roll hoop."
Understandably, Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali took a dim view of Schumacher's passing of Alonso behind the safety car.
"That should be the rule... you can't overtake on the final lap. Our understanding of the regulations is pretty clear, but let's just and see what the stewards say."
While Trulli's crash may have been spectacular, it was no more horrifying than the two that saw the two Williams men eliminated earlier when they crashed out - German rookie Hulkenberg in the tunnel and Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello at Massanet - in separate incidents.
Both were huge accidents that caused great damage to the cars, ripping off wheels and wings. "After my pit stop, the car was not together, the steering wheel felt numb," said Barrichello. "Something was not good until the crash. They are analysing what went on.."
For Webber, there was no immediate analysis pending. "I predict a few sore heads in the morning," he said. "You have to celebrate your wins and they don't come any better than this."
Meanwhile, Australia scored a rare double at Monaco, with 20-year-old Daniel Ricciardo claiming victory in the final support race.
Ricciardo, from Perth, earned his first win in the World Series by Renault with his debut drive at Monaco and has already been touted a formula one star of the future.
Driving for French Team Tech 1, Ricciardo never looked back after claiming pole position.
Media Man very occasional mentor (but full time inspiration), Sir Richard Branson, quite the business and sporting daredevil all-rounder, summed it up beautifully a few months ago..."We're going to make racing fun and sexy again". Fun and sexy for your Virgin Racing - Full Tilt Poker pairing too we note, but PartyGaming is also in the race. Could be not long until we see a James Packer' Crown Casino - City Of Dreams or Betfair F1 car doing laps, and winning? Don't laugh, stranger things have happened...
Australia in the lead and online poker rooms sponsoring Branson's Virgin Racing... anything is indeed possible as the world of professional motorsport and poker evolves. As real life superhero Bill Goldberg (and his monster truck team say), "Whose Next"? Go Aussie Go!
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover over a dozen industry verticals including gaming and sports betting. Media Man publish Australian Sports Entertainment
*The writer has conducted b2b with various arms of Betfair, PartyGaming and Virgin
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited and Virgin
Website Network
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Casino
Media Man Poker
Media Man Games
Australian Sports Entertainment
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