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		<title><![CDATA[PokerLOG Poker Player Forums - All Forums]]></title>
		<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[PokerLOG Poker Player Forums - http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum]]></description>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:59:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<generator>MyBB</generator>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[PRIVATE POKER TOURNAMENT INVITE]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=96</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:01:56 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=96</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[PRIVATE POKER TOURNAMENTS INVITE<br />
40&#36; free with the bonus code, free4T<br />
plus join our private events free for real cash pay outs!!!!<br />
Next event: Tuesday 29th July<br />
Buying: Free<br />
Password: molly<br />
Find it under private tournaments <br />
 <br />
Download the software: https://www.poker4ever.com/?bonus=free4T<br />
<br />
10's ot thousands Guaranteed<br />
Every week at Poker4ever we are guaranteeing 10's thousands of dollars to meet our tournament guarantees. We now have 23 GTD games every day at times and budgets to suit all. We actually GUARANTEE &#36;500,000 every month. Take your pick: &#36;10,000 guaranteed every Sunday at 15:00 P4E time. &#36;5,000 every day at 15:00 P4E time and many more!<br />
<br />
daily &#36; 50 to &#36;200 freerolls. daily &#36;1000, &#36;5000 Guaranteed prizes to be won. Also there is a weekly &#36;10, 000 guaranteed prize for players.  current popular promotions in which we are offering cash packages to major poker events. <br />
<br />
Still to be won are: <br />
<br />
A package worth &#36;3000 which includes a Western Caribbean cruise for 2 in March 2009 and entry into the poker tournament. <br />
<br />
A package of &#36;5000 for the Asian Poker Tour with &#36;1,000,000 guaranteed tournaments. <br />
<br />
A package worth &#36;2000 which includes entry into the main event for Poland Olympic. <br />
<br />
What to do? <br />
<br />
Download the software: https://www.poker4ever.com/?bonus=free4T<br />
<br />
Log into the software:<br />
<br />
Good luck.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[PRIVATE POKER TOURNAMENTS INVITE<br />
40&#36; free with the bonus code, free4T<br />
plus join our private events free for real cash pay outs!!!!<br />
Next event: Tuesday 29th July<br />
Buying: Free<br />
Password: molly<br />
Find it under private tournaments <br />
 <br />
Download the software: https://www.poker4ever.com/?bonus=free4T<br />
<br />
10's ot thousands Guaranteed<br />
Every week at Poker4ever we are guaranteeing 10's thousands of dollars to meet our tournament guarantees. We now have 23 GTD games every day at times and budgets to suit all. We actually GUARANTEE &#36;500,000 every month. Take your pick: &#36;10,000 guaranteed every Sunday at 15:00 P4E time. &#36;5,000 every day at 15:00 P4E time and many more!<br />
<br />
daily &#36; 50 to &#36;200 freerolls. daily &#36;1000, &#36;5000 Guaranteed prizes to be won. Also there is a weekly &#36;10, 000 guaranteed prize for players.  current popular promotions in which we are offering cash packages to major poker events. <br />
<br />
Still to be won are: <br />
<br />
A package worth &#36;3000 which includes a Western Caribbean cruise for 2 in March 2009 and entry into the poker tournament. <br />
<br />
A package of &#36;5000 for the Asian Poker Tour with &#36;1,000,000 guaranteed tournaments. <br />
<br />
A package worth &#36;2000 which includes entry into the main event for Poland Olympic. <br />
<br />
What to do? <br />
<br />
Download the software: https://www.poker4ever.com/?bonus=free4T<br />
<br />
Log into the software:<br />
<br />
Good luck.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Hey everyone]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=95</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:07:46 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=95</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Hey everyone name is brian and i hope that this site helps me to become a better player.<br />
ps Forum emty ?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Hey everyone name is brian and i hope that this site helps me to become a better player.<br />
ps Forum emty ?]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Poker Cheats Busted at the Borgata]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=94</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:29:06 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=94</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[This week the New Jersey Attorney General's office released details on the arrests of four individuals involved in a poker-related cheating scam at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City on June 7, 2007. A noted casino-industry cheating expert, Steve Forte, along with Joseph T. Ingargiola, Stephen Phillips, and James C. Harrison, have been charged with using a computer and cheating devices to commit theft, attempted theft by deception and conspiracy. All defendants are currently free on bail.<br />
<br />
The four men allegedly were involved in a scheme that involved luring high-stakes poker players to a Borgata hotel room which was fitted with hidden cameras. The cameras were placed in a manner such that players' hole cards were visible. There were also instances where marked decks of cards were employed. The NJ Attorney General's Office also alleged that the men were using computer simulation programs to calculate their odds in any given hand.<br />
<br />
According to his website, defendant Steve Forte is president of his own consulting company, International Gaming Protection, and lists many of the nation's largest casinos as his clients. Forte has a book out entitled "Poker Protection – Cheating…and the World of Poker" that specifically addresses how to detect cheating in a private game and details the use of marked cards and cheating crews.<br />
<br />
Early news reports implied that the cheating scam was concurrent and somehow associated with the Borgata's Summer Open Championship Event. The arrests, however, were made almost one week prior to the start of the tournament's preliminary events. According to both the Borgata and the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office, the cheating scam was conducted off the gaming floor and was never intended to target the Borgata's poker or tournament rooms.<br />
<br />
While high technology was employed in this cheating scam, the scenario represented nothing new. The cheaters thought they were too smart to get caught and the cheated probably should have known better – well, they might have known better if they had read Steve Forte's book.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[This week the New Jersey Attorney General's office released details on the arrests of four individuals involved in a poker-related cheating scam at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City on June 7, 2007. A noted casino-industry cheating expert, Steve Forte, along with Joseph T. Ingargiola, Stephen Phillips, and James C. Harrison, have been charged with using a computer and cheating devices to commit theft, attempted theft by deception and conspiracy. All defendants are currently free on bail.<br />
<br />
The four men allegedly were involved in a scheme that involved luring high-stakes poker players to a Borgata hotel room which was fitted with hidden cameras. The cameras were placed in a manner such that players' hole cards were visible. There were also instances where marked decks of cards were employed. The NJ Attorney General's Office also alleged that the men were using computer simulation programs to calculate their odds in any given hand.<br />
<br />
According to his website, defendant Steve Forte is president of his own consulting company, International Gaming Protection, and lists many of the nation's largest casinos as his clients. Forte has a book out entitled "Poker Protection – Cheating…and the World of Poker" that specifically addresses how to detect cheating in a private game and details the use of marked cards and cheating crews.<br />
<br />
Early news reports implied that the cheating scam was concurrent and somehow associated with the Borgata's Summer Open Championship Event. The arrests, however, were made almost one week prior to the start of the tournament's preliminary events. According to both the Borgata and the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office, the cheating scam was conducted off the gaming floor and was never intended to target the Borgata's poker or tournament rooms.<br />
<br />
While high technology was employed in this cheating scam, the scenario represented nothing new. The cheaters thought they were too smart to get caught and the cheated probably should have known better – well, they might have known better if they had read Steve Forte's book.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[World Poker Congress Announces November Gathering]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=93</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:28:33 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=93</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Following in the success of last year's inaugural World Poker Congress gathering, the WPC has once again scheduled Jeffrey Pollack and Steve Lipscomb as speakers for the keynote address for the second annual WPC event in late November. This year, the WPC will be taking place at the Westin Dragonara Resort in St. Julian's, Malta and will run for two days (November 29th and 30th, 2007).<br />
<br />
The aim of the WPC has been to "examine the synergy between the traditional land-based and online poker industry." This year's two-day event will cover such topics as how to manage tournaments, rake, fraud, the introduction of new games, and will even focus on technological advances in the poker world.<br />
<br />
<br />
Both Jeffrey Pollack and Steve Lipscomb are well known for their achievements in the poker world. In 2005, Jeffrey Pollack took the job of vice president of sports and entertainment marketing for Harrahs, which put him in charge of all of Harrahs' sports venues, including the World Series of Poker (of which Pollack is Commissioner). Pollack has been fundamental in the success of the World Series of Poker since arriving at Harrahs, and by signing on to be a keynote speaker alongside Lipscomb, Pollack continues to show his dedication to the game.<br />
<br />
Steve Lipscomb is best known for his success in the creation of the World Poker Tour. Lipscomb serves as the CEO and founder of the WPT and continues as the driving force behind that long-running, successful tour.<br />
<br />
According to the WPC, attendees will:<br />
<br />
• Learn from the experts in both sectors as they discuss critical issues and ideas;<br />
<br />
• Network with high-level executives from the most prominent companies service the fast-growing poker industry;<br />
<br />
• Expand one's product range, improve efficiency and understand one's customers better with services specific to poker.<br />
<br />
The World Poker Congress continues to be at the forefront of gatherings about the business and operation of poker, beneficial for anyone hoping to become more educated about the game.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Following in the success of last year's inaugural World Poker Congress gathering, the WPC has once again scheduled Jeffrey Pollack and Steve Lipscomb as speakers for the keynote address for the second annual WPC event in late November. This year, the WPC will be taking place at the Westin Dragonara Resort in St. Julian's, Malta and will run for two days (November 29th and 30th, 2007).<br />
<br />
The aim of the WPC has been to "examine the synergy between the traditional land-based and online poker industry." This year's two-day event will cover such topics as how to manage tournaments, rake, fraud, the introduction of new games, and will even focus on technological advances in the poker world.<br />
<br />
<br />
Both Jeffrey Pollack and Steve Lipscomb are well known for their achievements in the poker world. In 2005, Jeffrey Pollack took the job of vice president of sports and entertainment marketing for Harrahs, which put him in charge of all of Harrahs' sports venues, including the World Series of Poker (of which Pollack is Commissioner). Pollack has been fundamental in the success of the World Series of Poker since arriving at Harrahs, and by signing on to be a keynote speaker alongside Lipscomb, Pollack continues to show his dedication to the game.<br />
<br />
Steve Lipscomb is best known for his success in the creation of the World Poker Tour. Lipscomb serves as the CEO and founder of the WPT and continues as the driving force behind that long-running, successful tour.<br />
<br />
According to the WPC, attendees will:<br />
<br />
• Learn from the experts in both sectors as they discuss critical issues and ideas;<br />
<br />
• Network with high-level executives from the most prominent companies service the fast-growing poker industry;<br />
<br />
• Expand one's product range, improve efficiency and understand one's customers better with services specific to poker.<br />
<br />
The World Poker Congress continues to be at the forefront of gatherings about the business and operation of poker, beneficial for anyone hoping to become more educated about the game.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[NETeller Shares Relisted on London's AIM Board]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=92</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:27:54 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=92</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[With its prospects of returning to the U.S. market vanquished and subsequent bad news from other nations reducing its long-term viability, beleaguered online payment processor NETeller Plc nonetheless succeeded in having its shares returned to active trading status on Wednesday on London's Alternative Investment Market [AIM]. Share prices trended lower in early trading.<br />
<br />
NETeller stock had been suspended on January 16, 2007, in the wake of charges filed against NETeller founders Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre and NETeller's subsequent pullout from the U.S. NETeller has since departed several other countries, including, most recently, Israel, which the company exited last week. The return to active status on the AIM board was uncertain, due to the delay in the settlement of NETeller's own case with the U.S., and the seizure of roughly &#36;60 million in U.S. customer funds. While those funds remain seized by the U.S. Department of Justice, the announcement of the agreement between NETeller and the U.S. DoJ finally allowed for the relisting of the stock, despite the fact that the company's shares remained suspended slightly beyond the six-month maximum called for by AIM rules.<br />
<br />
According to Ron Martin, now NETeller's president and CEO, "The restoration of trading in the Company's shares marks the first step in a new chapter for the NETeller Group following our resolution with the US authorities announced last week. With our vision to provide innovative payment solutions for e-commerce communities, our initial focus will be to dominate payments in our chosen online gaming markets."<br />
<br />
Martin also added this, regarding NETeller's future plans: "Online payments in many market sectors are growing rapidly and we believe that the e-wallet will continue to grow in popularity. While there is much work to do and many challenges lie ahead, we believe that the Company is well positioned to benefit from these trends." In related news, NETeller appointed a new advisor and broker, Daniel Stewart & Co. Plc.<br />
<br />
The release noting the return to active AIM status also included the following, regarding the U.S. funds still held by the company: "The Group continues to progress its plans to implement the Distribution Plan for the return of approximately US&#36; 94 million of US customers' funds by 30 July 2007. A further announcement will be made as soon as the Company has further information for its US customers."]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[With its prospects of returning to the U.S. market vanquished and subsequent bad news from other nations reducing its long-term viability, beleaguered online payment processor NETeller Plc nonetheless succeeded in having its shares returned to active trading status on Wednesday on London's Alternative Investment Market [AIM]. Share prices trended lower in early trading.<br />
<br />
NETeller stock had been suspended on January 16, 2007, in the wake of charges filed against NETeller founders Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre and NETeller's subsequent pullout from the U.S. NETeller has since departed several other countries, including, most recently, Israel, which the company exited last week. The return to active status on the AIM board was uncertain, due to the delay in the settlement of NETeller's own case with the U.S., and the seizure of roughly &#36;60 million in U.S. customer funds. While those funds remain seized by the U.S. Department of Justice, the announcement of the agreement between NETeller and the U.S. DoJ finally allowed for the relisting of the stock, despite the fact that the company's shares remained suspended slightly beyond the six-month maximum called for by AIM rules.<br />
<br />
According to Ron Martin, now NETeller's president and CEO, "The restoration of trading in the Company's shares marks the first step in a new chapter for the NETeller Group following our resolution with the US authorities announced last week. With our vision to provide innovative payment solutions for e-commerce communities, our initial focus will be to dominate payments in our chosen online gaming markets."<br />
<br />
Martin also added this, regarding NETeller's future plans: "Online payments in many market sectors are growing rapidly and we believe that the e-wallet will continue to grow in popularity. While there is much work to do and many challenges lie ahead, we believe that the Company is well positioned to benefit from these trends." In related news, NETeller appointed a new advisor and broker, Daniel Stewart & Co. Plc.<br />
<br />
The release noting the return to active AIM status also included the following, regarding the U.S. funds still held by the company: "The Group continues to progress its plans to implement the Distribution Plan for the return of approximately US&#36; 94 million of US customers' funds by 30 July 2007. A further announcement will be made as soon as the Company has further information for its US customers."]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Laak-Eslami Team Defeats Polaris in Man-Machine Poker Championship]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=91</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:27:10 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=91</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Poker professionals Phil Laak and Ali Eslami have defeated a poker-playing computer program dubbed Polaris in the "First Man-Machine Poker Championship." The two-day, four-session match took place at the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence in Vancouver, Canada. Polaris finished ahead of the human team in both of the Monday sessions, although the margin of victory in the first session was small enough to be determined a "statistical tie." On Tuesday, however, Laak and Eslami were able to defeat Polaris in both sessions.<br />
<br />
Polaris was developed by the University of Alberta's Computer Poker Research Group (CPRG). The group is led by Jonathan Schaeffer, chair of the U. of Alberta's Department of Computing Science. I had the opportunity to speak with Prof. Schaeffer late Tuesday afternoon, just as the third session was drawing to a close. I asked Schaeffer what the outcome of the match would signify to the CPRG.<br />
<br />
"If we lose, we lick our wounds and go back to the drawing board to try to develop new and better technology," answered Schaeffer. "If we win, we analyze the matches to better understand what happened." He added that even if Polaris were to defeat Laak and Eslami, "these are a small number of hands played under conditions not necessarily favorable to the humans." He explained that given different circumstances he was certain that some players might well perform more effectively against the program.<br />
<br />
I mentioned to Schaeffer recent controversies involving online poker and the use of "poker bots." "I want to be clear," he said. "We do not play online poker. None of our software is enabled to play online poker on any of the sites." He also noted that none of the Poker Academy software that incorporates some of his group's research is designed to play online, either.<br />
<br />
Rather -- as is explained on the match website -- games "are an excellent domain for artificial intelligence (AI) research because games have well defined rules and clear goals." Because poker "contains uncertainty," it poses an especially "interesting research challenge." For the same reason, poker is an especially fruitful game to study, since uncertainty is "also prevalent in real-world problems for which AI techniques are being sought."<br />
<br />
The Match<br />
<br />
Each session consisted of 500 hands of "duplicate" limit Hold'em, with &#36;5/&#36;10 blinds and &#36;10/&#36;20 limits. The first session began just after noon on Monday, July 23rd. Eslami took on Polaris before a live audience, his game projected onto a widescreen for all to see. Meanwhile, Laak played in a private room elsewhere in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The cards Eslami received in the public room were the same cards dealt to Polaris upstairs, while Polaris' cards in the public room were the same dealt to Laak in the private room. The community cards were also identical.<br />
<br />
Eslami's initial encounter with Polaris was an up-and-down affair. Near the midpoint of his session, Eslami was over &#36;800 ahead of the computer, then saw his entire lead evaporate over the course of the next hundred hands. A final upswing enabled Eslami to finish &#36;395 ahead. Meanwhile, Laak suffered a miserable start against Polaris, finding himself down more than &#36;1,500 before they had even played 200 hands. Interestingly, a comparison of the two players' matches shows that with the same combinations of cards Eslami had only built half the lead Polaris did during that early part of the session. Laak mounted a late comeback and managed to finish just &#36;465 down by the end of the 500 hands.<br />
<br />
When the two sessions were added together, Polaris ended with a &#36;70 edge over the humans -- seven small bets. It had been determined beforehand that a team would need to finish with an advantage of 25 small bets (&#36;250) or greater to earn a victory, otherwise the match would be declared a statistical tie. Laak and Eslami split a &#36;2,500 prize for earning the draw in the first session. Score: Laak-Eslami 0, Polaris 0, with one draw.<br />
<br />
Monday's evening session saw Laak take the seat in the public room while Eslami headed upstairs. The second session drew a large crowd, with over a hundred spectators (including Laak's girlfriend, Jennifer Tilly) watching Laak play and being entertained by his occasional "Polaris is sick" comments.<br />
<br />
Laak started strong, building a lead over Polaris that he maintained throughout the match. In Hand No. 198, Laak was dealt (9-Spades)(10-Spades) in the big blind while Polaris held (Q-Diamonds)(10-Hearts). Polaris raised and Laak called, and the flop came (9-Diamonds)(10-Clubs)(5-Hearts). Both Laak and Polaris checked. The turn was the (8-Clubs) and Laak bet out, only to be raised by Polaris. Laak called. The river was the (2-Spades), and Laak check-called Polaris to take down the &#36;80 pot. Laak continued steadily to build his lead, ending &#36;1,560 to the good.<br />
<br />
However, Eslami hadn't fared as well, with Polaris having taken &#36;2,515 from him using the same cards Laak had been dealt. For example, in that same Hand No. 198, Polaris picked up extra bets preflop (where the computer raised with (9-Spades)(10-Spades)), the flop (where Polaris bet out), and the river (with a check-raise). The dominating 95.5 small bet advantage meant victory for Polaris in session No. 2. Score: Polaris 1, Laak-Eslami 0, with one draw.<br />
<br />
Laak and Eslami were given hand logs to study before coming back Tuesday for the final two sessions. Laak -- in the public room for the third session -- was essentially even with Polaris after 250 hands, holding a mere &#36;30 advantage. A rush of cards thereafter enabled Laak to build a &#36;1,800 lead through 425 hands. He finished the session &#36;1,415 ahead, and there was some suspense as Laak and the audience awaited news regarding Eslami's duplicate session. During the wait it was determined that a brief glitch during play upstairs meant one hand had to be thrown out, adding another &#36;40 to Laak's total. Finally Eslami returned and it was reported he'd only lost &#36;635 to Polaris, meaning the human team had cumulatively finished &#36;820 -- 82 small bets -- ahead of the program to take the third session and the &#36;5,000 prize that went with winning. Score: Polaris 1, Laak-Eslami 1, with one draw.<br />
<br />
Laak and Eslami's win added extra drama to the final session Tuesday evening, as its outcome would now determine the overall winner. After a dinner break and a prematch strategy session, the players returned to battle Polaris one last time. "This is so intense," said Laak. "I've never had a huddle session before a poker match before."<br />
<br />
Eslami returned to the public room and got off to a good start by turning trip nines to defeat Polaris's pair of jacks. A hundred hands later, however, Eslami had slipped to a &#36;255 deficit. As the match progressed, Eslami explained to the audience some of his ideas about how the program was playing, as well as how exhausting it was to play against such a relentless opponent. Eslami would battle back to retake the lead around the 225-hand mark, eventually building a &#36;895 advantage after 325 hands. He'd keep that lead to the end, finishing &#36;460 ahead of Polaris. Laak soon returned from the private room to report that he'd also finished ahead of Polaris by &#36;110, meaning the humans had together accumulated &#36;570, or 57 small bets, more than their computer opponent. The pair netted another &#36;5,000 for the second session victory. Final score: Laak-Eslami 2, Polaris 1, with one draw.<br />
<br />
The Study Continues<br />
<br />
Much as Schaeffer had earlier downplayed the relative significance of a single sample of 2,000 duplicate hands, Eslami likewise insisted afterwards "this was not a win." Indeed, over the 4,000 hands played, the humans ended with only a small (&#36;365 or 36.5 small bets) cumulative advantage.<br />
<br />
Still, the match should give Schaeffer and the CPRG a great deal of new information with which to continue their research. Last week it was reported that after nearly two decades of study, he and fellow researchers had finally "solved" checkers, creating an essentially unbeatable program that always chose the best possible move. I asked Schaeffer if the CPRG similarly hoped to "solve" poker. "One of these days -- within 5 to 10 years -- two-person, limit Hold'em will be solved," Schaeffer told me.<br />
<br />
"We're going to keep working on this," he added. "Poker is fun."]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Poker professionals Phil Laak and Ali Eslami have defeated a poker-playing computer program dubbed Polaris in the "First Man-Machine Poker Championship." The two-day, four-session match took place at the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence in Vancouver, Canada. Polaris finished ahead of the human team in both of the Monday sessions, although the margin of victory in the first session was small enough to be determined a "statistical tie." On Tuesday, however, Laak and Eslami were able to defeat Polaris in both sessions.<br />
<br />
Polaris was developed by the University of Alberta's Computer Poker Research Group (CPRG). The group is led by Jonathan Schaeffer, chair of the U. of Alberta's Department of Computing Science. I had the opportunity to speak with Prof. Schaeffer late Tuesday afternoon, just as the third session was drawing to a close. I asked Schaeffer what the outcome of the match would signify to the CPRG.<br />
<br />
"If we lose, we lick our wounds and go back to the drawing board to try to develop new and better technology," answered Schaeffer. "If we win, we analyze the matches to better understand what happened." He added that even if Polaris were to defeat Laak and Eslami, "these are a small number of hands played under conditions not necessarily favorable to the humans." He explained that given different circumstances he was certain that some players might well perform more effectively against the program.<br />
<br />
I mentioned to Schaeffer recent controversies involving online poker and the use of "poker bots." "I want to be clear," he said. "We do not play online poker. None of our software is enabled to play online poker on any of the sites." He also noted that none of the Poker Academy software that incorporates some of his group's research is designed to play online, either.<br />
<br />
Rather -- as is explained on the match website -- games "are an excellent domain for artificial intelligence (AI) research because games have well defined rules and clear goals." Because poker "contains uncertainty," it poses an especially "interesting research challenge." For the same reason, poker is an especially fruitful game to study, since uncertainty is "also prevalent in real-world problems for which AI techniques are being sought."<br />
<br />
The Match<br />
<br />
Each session consisted of 500 hands of "duplicate" limit Hold'em, with &#36;5/&#36;10 blinds and &#36;10/&#36;20 limits. The first session began just after noon on Monday, July 23rd. Eslami took on Polaris before a live audience, his game projected onto a widescreen for all to see. Meanwhile, Laak played in a private room elsewhere in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The cards Eslami received in the public room were the same cards dealt to Polaris upstairs, while Polaris' cards in the public room were the same dealt to Laak in the private room. The community cards were also identical.<br />
<br />
Eslami's initial encounter with Polaris was an up-and-down affair. Near the midpoint of his session, Eslami was over &#36;800 ahead of the computer, then saw his entire lead evaporate over the course of the next hundred hands. A final upswing enabled Eslami to finish &#36;395 ahead. Meanwhile, Laak suffered a miserable start against Polaris, finding himself down more than &#36;1,500 before they had even played 200 hands. Interestingly, a comparison of the two players' matches shows that with the same combinations of cards Eslami had only built half the lead Polaris did during that early part of the session. Laak mounted a late comeback and managed to finish just &#36;465 down by the end of the 500 hands.<br />
<br />
When the two sessions were added together, Polaris ended with a &#36;70 edge over the humans -- seven small bets. It had been determined beforehand that a team would need to finish with an advantage of 25 small bets (&#36;250) or greater to earn a victory, otherwise the match would be declared a statistical tie. Laak and Eslami split a &#36;2,500 prize for earning the draw in the first session. Score: Laak-Eslami 0, Polaris 0, with one draw.<br />
<br />
Monday's evening session saw Laak take the seat in the public room while Eslami headed upstairs. The second session drew a large crowd, with over a hundred spectators (including Laak's girlfriend, Jennifer Tilly) watching Laak play and being entertained by his occasional "Polaris is sick" comments.<br />
<br />
Laak started strong, building a lead over Polaris that he maintained throughout the match. In Hand No. 198, Laak was dealt (9-Spades)(10-Spades) in the big blind while Polaris held (Q-Diamonds)(10-Hearts). Polaris raised and Laak called, and the flop came (9-Diamonds)(10-Clubs)(5-Hearts). Both Laak and Polaris checked. The turn was the (8-Clubs) and Laak bet out, only to be raised by Polaris. Laak called. The river was the (2-Spades), and Laak check-called Polaris to take down the &#36;80 pot. Laak continued steadily to build his lead, ending &#36;1,560 to the good.<br />
<br />
However, Eslami hadn't fared as well, with Polaris having taken &#36;2,515 from him using the same cards Laak had been dealt. For example, in that same Hand No. 198, Polaris picked up extra bets preflop (where the computer raised with (9-Spades)(10-Spades)), the flop (where Polaris bet out), and the river (with a check-raise). The dominating 95.5 small bet advantage meant victory for Polaris in session No. 2. Score: Polaris 1, Laak-Eslami 0, with one draw.<br />
<br />
Laak and Eslami were given hand logs to study before coming back Tuesday for the final two sessions. Laak -- in the public room for the third session -- was essentially even with Polaris after 250 hands, holding a mere &#36;30 advantage. A rush of cards thereafter enabled Laak to build a &#36;1,800 lead through 425 hands. He finished the session &#36;1,415 ahead, and there was some suspense as Laak and the audience awaited news regarding Eslami's duplicate session. During the wait it was determined that a brief glitch during play upstairs meant one hand had to be thrown out, adding another &#36;40 to Laak's total. Finally Eslami returned and it was reported he'd only lost &#36;635 to Polaris, meaning the human team had cumulatively finished &#36;820 -- 82 small bets -- ahead of the program to take the third session and the &#36;5,000 prize that went with winning. Score: Polaris 1, Laak-Eslami 1, with one draw.<br />
<br />
Laak and Eslami's win added extra drama to the final session Tuesday evening, as its outcome would now determine the overall winner. After a dinner break and a prematch strategy session, the players returned to battle Polaris one last time. "This is so intense," said Laak. "I've never had a huddle session before a poker match before."<br />
<br />
Eslami returned to the public room and got off to a good start by turning trip nines to defeat Polaris's pair of jacks. A hundred hands later, however, Eslami had slipped to a &#36;255 deficit. As the match progressed, Eslami explained to the audience some of his ideas about how the program was playing, as well as how exhausting it was to play against such a relentless opponent. Eslami would battle back to retake the lead around the 225-hand mark, eventually building a &#36;895 advantage after 325 hands. He'd keep that lead to the end, finishing &#36;460 ahead of Polaris. Laak soon returned from the private room to report that he'd also finished ahead of Polaris by &#36;110, meaning the humans had together accumulated &#36;570, or 57 small bets, more than their computer opponent. The pair netted another &#36;5,000 for the second session victory. Final score: Laak-Eslami 2, Polaris 1, with one draw.<br />
<br />
The Study Continues<br />
<br />
Much as Schaeffer had earlier downplayed the relative significance of a single sample of 2,000 duplicate hands, Eslami likewise insisted afterwards "this was not a win." Indeed, over the 4,000 hands played, the humans ended with only a small (&#36;365 or 36.5 small bets) cumulative advantage.<br />
<br />
Still, the match should give Schaeffer and the CPRG a great deal of new information with which to continue their research. Last week it was reported that after nearly two decades of study, he and fellow researchers had finally "solved" checkers, creating an essentially unbeatable program that always chose the best possible move. I asked Schaeffer if the CPRG similarly hoped to "solve" poker. "One of these days -- within 5 to 10 years -- two-person, limit Hold'em will be solved," Schaeffer told me.<br />
<br />
"We're going to keep working on this," he added. "Poker is fun."]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Party Poker Dutch Open to be filmed in England]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=90</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:25:30 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=90</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[The title of this item may sound "Double Dutch" but it is true. The first Party Poker Dutch Open will be filmed in London between 11th and 14th August under the guiding hand of TV poker regulars Matchroom Sport, the company owned by poker, snooker, darts and boxing promoter, Barry Hearn.<br />
This event is TV driven so we surmise that the banks of the Brouwersgracht were considered an inappropriate stage for this inaugural event! Location aside, everything else about this poker tournament will be coloured Dutch orange through and through.<br />
<br />
The Netherlands can boast an array of fine poker talent. World Poker Tour Main Event winner, Rob Hollink, is an obvious example and he will be involved, not only playing the event but also contributing to the TV commentary. He will hope this does not include covering the final table as he would prefer to be on screen at that juncture.<br />
<br />
Another Dutch luminary will be Rolf Slotboom, a well-known poker writer as well as accomplished player, particularly at the Omaha tables. If you ever sit down at an Omaha cash table and find Mr Slotboom opposite you, take great care! With four cash finishes at this year's WSOP, none of them Omaha, three of them Texas Hold'em, Rolf Slotboom will be one to watch at the Dutch Open.<br />
<br />
Another cash finisher at the WSOP was Milly Uylenbroek, who achieved this in the Ladies no limit Texas Hold'em event. She will also be competing in London. Other players will include Tsai Chen and Peter Dalhuijsen, along with a highly regarded group of players under the name of "Team Veronica Poker".<br />
<br />
All 36 Dutch players will buy-in for €2,500 hoping to win the first prize of €50,000 from an added-to prize pool of €117,000.<br />
<br />
A Party Poker spokesman said:<br />
<br />
"Dutch players are a major force in the poker world and this is a great way to showcase their talents. We're delighted to be sponsoring this tournament but we decided not to insist on orange felt on the table. After all, the orange and dark orange chips were the subject of a lot of debate at the WSOP. We're not sure if it is the favourite colour of poker players other than main event winner Jerry Yang at the moment, even if the player is Dutch!"]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The title of this item may sound "Double Dutch" but it is true. The first Party Poker Dutch Open will be filmed in London between 11th and 14th August under the guiding hand of TV poker regulars Matchroom Sport, the company owned by poker, snooker, darts and boxing promoter, Barry Hearn.<br />
This event is TV driven so we surmise that the banks of the Brouwersgracht were considered an inappropriate stage for this inaugural event! Location aside, everything else about this poker tournament will be coloured Dutch orange through and through.<br />
<br />
The Netherlands can boast an array of fine poker talent. World Poker Tour Main Event winner, Rob Hollink, is an obvious example and he will be involved, not only playing the event but also contributing to the TV commentary. He will hope this does not include covering the final table as he would prefer to be on screen at that juncture.<br />
<br />
Another Dutch luminary will be Rolf Slotboom, a well-known poker writer as well as accomplished player, particularly at the Omaha tables. If you ever sit down at an Omaha cash table and find Mr Slotboom opposite you, take great care! With four cash finishes at this year's WSOP, none of them Omaha, three of them Texas Hold'em, Rolf Slotboom will be one to watch at the Dutch Open.<br />
<br />
Another cash finisher at the WSOP was Milly Uylenbroek, who achieved this in the Ladies no limit Texas Hold'em event. She will also be competing in London. Other players will include Tsai Chen and Peter Dalhuijsen, along with a highly regarded group of players under the name of "Team Veronica Poker".<br />
<br />
All 36 Dutch players will buy-in for €2,500 hoping to win the first prize of €50,000 from an added-to prize pool of €117,000.<br />
<br />
A Party Poker spokesman said:<br />
<br />
"Dutch players are a major force in the poker world and this is a great way to showcase their talents. We're delighted to be sponsoring this tournament but we decided not to insist on orange felt on the table. After all, the orange and dark orange chips were the subject of a lot of debate at the WSOP. We're not sure if it is the favourite colour of poker players other than main event winner Jerry Yang at the moment, even if the player is Dutch!"]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Neteller Bounces Back From the Ropes]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=89</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:24:53 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=89</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Investors and US gamblers are heaving a sigh of relief after shares in Neteller plc, having been suspended for over six months with the heavy cloud of US legal threats hanging over the company, have returned to market with a rallying cry from its CEO Ron Martin.<br />
<br />
Neteller plc had, until the middle of 2006, been one of the London-based AIM market's stellar performers, earning multiple gains for investors as the company virtually monopolised the processing of money transfers by online gamblers and poker players, earning fat fees every time money was transferred by customers to the their Neteller "e-wallets" from credit cards and other sources. The customers, many from the US, then proceeded to transfer the money to individual online poker and gaming accounts. For poker players and other users, this was a convenient method to facilitate a recreational pastime. Players could even transfer funds to each other via their Neteller accounts.<br />
<br />
What many players would not have considered is that all such transfers represented the movement of funds, much of it from the US, to bank accounts held in offshore tax havens, the location of virtually all online gaming companies and Neteller itself. Of course, the flows were reversed every time a player cashed out back to their Neteller account and from there to his or her own bank account, but that was not of concern to the US authorities who concentrated on the potential for the "laundering" of criminal proceeds. In January 2007, after the arrests of the founding shareholders and former directors of Neteller, Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre, FBI Assistant Director Mark J. Mershon was quoted as describing the multibillion-dollar online gambling industry as "a colossal criminal enterprise masquerading as legitimate business".<br />
<br />
Last week, an announcement was made that Neteller plc had entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement ("DPA") with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York ("USAO"). This represents the resolution of the USAO's investigation into Neteller and, under its terms, Neteller has consented to the filing of a criminal information relating to transactions between internet gambling merchants and persons located in the US.<br />
<br />
The USAO has agreed to defer the prosecution of any federal charges and, as a consequence, Neteller will not be convicted of any federal crime, as long the company fulfils the set conditions of the DPA during the two year term of the agreement, following which the criminal information will be dismissed.<br />
<br />
As part of the DPA, Neteller has agreed to forfeit &#36;136,000,000 to the US which amount includes the monies of approximately &#36;60,000,000 that the USAO had previously seized. This sum is described as the "disgorgement of certain profits received by Neteller from the activities described in the Statement of Admitted Facts." In this Statement, Neteller admits that it had operated in the US an unlicensed money transmitting business and had participated in the performance of financial transactions for the purpose of promoting unlawful transactions between internet gambling merchants and persons located in the US."<br />
<br />
Neteller's plan to return funds of around &#36;94,000,000 to US customers and the restoration of the company's shares to trading on the AIM market have since been announced. US investors will know more about the return of their funds by 30th July, the date when the "plan" is to be implemented. Meanwhile, trading in Neteller's shares has been restored.<br />
<br />
Neteller has also announced its long-awaited 2006 financial results and issued a trading update for 2007. While the 2006 results show strong profit growth, Neteller has since had to pull out of its major markets of the US and Canada, along with the smaller markets of Turkey and Israel (the latter recently announced due to regulatory changes in that country affecting online gambling).<br />
<br />
Ron Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Neteller, concedes that the withdrawal of Neteller's payment solutions for the US and Canadian online gaming market is expected to result in a contraction of the group's revenue on an annualised basis of between 70% and 75% for the year ending 31st December 2007. He recognises that an impact of this magnitude requires a "comprehensive recovery strategy." However, Mr Martin concluded:<br />
<br />
"Whilst 2007 will require a restart in terms of revenue growth, the Group has many strengths and a successful track record. The online payments space remains a rapidly growing, highly desirable market and Neteller is committed to taking advantage of these opportunities. Despite the challenges we face, I remain optimistic about the potential for further success and stability well into the future."]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Investors and US gamblers are heaving a sigh of relief after shares in Neteller plc, having been suspended for over six months with the heavy cloud of US legal threats hanging over the company, have returned to market with a rallying cry from its CEO Ron Martin.<br />
<br />
Neteller plc had, until the middle of 2006, been one of the London-based AIM market's stellar performers, earning multiple gains for investors as the company virtually monopolised the processing of money transfers by online gamblers and poker players, earning fat fees every time money was transferred by customers to the their Neteller "e-wallets" from credit cards and other sources. The customers, many from the US, then proceeded to transfer the money to individual online poker and gaming accounts. For poker players and other users, this was a convenient method to facilitate a recreational pastime. Players could even transfer funds to each other via their Neteller accounts.<br />
<br />
What many players would not have considered is that all such transfers represented the movement of funds, much of it from the US, to bank accounts held in offshore tax havens, the location of virtually all online gaming companies and Neteller itself. Of course, the flows were reversed every time a player cashed out back to their Neteller account and from there to his or her own bank account, but that was not of concern to the US authorities who concentrated on the potential for the "laundering" of criminal proceeds. In January 2007, after the arrests of the founding shareholders and former directors of Neteller, Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre, FBI Assistant Director Mark J. Mershon was quoted as describing the multibillion-dollar online gambling industry as "a colossal criminal enterprise masquerading as legitimate business".<br />
<br />
Last week, an announcement was made that Neteller plc had entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement ("DPA") with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York ("USAO"). This represents the resolution of the USAO's investigation into Neteller and, under its terms, Neteller has consented to the filing of a criminal information relating to transactions between internet gambling merchants and persons located in the US.<br />
<br />
The USAO has agreed to defer the prosecution of any federal charges and, as a consequence, Neteller will not be convicted of any federal crime, as long the company fulfils the set conditions of the DPA during the two year term of the agreement, following which the criminal information will be dismissed.<br />
<br />
As part of the DPA, Neteller has agreed to forfeit &#36;136,000,000 to the US which amount includes the monies of approximately &#36;60,000,000 that the USAO had previously seized. This sum is described as the "disgorgement of certain profits received by Neteller from the activities described in the Statement of Admitted Facts." In this Statement, Neteller admits that it had operated in the US an unlicensed money transmitting business and had participated in the performance of financial transactions for the purpose of promoting unlawful transactions between internet gambling merchants and persons located in the US."<br />
<br />
Neteller's plan to return funds of around &#36;94,000,000 to US customers and the restoration of the company's shares to trading on the AIM market have since been announced. US investors will know more about the return of their funds by 30th July, the date when the "plan" is to be implemented. Meanwhile, trading in Neteller's shares has been restored.<br />
<br />
Neteller has also announced its long-awaited 2006 financial results and issued a trading update for 2007. While the 2006 results show strong profit growth, Neteller has since had to pull out of its major markets of the US and Canada, along with the smaller markets of Turkey and Israel (the latter recently announced due to regulatory changes in that country affecting online gambling).<br />
<br />
Ron Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Neteller, concedes that the withdrawal of Neteller's payment solutions for the US and Canadian online gaming market is expected to result in a contraction of the group's revenue on an annualised basis of between 70% and 75% for the year ending 31st December 2007. He recognises that an impact of this magnitude requires a "comprehensive recovery strategy." However, Mr Martin concluded:<br />
<br />
"Whilst 2007 will require a restart in terms of revenue growth, the Group has many strengths and a successful track record. The online payments space remains a rapidly growing, highly desirable market and Neteller is committed to taking advantage of these opportunities. Despite the challenges we face, I remain optimistic about the potential for further success and stability well into the future."]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Playtech Expansion Forges Ahead]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=88</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:24:17 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=88</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[London Stock Market-listed Playtech Limited has issued its latest trading statement highlighting its continued growth into a market leader in the design, development and licensing of software for the online and land-based gaming industry.<br />
<br />
Playtech says that its 2007 trading to date has shown exciting growth including a 22% increase in quarterly revenues from January-March 2007 to April-June 2007. While its casino revenues still outstrip poker by some distance, the growth in poker is still spectacular meaning that poker is fast catching up with casino.<br />
<br />
Playtech's poker revenues for the last three months (April-June 2007) were &#36;6,300,000 which is a whopping 288% increase compared with the same quarter a year ago (excluding US business). More tellingly, poker revenues are up 50% from the first quarter of 2007 (January-March 2007) which suggests 2007 is seeing a big transition of players to the iPoker Network that Playtech runs. The stable of growing European and Asian facing poker rooms include Titan Poker, CD Poker, Tony G Poker, VC Poker and the French specialist poker room Poker770.<br />
<br />
The casino business, which has been Playtech's traditional business also continues to grow. Its non-US revenues for the quarter to June 2007 were &#36;17,400,000, an increase of 15% on the first quarter and 76% over the last 12 months. A recent coup for Playtech was the signing up of MANSION's online casino operations.<br />
<br />
In overall terms, Playtech's entire revenues for the first six months of 2007 were &#36;44,000,000 which is 80% higher than the first half of 2006 (again excluding US numbers which are no longer relevant for business comparisons). Within that figure, poker business increased by 253%, helped by acquisitions and consolidation within the industry. This has seen the likes of Tribeca Tables (that used to be the home of VC Poker and many other popular rooms) and Tain Poker networks being subsumed into the iPoker Network.<br />
<br />
When the US numbers from 2006 are added, there has been an overall 5% decrease in revenues. However, given the massive impact that the US law changes had on the big players like Party Poker which lost over half its business in one hit, Playetch has steered a successful course from those choppy waters.<br />
<br />
Playtech's Chief Executive Officer, Mor Weizer, said:<br />
<br />
"The first six months has been an outstanding period for the Group, with the addition of 12 new licensees and growth experienced across all business areas. During the first half of 2007, Playtech gained a leading position with its poker offering and is now the world's largest independent poker network. Such a position, alongside the Company's market leading casino offering will continue to attract new licensees in the second half of 2007. The Group continues to invest in its new product pipeline in order to gain additional revenue streams and to maximise cross selling opportunities to its existing and future licensees."]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[London Stock Market-listed Playtech Limited has issued its latest trading statement highlighting its continued growth into a market leader in the design, development and licensing of software for the online and land-based gaming industry.<br />
<br />
Playtech says that its 2007 trading to date has shown exciting growth including a 22% increase in quarterly revenues from January-March 2007 to April-June 2007. While its casino revenues still outstrip poker by some distance, the growth in poker is still spectacular meaning that poker is fast catching up with casino.<br />
<br />
Playtech's poker revenues for the last three months (April-June 2007) were &#36;6,300,000 which is a whopping 288% increase compared with the same quarter a year ago (excluding US business). More tellingly, poker revenues are up 50% from the first quarter of 2007 (January-March 2007) which suggests 2007 is seeing a big transition of players to the iPoker Network that Playtech runs. The stable of growing European and Asian facing poker rooms include Titan Poker, CD Poker, Tony G Poker, VC Poker and the French specialist poker room Poker770.<br />
<br />
The casino business, which has been Playtech's traditional business also continues to grow. Its non-US revenues for the quarter to June 2007 were &#36;17,400,000, an increase of 15% on the first quarter and 76% over the last 12 months. A recent coup for Playtech was the signing up of MANSION's online casino operations.<br />
<br />
In overall terms, Playtech's entire revenues for the first six months of 2007 were &#36;44,000,000 which is 80% higher than the first half of 2006 (again excluding US numbers which are no longer relevant for business comparisons). Within that figure, poker business increased by 253%, helped by acquisitions and consolidation within the industry. This has seen the likes of Tribeca Tables (that used to be the home of VC Poker and many other popular rooms) and Tain Poker networks being subsumed into the iPoker Network.<br />
<br />
When the US numbers from 2006 are added, there has been an overall 5% decrease in revenues. However, given the massive impact that the US law changes had on the big players like Party Poker which lost over half its business in one hit, Playetch has steered a successful course from those choppy waters.<br />
<br />
Playtech's Chief Executive Officer, Mor Weizer, said:<br />
<br />
"The first six months has been an outstanding period for the Group, with the addition of 12 new licensees and growth experienced across all business areas. During the first half of 2007, Playtech gained a leading position with its poker offering and is now the world's largest independent poker network. Such a position, alongside the Company's market leading casino offering will continue to attract new licensees in the second half of 2007. The Group continues to invest in its new product pipeline in order to gain additional revenue streams and to maximise cross selling opportunities to its existing and future licensees."]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Poker is A Game of Skill Rules Danish Court]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=87</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:18:32 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=87</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[In January this year a high court judge ruled that poker was not a game of skill in the now infamous Gutshot Court case. A few months ago a similar hearing deemed that poker was in fact a sport in a Russian courtroom. As we speak in the US a skill games exception bill is trying to make it through congress and hopefully will be influenced by the news today that a Danish Judge has ruled in favour of poker as a game of skill.<br />
<br />
Frederik Hostrup (brother of well known pro' Carl Hostrup) is the president of the Danish Poker federation and was acquitted of organising illegal gambling games when he hosted poker tournaments in Denmark. Under Danish law, games or competitions where the organisers attempt to achieve a commercial economic gain are considered illegal gambling.<br />
<br />
Hostrup's attorney, Henrik Hoffmann, successfully argued that poker was a game of skill because "You can win in poker based on being clever enough to hide your strategy, even though you might have a fairly poor hand". This is a groundbreaking result, not only for poker but for Scandinavia, which is one of the most heavily regulated gambling regions in the world.<br />
<br />
Thus far the gambling vs. skill debate has been ruled 2-1 in favour of skill in European courtrooms, with only the UK ruling in favour of the negative gambling associations that some people have about poker. With the upcoming skill games bill in America this debate is going to continue and probably explode in the next few months but today's news is very encouraging for all of us who want poker to get recognised as a game of ability and intelligence.<br />
<br />
Source PokerNews.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[In January this year a high court judge ruled that poker was not a game of skill in the now infamous Gutshot Court case. A few months ago a similar hearing deemed that poker was in fact a sport in a Russian courtroom. As we speak in the US a skill games exception bill is trying to make it through congress and hopefully will be influenced by the news today that a Danish Judge has ruled in favour of poker as a game of skill.<br />
<br />
Frederik Hostrup (brother of well known pro' Carl Hostrup) is the president of the Danish Poker federation and was acquitted of organising illegal gambling games when he hosted poker tournaments in Denmark. Under Danish law, games or competitions where the organisers attempt to achieve a commercial economic gain are considered illegal gambling.<br />
<br />
Hostrup's attorney, Henrik Hoffmann, successfully argued that poker was a game of skill because "You can win in poker based on being clever enough to hide your strategy, even though you might have a fairly poor hand". This is a groundbreaking result, not only for poker but for Scandinavia, which is one of the most heavily regulated gambling regions in the world.<br />
<br />
Thus far the gambling vs. skill debate has been ruled 2-1 in favour of skill in European courtrooms, with only the UK ruling in favour of the negative gambling associations that some people have about poker. With the upcoming skill games bill in America this debate is going to continue and probably explode in the next few months but today's news is very encouraging for all of us who want poker to get recognised as a game of ability and intelligence.<br />
<br />
Source PokerNews.com]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Mazhar Nawab Wins The GUKPT - Newcastle]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=86</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:17:43 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=86</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[The Newcastle leg of the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour has been won by Mazhar Nawab of Sheffield. Nawab defeated Darren Fuller heads up in one of the longest final tables seen yet on the very popular tour. Maz won £66,000, plus £10,000 added by Blue Square and an entry into the grand final at the Victoria in London later on this year.<br />
<br />
To those of you that don't know Maz, he is a rising star in the UK scene and probably Britain's best kept secret. In the last year he has notched up 10 final table appearances in ranking events, including a win in a GUKPT side event, 9th in the Nottingham GB Poker Tour and earlier this month a 2nd place in a &#36;5000 event at the Bellagio Cup. I've had the pleasure of playing with Maz on several occasions and it has always been very deep in a tournament, he is a very humble and likeable guy who knows how to get into the big money.<br />
<br />
WPT champion Surinder Sunar narrowly missed out on the final table, which saw the blinds being rolled back to allow for more creative play. This probably accounted for considerable length of the final this time round which will be heavily edited for its airing on TV later on this year. The final table looked as follows:<br />
<br />
Darren Fuller ... 182,900<br />
Rick Trigg ... 405,000<br />
Simon Zach ... 97,700<br />
Christine Ward ... 137,600<br />
Maz Nawab ... 344,700<br />
Tony Horn ... 534,200<br />
Jonathon Butters ... 131,600<br />
Adam Wilkinson ... 176,100<br />
David McGlen ... 24,700<br />
<br />
Nawab took control of the final table when he took on chip leader Tony Horn early on. Nawab held Q-T on a Q-2-2 board, when Horn put the pressure on announcing all-in with pocket nines Nawab had a decision to make, he eventually called and took the chip lead, crippling Horn in the process.<br />
<br />
The action was very slow paced from that point on with the majority of preflop raises taking down the pots. When Maz finally got heads up with Darren Fuller a heads up match lasting well over five hours ensued. Eventually the blinds started to take over and Fuller went all in with J-3 to be called by a dominating J-Q for Nawab.<br />
<br />
The GUKPT is becoming one of the most popular stops on the UK circuit and has been attracting a nice mix of WPT/WSOP/EPT champions as well as plenty of amateurs and internet qualifers attracted by the affordable £1000 buy-in. The next stop on this tour is Luton in August.<br />
<br />
Expect to see Mazhar Nawab there and expect to see him wherever there is a final table. You may not know him yet but he is climbing up the UK rankings and it wont be long until he breaks into biggest events Europe and the World has to offer.<br />
<br />
Final Table Payouts:<br />
<br />
Mazhar Nawab £77,000<br />
Darren Fuller £35,850<br />
Richard Trigg £24,600<br />
Christine Ward £18,500<br />
Jonathon Butters £14,350<br />
Tony Horn £11,275<br />
Adam Wilkinson £8,200<br />
Simon Zach £6,150<br />
David McGlen £5,125 <br />
<br />
Source Pokernews.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Newcastle leg of the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour has been won by Mazhar Nawab of Sheffield. Nawab defeated Darren Fuller heads up in one of the longest final tables seen yet on the very popular tour. Maz won £66,000, plus £10,000 added by Blue Square and an entry into the grand final at the Victoria in London later on this year.<br />
<br />
To those of you that don't know Maz, he is a rising star in the UK scene and probably Britain's best kept secret. In the last year he has notched up 10 final table appearances in ranking events, including a win in a GUKPT side event, 9th in the Nottingham GB Poker Tour and earlier this month a 2nd place in a &#36;5000 event at the Bellagio Cup. I've had the pleasure of playing with Maz on several occasions and it has always been very deep in a tournament, he is a very humble and likeable guy who knows how to get into the big money.<br />
<br />
WPT champion Surinder Sunar narrowly missed out on the final table, which saw the blinds being rolled back to allow for more creative play. This probably accounted for considerable length of the final this time round which will be heavily edited for its airing on TV later on this year. The final table looked as follows:<br />
<br />
Darren Fuller ... 182,900<br />
Rick Trigg ... 405,000<br />
Simon Zach ... 97,700<br />
Christine Ward ... 137,600<br />
Maz Nawab ... 344,700<br />
Tony Horn ... 534,200<br />
Jonathon Butters ... 131,600<br />
Adam Wilkinson ... 176,100<br />
David McGlen ... 24,700<br />
<br />
Nawab took control of the final table when he took on chip leader Tony Horn early on. Nawab held Q-T on a Q-2-2 board, when Horn put the pressure on announcing all-in with pocket nines Nawab had a decision to make, he eventually called and took the chip lead, crippling Horn in the process.<br />
<br />
The action was very slow paced from that point on with the majority of preflop raises taking down the pots. When Maz finally got heads up with Darren Fuller a heads up match lasting well over five hours ensued. Eventually the blinds started to take over and Fuller went all in with J-3 to be called by a dominating J-Q for Nawab.<br />
<br />
The GUKPT is becoming one of the most popular stops on the UK circuit and has been attracting a nice mix of WPT/WSOP/EPT champions as well as plenty of amateurs and internet qualifers attracted by the affordable £1000 buy-in. The next stop on this tour is Luton in August.<br />
<br />
Expect to see Mazhar Nawab there and expect to see him wherever there is a final table. You may not know him yet but he is climbing up the UK rankings and it wont be long until he breaks into biggest events Europe and the World has to offer.<br />
<br />
Final Table Payouts:<br />
<br />
Mazhar Nawab £77,000<br />
Darren Fuller £35,850<br />
Richard Trigg £24,600<br />
Christine Ward £18,500<br />
Jonathon Butters £14,350<br />
Tony Horn £11,275<br />
Adam Wilkinson £8,200<br />
Simon Zach £6,150<br />
David McGlen £5,125 <br />
<br />
Source Pokernews.com]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Behind the Rail - The PartyPoker Concierge]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=85</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:16:51 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=85</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[This week PartyPoker has announced a major upgrade in its VIP programme, namely a Personal Host service. Rather than emailing a faceless customer support, VIP level members will have their own personal host assigned to them whom they will be able to contact directly with any issues or concerns they have. So if a high roller is having an issue with a credit card transaction for example, rather than going through the usual process they can give their good buddy Clive a call and he can sort them out.<br />
<br />
I used to work in Customer Services and can tell you now that this is groundbreaking. Customers yearn for personalised service from huge corporations like this, especially when their money is involved.<br />
<br />
When you are having problems getting to your funds the last thing you want is emails telling you will get a response within 72 hours or a phone recording saying you should go to their website for more information. If Party can pull it off they may surpass PokerStars as the pound for pound best customer service provider in poker.<br />
<br />
This service is not new to many poker players, when the high rollers fly out to Vegas there is often a casino concierge on hand to cater for their every want and need. What Party are proposing is just that, an online concierge. Obviously the PartyPoker Host wont be hooking you up with a room for the night or pointing you in the direction of someone who might love you long time, but I've been speculating as to what I'd like to see my online concierge do to keep his number one client happy:<br />
<br />
I want my host to email me, no wait, telephone me, when the fish is back at the tables. When that player who single-handedly paid off your mortgage has bought into a cash table, I want my concierge to pull out all the stops to get me online. He can interrupt me at 3 in the morning, at a family funeral or even when my week long effort to persuade my girlfriend to have an early night is rewarded – I want my host to bring the fish to me, in fact I want him to reserve me a seat on his left.<br />
<br />
But wait, what if I haven't spotted the fish at my table and thus as the saying goes, I am the sucker tonight? Well, I want my guy to protect me from the other hosts who are bringing their clients to me to bear witness to me spunking my chips left right and centre. I want my number one guy to pre-warn me when a shark is eyeing me up or when a player I have been an ATM to has just turned up.<br />
<br />
When I take a bad beat or lose a big hand I want my host to put me on sit out hand for a couple of orbits to give me a chance to recover without tilting. After a losing session, if I find myself joining a table that is too big for my bankroll I want my concierge to stop me from joining it, or at least ask if I'm sure I want to do it.<br />
<br />
If I'm still showing visible signs of tilting thereafter, or if I am just playing terribly, I fully give my Party representative permission to disconnect me from Partypoker. No matter what I say to him; whether I insult his mother, threaten to take my business away or offer him half my winnings – my guy has full permission to pull the plug and keep me disconnected for at least 24 hours.<br />
<br />
But most importantly, more than picking out the best games and the biggest fish, more than keeping me from going broke and telling me when I've had enough; I'd like Party to provide me with someone who will listen to me tell bad beat stories. Somebody who will tell me I was outdrawn by a idiot even when I've in fact been outplayed by a donkey. Someone who will genuinely act as if they care a hoot about how I went broke, rather than just listening so I will in turn listen to their own tale of woe.<br />
<br />
So if you are reading this PartyPoker, if you can provide all the above and have your guy do it with a smile on his face, you may find me bringing my cash to your tables after many years hiatus.<br />
<br />
Oh wait, Pokerstars have a new black T-Shirt in the FFP store….. sorry guys, better luck next time. <br />
<br />
Source Pokernews.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[This week PartyPoker has announced a major upgrade in its VIP programme, namely a Personal Host service. Rather than emailing a faceless customer support, VIP level members will have their own personal host assigned to them whom they will be able to contact directly with any issues or concerns they have. So if a high roller is having an issue with a credit card transaction for example, rather than going through the usual process they can give their good buddy Clive a call and he can sort them out.<br />
<br />
I used to work in Customer Services and can tell you now that this is groundbreaking. Customers yearn for personalised service from huge corporations like this, especially when their money is involved.<br />
<br />
When you are having problems getting to your funds the last thing you want is emails telling you will get a response within 72 hours or a phone recording saying you should go to their website for more information. If Party can pull it off they may surpass PokerStars as the pound for pound best customer service provider in poker.<br />
<br />
This service is not new to many poker players, when the high rollers fly out to Vegas there is often a casino concierge on hand to cater for their every want and need. What Party are proposing is just that, an online concierge. Obviously the PartyPoker Host wont be hooking you up with a room for the night or pointing you in the direction of someone who might love you long time, but I've been speculating as to what I'd like to see my online concierge do to keep his number one client happy:<br />
<br />
I want my host to email me, no wait, telephone me, when the fish is back at the tables. When that player who single-handedly paid off your mortgage has bought into a cash table, I want my concierge to pull out all the stops to get me online. He can interrupt me at 3 in the morning, at a family funeral or even when my week long effort to persuade my girlfriend to have an early night is rewarded – I want my host to bring the fish to me, in fact I want him to reserve me a seat on his left.<br />
<br />
But wait, what if I haven't spotted the fish at my table and thus as the saying goes, I am the sucker tonight? Well, I want my guy to protect me from the other hosts who are bringing their clients to me to bear witness to me spunking my chips left right and centre. I want my number one guy to pre-warn me when a shark is eyeing me up or when a player I have been an ATM to has just turned up.<br />
<br />
When I take a bad beat or lose a big hand I want my host to put me on sit out hand for a couple of orbits to give me a chance to recover without tilting. After a losing session, if I find myself joining a table that is too big for my bankroll I want my concierge to stop me from joining it, or at least ask if I'm sure I want to do it.<br />
<br />
If I'm still showing visible signs of tilting thereafter, or if I am just playing terribly, I fully give my Party representative permission to disconnect me from Partypoker. No matter what I say to him; whether I insult his mother, threaten to take my business away or offer him half my winnings – my guy has full permission to pull the plug and keep me disconnected for at least 24 hours.<br />
<br />
But most importantly, more than picking out the best games and the biggest fish, more than keeping me from going broke and telling me when I've had enough; I'd like Party to provide me with someone who will listen to me tell bad beat stories. Somebody who will tell me I was outdrawn by a idiot even when I've in fact been outplayed by a donkey. Someone who will genuinely act as if they care a hoot about how I went broke, rather than just listening so I will in turn listen to their own tale of woe.<br />
<br />
So if you are reading this PartyPoker, if you can provide all the above and have your guy do it with a smile on his face, you may find me bringing my cash to your tables after many years hiatus.<br />
<br />
Oh wait, Pokerstars have a new black T-Shirt in the FFP store….. sorry guys, better luck next time. <br />
<br />
Source Pokernews.com]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Shannon Elizebeth, Jennifer Tilly and Liz Lieu Head to London]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=84</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:15:45 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=84</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[The PartyPoker Women's World Open is on the horizon. The inaugural event, which is to be head in London, features one of the strongest ever all women poker line-ups ever seen in Europe.<br />
<br />
Men want to be with them, women want to be them, or sometimes just beat them! Three of the biggest names in female poker are heading to the capital to take part in the PartyPoker Women's World Open. Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Tilly and Liz Lieu, names synonymous with poker, will be taking part in an exciting looking 36 player televised event.<br />
<br />
Elizabeth said: "I'm so excited to be coming to London to commentate and play in the inaugural PartyPoker Women's World Open. So many great women will be playing from the United States including Liz Lieu and Jennifer Tilly, so hopefully one of us can bring home the championship!"<br />
<br />
The tournament is PartyPoker's first ever all-female event and takes place between the 7th and 10th of August in London and will be produced by Matchroom Sport. A similar format to the annual PartyPoker World Open will be followed, as 36 players from across the globe battle it out for a share a &#36;108,000 prize-fund. The buy-in for the tournament is set at &#36;3,000, with the eventual winner taking home a cool &#36;50,000.<br />
<br />
Amongst the European challengers will be Xuyen "Bad Girl" Pham, former PartyPoker World Open winner Pippa Flanders, European Ladies champion Jackie Meecham, Katharine Hartree, Jackie Vaswani and Deborah Rogers.<br />
<br />
A PartyPoker spokesman said, "This the first women's tournament we have held and we are delighted by the excellent line-up and hugely encouraged by the positive interest we have already received from broadcasters all over the world before a card has been dealt."<br />
<br />
On the mic will be the voice of poker, Jesse May. Shannon Elizabeth willl join him throughout the event to pass her expert opinion.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The PartyPoker Women's World Open is on the horizon. The inaugural event, which is to be head in London, features one of the strongest ever all women poker line-ups ever seen in Europe.<br />
<br />
Men want to be with them, women want to be them, or sometimes just beat them! Three of the biggest names in female poker are heading to the capital to take part in the PartyPoker Women's World Open. Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Tilly and Liz Lieu, names synonymous with poker, will be taking part in an exciting looking 36 player televised event.<br />
<br />
Elizabeth said: "I'm so excited to be coming to London to commentate and play in the inaugural PartyPoker Women's World Open. So many great women will be playing from the United States including Liz Lieu and Jennifer Tilly, so hopefully one of us can bring home the championship!"<br />
<br />
The tournament is PartyPoker's first ever all-female event and takes place between the 7th and 10th of August in London and will be produced by Matchroom Sport. A similar format to the annual PartyPoker World Open will be followed, as 36 players from across the globe battle it out for a share a &#36;108,000 prize-fund. The buy-in for the tournament is set at &#36;3,000, with the eventual winner taking home a cool &#36;50,000.<br />
<br />
Amongst the European challengers will be Xuyen "Bad Girl" Pham, former PartyPoker World Open winner Pippa Flanders, European Ladies champion Jackie Meecham, Katharine Hartree, Jackie Vaswani and Deborah Rogers.<br />
<br />
A PartyPoker spokesman said, "This the first women's tournament we have held and we are delighted by the excellent line-up and hugely encouraged by the positive interest we have already received from broadcasters all over the world before a card has been dealt."<br />
<br />
On the mic will be the voice of poker, Jesse May. Shannon Elizabeth willl join him throughout the event to pass her expert opinion.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[paddypowerpoker.com launches Paddypalooza]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=83</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2007 08:31:50 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=83</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Win tickets for music festivals, World Series of Poker and big guaranteed tournaments during the ‘rockingest event of the summer’<br />
<br />
paddypowerpoker.com celebrates the arrival of summer today with the launch of Paddypalooza – two weeks of pure summer madness from 18th to 31st May with over &#36;3 million in guaranteed tournaments, giveaways and freerolls.<br />
<br />
Paddy Power, spokesman for the online poker room said, “This will be the rockingest event of the summer with freerolls, giveaways, WSOP satellites and a chance for our poker players to get out and dance at the country’s top music festivals”.<br />
<br />
Festival Tickets<br />
In an attempt to disprove the lie that poker players are allergic to sunlight Paddypalooza will provide players with a chance to win tickets to the summer’s top music festivals. Three lucky freeroll winners will brush off their wellies and pack their tents with tickets to the Garden Party, Midlands Music Festival and Lovebox.<br />
<br />
Paddypalooza Freerolls<br />
It’s the summer of love and Paddypalooza is all about giving. Players can sit back and make money for nothing by entering any of the three daily freerolls.<br />
<br />
7am      &#36;50 Brekkie Roll Freeroll <br />
12pm   &#36;50 Fast Food Freeroll <br />
8pm     &#36;500 Paddypalooza Freeroll <br />
 <br />
WSOP Qualifiers<br />
With the biggest show in town just around the corner there is still time to get in as little as &#36;1.70 through the daily feeders or players can buy directly into Sunday’s Super Satellite for &#36;375 (one package for every &#36;14,000 collected).<br />
<br />
Jackpot Hand Promotion<br />
Any player winning (or losing) a hand with quad aces at a cash table during Paddypalooza will win 20 times their big blind.<br />
<br />
&#36;250,000 and &#36;100,000 Guaranteed Tournaments<br />
&#36;250,000 Guaranteed - Sunday May 20th at 6pm - &#36;400 + &#36;40 Freezeout:<br />
Qualify for as little as &#36;3. <br />
<br />
&#36;100,000 Guaranteed - Sunday May 27th at 7pm - &#36;200 + &#36;20 Freezeout: <br />
Qualify for as little as &#36;3.<br />
<br />
&#36;500,000 Freeroll<br />
With just ten weeks to go to paddypowerpoker.com’s largest ever freeroll, players can qualify during Paddypalooza for just 50 paddy points.<br />
<br />
&#36;3 Million Up for Grabs<br />
There is &#36;3 million up for grabs over the course of the Paddypalooza fortnight. Every month on paddypowerpoker.com there is over &#36;6 million on offer in guaranteed tournaments and freerolls.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Win tickets for music festivals, World Series of Poker and big guaranteed tournaments during the ‘rockingest event of the summer’<br />
<br />
paddypowerpoker.com celebrates the arrival of summer today with the launch of Paddypalooza – two weeks of pure summer madness from 18th to 31st May with over &#36;3 million in guaranteed tournaments, giveaways and freerolls.<br />
<br />
Paddy Power, spokesman for the online poker room said, “This will be the rockingest event of the summer with freerolls, giveaways, WSOP satellites and a chance for our poker players to get out and dance at the country’s top music festivals”.<br />
<br />
Festival Tickets<br />
In an attempt to disprove the lie that poker players are allergic to sunlight Paddypalooza will provide players with a chance to win tickets to the summer’s top music festivals. Three lucky freeroll winners will brush off their wellies and pack their tents with tickets to the Garden Party, Midlands Music Festival and Lovebox.<br />
<br />
Paddypalooza Freerolls<br />
It’s the summer of love and Paddypalooza is all about giving. Players can sit back and make money for nothing by entering any of the three daily freerolls.<br />
<br />
7am      &#36;50 Brekkie Roll Freeroll <br />
12pm   &#36;50 Fast Food Freeroll <br />
8pm     &#36;500 Paddypalooza Freeroll <br />
 <br />
WSOP Qualifiers<br />
With the biggest show in town just around the corner there is still time to get in as little as &#36;1.70 through the daily feeders or players can buy directly into Sunday’s Super Satellite for &#36;375 (one package for every &#36;14,000 collected).<br />
<br />
Jackpot Hand Promotion<br />
Any player winning (or losing) a hand with quad aces at a cash table during Paddypalooza will win 20 times their big blind.<br />
<br />
&#36;250,000 and &#36;100,000 Guaranteed Tournaments<br />
&#36;250,000 Guaranteed - Sunday May 20th at 6pm - &#36;400 + &#36;40 Freezeout:<br />
Qualify for as little as &#36;3. <br />
<br />
&#36;100,000 Guaranteed - Sunday May 27th at 7pm - &#36;200 + &#36;20 Freezeout: <br />
Qualify for as little as &#36;3.<br />
<br />
&#36;500,000 Freeroll<br />
With just ten weeks to go to paddypowerpoker.com’s largest ever freeroll, players can qualify during Paddypalooza for just 50 paddy points.<br />
<br />
&#36;3 Million Up for Grabs<br />
There is &#36;3 million up for grabs over the course of the Paddypalooza fortnight. Every month on paddypowerpoker.com there is over &#36;6 million on offer in guaranteed tournaments and freerolls.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Dusk Till Dawn the latest in the fight against the casinos]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=82</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2007 08:15:30 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=82</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Dusk Till Dawn have taken legal advice and consulted the UK Gambling Commission for a solution to the six month court adjournment. We totally understand and respect the reasons for the three casino groups lodging their objections at the hearing; they have a duty to protect their businesses from another casino opening in Nottingham.  Dusk Till Dawn will be a genuine “poker only” venue but we do need a full casino licence to operate poker legally, even more so under the September 2007 Gambling Act. However, we cannot expect the objectors to believe that we would never take advantage of this licence and operate casino games in the future, despite our assurances to the contrary.<br />
<br />
In simple terms, we have 4 options<br />
1.	Open the Club and take the risks associated with charging for poker<br />
2.	Open the Club and operate as a Private Members Club and not charge for poker<br />
3.	Open the Club as a bar, restaurant and internet café with no poker activity<br />
4.	Do nothing until after the 24th September hearing <br />
<br />
The option we choose must take into account that<br />
1.	Operating outside of the law (or even close to it) could result in the UK Gambling Commission withdrawing our Certificate of Consent <br />
2.	From 1st September poker stakes in a Private Members Clubs will be limited to about £2,000 per week, equivalent to one 100 runner £20 tournament<br />
3.	The UK Gambling Commission will have “powers of enforcement” under the new September 2007 Act, they do not need police cooperation to close a club<br />
4.	Operating any form of poker or even opening our doors before the 24th September could act against us at the magistrates hearing<br />
5.	There are significant additional costs associated with any delay<br />
<br />
In light of the above, we have made the following regretful decision<br />
1.	Dusk Till Dawn will open on Friday 5th October 2007<br />
2.	The club will be open for 7 days per week, hours to be confirmed<br />
3.	The club will be totally complaint with all of the policies and procedures laid down by the UK Gambling Commission<br />
4.	Entrance to the club will be restricted to individuals that have joined the club via the join club<br />
5.	The current running costs of Dusk Till Dawn must be reviewed in line with this very disappointing news <br />
6.	London Clubs International, Gala and Stanley’s will be contacted and invited to visit the premises to demonstrate that Dusk Till Dawn is a poker only venue, posing no threat to their casino business<br />
<br />
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been backing the Dusk Till Dawn project over the last 2 years including employees, suppliers and poker players. We apologise for our lack of success in delivering our scheduled opening dates.<br />
<br />
Robert Yong, Managing Director, Dusk Till Dawn]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Dusk Till Dawn have taken legal advice and consulted the UK Gambling Commission for a solution to the six month court adjournment. We totally understand and respect the reasons for the three casino groups lodging their objections at the hearing; they have a duty to protect their businesses from another casino opening in Nottingham.  Dusk Till Dawn will be a genuine “poker only” venue but we do need a full casino licence to operate poker legally, even more so under the September 2007 Gambling Act. However, we cannot expect the objectors to believe that we would never take advantage of this licence and operate casino games in the future, despite our assurances to the contrary.<br />
<br />
In simple terms, we have 4 options<br />
1.	Open the Club and take the risks associated with charging for poker<br />
2.	Open the Club and operate as a Private Members Club and not charge for poker<br />
3.	Open the Club as a bar, restaurant and internet café with no poker activity<br />
4.	Do nothing until after the 24th September hearing <br />
<br />
The option we choose must take into account that<br />
1.	Operating outside of the law (or even close to it) could result in the UK Gambling Commission withdrawing our Certificate of Consent <br />
2.	From 1st September poker stakes in a Private Members Clubs will be limited to about £2,000 per week, equivalent to one 100 runner £20 tournament<br />
3.	The UK Gambling Commission will have “powers of enforcement” under the new September 2007 Act, they do not need police cooperation to close a club<br />
4.	Operating any form of poker or even opening our doors before the 24th September could act against us at the magistrates hearing<br />
5.	There are significant additional costs associated with any delay<br />
<br />
In light of the above, we have made the following regretful decision<br />
1.	Dusk Till Dawn will open on Friday 5th October 2007<br />
2.	The club will be open for 7 days per week, hours to be confirmed<br />
3.	The club will be totally complaint with all of the policies and procedures laid down by the UK Gambling Commission<br />
4.	Entrance to the club will be restricted to individuals that have joined the club via the join club<br />
5.	The current running costs of Dusk Till Dawn must be reviewed in line with this very disappointing news <br />
6.	London Clubs International, Gala and Stanley’s will be contacted and invited to visit the premises to demonstrate that Dusk Till Dawn is a poker only venue, posing no threat to their casino business<br />
<br />
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been backing the Dusk Till Dawn project over the last 2 years including employees, suppliers and poker players. We apologise for our lack of success in delivering our scheduled opening dates.<br />
<br />
Robert Yong, Managing Director, Dusk Till Dawn]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Roy The Boy Brindley Wins Betfair Poker Masters of Europe]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=81</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2007 14:59:05 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=81</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Roy "The Boy" Brindley, has triumphed at the Betfair Poker Masters of Europe. Roy turned on the style to beat a star studded field this afternoon.<br />
<br />
A final table containing Roy Brindley, Tony G. and Ram Vaswani should contain plenty of fireworks. The Betfair Poker Masters of Europe, which will be screened in the UK on Sky Sports on the 29th of May, looks like being exciting viewing! Especially for fans of Irish Pro' Brindley.<br />
<br />
Brindley ran out the tournament winner earlier today and walked away a cool &#36;120,000 better off.<br />
<br />
William Thorson ran Roy all the way to the line, though. As the two battled out a lengthy heads up conclusion to this excellent event.<br />
<br />
Brindley had to contend with his pocket aces being beaten on the river but after almost two hours Thorson went all in with King Jack. Brindley called and his Ace-7 gave him a winning hand of 2-pair (Aces and 9s) before the river card was needed.<br />
<br />
Brindley said, "I got to the stage where I was really enjoying playing winning or losing. This is the first televised tournament I've won in 5 years. It means a great deal. More so financially now we have the baby."<br />
<br />
Internet qualifiers Steve Cordy and Richard Collier were knocked out early along with in-form Hendon Mobster Ram Vaswani.<br />
<br />
Tony G continued a recent trend by giving away his winnings to charity. Tony finished a creditable 3rd, winning &#36;36,000. The money will be split between The Princes Trust and a Lithuanian charity called Bedu Turgus, which helps people who suffer from extreme poverty. It seems the "bad boy of poker" is not such a bad boy after all.<br />
<br />
The day belonged to new father Brindley, however. Sleepless nights and bottom changes await the friendly Irishman. We're sure &#36;120,000 will ease the pain, Roy!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Roy "The Boy" Brindley, has triumphed at the Betfair Poker Masters of Europe. Roy turned on the style to beat a star studded field this afternoon.<br />
<br />
A final table containing Roy Brindley, Tony G. and Ram Vaswani should contain plenty of fireworks. The Betfair Poker Masters of Europe, which will be screened in the UK on Sky Sports on the 29th of May, looks like being exciting viewing! Especially for fans of Irish Pro' Brindley.<br />
<br />
Brindley ran out the tournament winner earlier today and walked away a cool &#36;120,000 better off.<br />
<br />
William Thorson ran Roy all the way to the line, though. As the two battled out a lengthy heads up conclusion to this excellent event.<br />
<br />
Brindley had to contend with his pocket aces being beaten on the river but after almost two hours Thorson went all in with King Jack. Brindley called and his Ace-7 gave him a winning hand of 2-pair (Aces and 9s) before the river card was needed.<br />
<br />
Brindley said, "I got to the stage where I was really enjoying playing winning or losing. This is the first televised tournament I've won in 5 years. It means a great deal. More so financially now we have the baby."<br />
<br />
Internet qualifiers Steve Cordy and Richard Collier were knocked out early along with in-form Hendon Mobster Ram Vaswani.<br />
<br />
Tony G continued a recent trend by giving away his winnings to charity. Tony finished a creditable 3rd, winning &#36;36,000. The money will be split between The Princes Trust and a Lithuanian charity called Bedu Turgus, which helps people who suffer from extreme poverty. It seems the "bad boy of poker" is not such a bad boy after all.<br />
<br />
The day belonged to new father Brindley, however. Sleepless nights and bottom changes await the friendly Irishman. We're sure &#36;120,000 will ease the pain, Roy!]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Everest Poker Announces Major Software Upgrade]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=80</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2007 09:52:39 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=80</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Everest Poker, the fast-growing European online poker room, has announced a major upgrade to its software platform, improving the playing experience for its many users. That is good news for UK Poker News readers who can win a &#36;12,000 seat to the WSOP later today!<br />
<br />
Everest Poker is widely acknowledged to be one of the best multi-lingual online poker sites in the world. Even some of its rivals privately acknowledge that its foreign language versions are superbly-presented and are the main reason it has attracted such a huge following from the European continent. Yet poker is a universal language so why is it that many English language players are yet to discover this pool of new opponents many of whom are likely to be inexperienced? We are sure this is only a temporary phenomenon!<br />
<br />
Now Everest has improved its playing experience by introducing new search facilities in the lobby making game seeking a doddle. Players also have better access to functions such as the "training room", their account information and the Everest Poker Tutorial.<br />
<br />
Jonathan May, Everest Poker Property Manager, said:<br />
<br />
"We've always strived to make our poker software as easy to use as possible. We've listened to our players and made it a breeze to find a poker game that suits their ability and bankroll. We'll continue to upgrade and improve our software to ensure that our players have a great experience each and every time they use our poker room."<br />
<br />
For the many UK players who have yet to try out Everest Poker, here is the best opportunity to start and immediately win a &#36;12,000 package to the WSOP!<br />
<br />
Today, 11th May, at 21.00 UK time (22.00 CET), Everest will hold the one and only exclusive Everest/Team Poker News WSOP Freeroll. There are no playing requirements to qualify! That's right, simply register through our links here, go to the bonus section in the Everest software and enter the bonus code PNEWSWSOP. Then deposit a minimum of &#36;50 into your new Everest Poker account and you will be automatically registered in tonight's &#36;12,000 freeroll. Simple as that!<br />
<br />
See you in Las Vegas! <br />
<br />
Source: Poker News]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Everest Poker, the fast-growing European online poker room, has announced a major upgrade to its software platform, improving the playing experience for its many users. That is good news for UK Poker News readers who can win a &#36;12,000 seat to the WSOP later today!<br />
<br />
Everest Poker is widely acknowledged to be one of the best multi-lingual online poker sites in the world. Even some of its rivals privately acknowledge that its foreign language versions are superbly-presented and are the main reason it has attracted such a huge following from the European continent. Yet poker is a universal language so why is it that many English language players are yet to discover this pool of new opponents many of whom are likely to be inexperienced? We are sure this is only a temporary phenomenon!<br />
<br />
Now Everest has improved its playing experience by introducing new search facilities in the lobby making game seeking a doddle. Players also have better access to functions such as the "training room", their account information and the Everest Poker Tutorial.<br />
<br />
Jonathan May, Everest Poker Property Manager, said:<br />
<br />
"We've always strived to make our poker software as easy to use as possible. We've listened to our players and made it a breeze to find a poker game that suits their ability and bankroll. We'll continue to upgrade and improve our software to ensure that our players have a great experience each and every time they use our poker room."<br />
<br />
For the many UK players who have yet to try out Everest Poker, here is the best opportunity to start and immediately win a &#36;12,000 package to the WSOP!<br />
<br />
Today, 11th May, at 21.00 UK time (22.00 CET), Everest will hold the one and only exclusive Everest/Team Poker News WSOP Freeroll. There are no playing requirements to qualify! That's right, simply register through our links here, go to the bonus section in the Everest software and enter the bonus code PNEWSWSOP. Then deposit a minimum of &#36;50 into your new Everest Poker account and you will be automatically registered in tonight's &#36;12,000 freeroll. Simple as that!<br />
<br />
See you in Las Vegas! <br />
<br />
Source: Poker News]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Cryptologic Q1 Results sees Drop in Profits]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=79</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2007 09:51:36 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=79</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Cryptologic announced their Q1 results yesterday. The online poker network giant saw their profits drop for the first quarter. The market reacted by slashing Cryptologic's share price by almost 13%.<br />
<br />
Gaming investors will be fully aware of just how turbulent the sector has been in recent months following US legislation and the industry aftermath. More bad news for Cryptologic investors hit the wires yesterday as the gaming firm announced a drop in profits for the first quarter of 2006.<br />
<br />
Yahoo Finance said, "Net income for the quarter was &#36;1.5 million, or 11 cents per share, down from &#36;7.7 million, or 56 cents per share, for the first quarter of 2006. Excluding certain items, the<br />
VC Poker<br />
company would have posted a loss of &#36;400,000, or 3 cents per share."<br />
<br />
Although casino revenue was down 8%, to &#36;13.9 million, it was poker where Cryptologic suffered the most with a drop of 47% to &#36;5.2 million.<br />
<br />
In a press release Javaid Aziz, CryptoLogic's new President and CEO said, "At CryptoLogic, the first quarter was about investing in the future, and charting a course for global growth. We've launched five new customer sites since December, and have seven more in the queue – including two for Holland Casino, and two for World Poker Tour. With our largest customers on long-term agreements, and modest revenue expected this year from our Asian venture, CryptoLogic is poised for long-term growth in the European markets of today — and the Asian markets of tomorrow."<br />
<br />
The press release continued with the positive tone, "CryptoLogic's results follow a busy quarter in which the company unveiled a series of new games and customer acquisitions, and at a time of significant change for the industry following the United States prohibition on online gaming last fall. Since most of the company's business came from Europe before the legislation, the financial impact of the U.S. action on CryptoLogic was less serious than it was for many competitors that derived substantially all of their revenue from U.S.-based players. Prior to enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed in October 2006, licensees' revenue from Europe-based players was approximately 70% of total revenue; now all revenue is from non-U.S. based players. The company is building on this strong base with an aggressive plan to add additional licensee revenue in Europe and the rest of the world."<br />
<br />
As for the near future, the press release concluded, "CryptoLogic expects 2007 to be a year of transition, with growth expected in both Europe and Asia. The company has signed its largest customers to long-term agreements, launched five new customer sites since December, and expects to launch three more in the second quarter (Playboy Gaming's Internet casino, and Holland Casino's poker and casino sites). Later this year, CryptoLogic expects to benefit from modest revenue from its new venture in China."<br />
<br />
Shares of CryptoLogic fell &#36;3.80, or 12.8 percent, to &#36;25.91 in morning trading. <br />
<br />
Source: Poker News]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Cryptologic announced their Q1 results yesterday. The online poker network giant saw their profits drop for the first quarter. The market reacted by slashing Cryptologic's share price by almost 13%.<br />
<br />
Gaming investors will be fully aware of just how turbulent the sector has been in recent months following US legislation and the industry aftermath. More bad news for Cryptologic investors hit the wires yesterday as the gaming firm announced a drop in profits for the first quarter of 2006.<br />
<br />
Yahoo Finance said, "Net income for the quarter was &#36;1.5 million, or 11 cents per share, down from &#36;7.7 million, or 56 cents per share, for the first quarter of 2006. Excluding certain items, the<br />
VC Poker<br />
company would have posted a loss of &#36;400,000, or 3 cents per share."<br />
<br />
Although casino revenue was down 8%, to &#36;13.9 million, it was poker where Cryptologic suffered the most with a drop of 47% to &#36;5.2 million.<br />
<br />
In a press release Javaid Aziz, CryptoLogic's new President and CEO said, "At CryptoLogic, the first quarter was about investing in the future, and charting a course for global growth. We've launched five new customer sites since December, and have seven more in the queue – including two for Holland Casino, and two for World Poker Tour. With our largest customers on long-term agreements, and modest revenue expected this year from our Asian venture, CryptoLogic is poised for long-term growth in the European markets of today — and the Asian markets of tomorrow."<br />
<br />
The press release continued with the positive tone, "CryptoLogic's results follow a busy quarter in which the company unveiled a series of new games and customer acquisitions, and at a time of significant change for the industry following the United States prohibition on online gaming last fall. Since most of the company's business came from Europe before the legislation, the financial impact of the U.S. action on CryptoLogic was less serious than it was for many competitors that derived substantially all of their revenue from U.S.-based players. Prior to enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed in October 2006, licensees' revenue from Europe-based players was approximately 70% of total revenue; now all revenue is from non-U.S. based players. The company is building on this strong base with an aggressive plan to add additional licensee revenue in Europe and the rest of the world."<br />
<br />
As for the near future, the press release concluded, "CryptoLogic expects 2007 to be a year of transition, with growth expected in both Europe and Asia. The company has signed its largest customers to long-term agreements, launched five new customer sites since December, and expects to launch three more in the second quarter (Playboy Gaming's Internet casino, and Holland Casino's poker and casino sites). Later this year, CryptoLogic expects to benefit from modest revenue from its new venture in China."<br />
<br />
Shares of CryptoLogic fell &#36;3.80, or 12.8 percent, to &#36;25.91 in morning trading. <br />
<br />
Source: Poker News]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Bookmaker Anthony Hardy Wins PartyPoker World Open]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=78</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2007 09:50:10 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=78</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Anthony "The Booky" Hardy has won the PartyPoker World Open. Taking money from sports punters clearly isn't enough for Hardy, now he's started on us poor poker players!<br />
<br />
Bookmakers are loved worldwide... almost as much as estate agents and tax inspectors! Now poker players have extra reason to be wary of bookmakers. Well, one of them at least! Anthony Hardy has just crushed a 72 player strong field to win the PartyPoker World Open.<br />
<br />
A field which included Roland De Wolfe, Juha Helppi, Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliott, Liz Lieu, Ian Frazer, Thomas Wahlroos and The Hendon Mob were dismantled by Hardy is dramatic fashion. Few suspected the 45 year old from Sidcup, Kent would make any<br />
32 Red Poker<br />
impression on such a star studded line up. Partybets.com quoted Hardy at "double carpet" 33/1 before the tournament started. Needless to say, Hardy backers were grinning from ear to ear today as their "horse" trotted home.<br />
<br />
"It is a dream to win the tournament, I'm so chuffed," said Anthony, whose nickname "The Booky" is influenced by the spelling on his car registration plate. "I didn't hit many cards in the semi-finals or finals but I just continued to hang in there."<br />
<br />
In the closing stages in was a battle of the Londoners as Hardy took on Ian Woodley (pictured) in a fascinating heads up encounter. Woodley had the chip lead but Hardy wasn't worried. "When it was just Ian and I kept telling him I would win," said Hardy, "it is sweet revenge for when he beat me in the Poker Den a couple of years ago."<br />
<br />
A PartyPoker spokesman said: "Anthony's patience and never say die approach made him a deserved winner. "The Booky" is the kind of player you don't find as often these days, he is an old school live cash game player but got involved in tournaments when internet poker took off. You won't find him with an iPod or headphones on but you might need both if he is trying to talk you off a hand!"<br />
<br />
The PartyPoker World Open final table result:<br />
<br />
1st Anthony Hardy &#36;200,000<br />
2nd Ian Woodley &#36;100,000<br />
3rd Ian Cox &#36;50,000<br />
4th Ram Vaswani &#36;40,000<br />
5th Ian Frazer &#36;30,000<br />
6th David Rudling &#36;20,000 <br />
<br />
Source: Poker News]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Anthony "The Booky" Hardy has won the PartyPoker World Open. Taking money from sports punters clearly isn't enough for Hardy, now he's started on us poor poker players!<br />
<br />
Bookmakers are loved worldwide... almost as much as estate agents and tax inspectors! Now poker players have extra reason to be wary of bookmakers. Well, one of them at least! Anthony Hardy has just crushed a 72 player strong field to win the PartyPoker World Open.<br />
<br />
A field which included Roland De Wolfe, Juha Helppi, Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliott, Liz Lieu, Ian Frazer, Thomas Wahlroos and The Hendon Mob were dismantled by Hardy is dramatic fashion. Few suspected the 45 year old from Sidcup, Kent would make any<br />
32 Red Poker<br />
impression on such a star studded line up. Partybets.com quoted Hardy at "double carpet" 33/1 before the tournament started. Needless to say, Hardy backers were grinning from ear to ear today as their "horse" trotted home.<br />
<br />
"It is a dream to win the tournament, I'm so chuffed," said Anthony, whose nickname "The Booky" is influenced by the spelling on his car registration plate. "I didn't hit many cards in the semi-finals or finals but I just continued to hang in there."<br />
<br />
In the closing stages in was a battle of the Londoners as Hardy took on Ian Woodley (pictured) in a fascinating heads up encounter. Woodley had the chip lead but Hardy wasn't worried. "When it was just Ian and I kept telling him I would win," said Hardy, "it is sweet revenge for when he beat me in the Poker Den a couple of years ago."<br />
<br />
A PartyPoker spokesman said: "Anthony's patience and never say die approach made him a deserved winner. "The Booky" is the kind of player you don't find as often these days, he is an old school live cash game player but got involved in tournaments when internet poker took off. You won't find him with an iPod or headphones on but you might need both if he is trying to talk you off a hand!"<br />
<br />
The PartyPoker World Open final table result:<br />
<br />
1st Anthony Hardy &#36;200,000<br />
2nd Ian Woodley &#36;100,000<br />
3rd Ian Cox &#36;50,000<br />
4th Ram Vaswani &#36;40,000<br />
5th Ian Frazer &#36;30,000<br />
6th David Rudling &#36;20,000 <br />
<br />
Source: Poker News]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Pool Ace Jackie Pots the Ladbrokes Ladies Championship]]></title>
			<link>http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=77</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2007 09:47:26 +0100</pubDate>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pokerlog.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=77</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Jackie Meecham, a UK champion pool player from East London, saw off a poker challenge from 47 other ladies at the second Ladbrokes European Ladies Championship at Southbank Studios in London to secure a seat at the Poker Million VI.<br />
<br />
Jackie won prizes worth £32,000 which included the cash prize of £15,000 (proudly held aloft in the picture) plus a much sought after seat at the jewel in the Ladbrokes Poker crown, the Poker Million VI. Jackie is a Home Office Manager when she is at work but has also been a no.1 ranked UK champion pool player. In comparison, Jackie's poker background has been a lot shorter - two and a half years.<br />
<br />
Jackie's biggest win to date at the poker<br />
&#36;500 free chips<br />
table was £700, which she picked up at her local card room, Equal Chance. Now she has the opportunity to go for the &#36;1,000,000 or more that will be on offer in one of Europe's richest poker events.<br />
<br />
The European Ladies Championship had its inaugural outing last year at Riverside TV studios in Hammersmith, West London. This year, it moved a little further up the Thames river, decamping to Southbank Studios. 48 ladies paid good money or else qualified online at Ladbrokes Poker to grab a seat at this friendliest of poker tournaments where happy discussion is the norm rather than macho posturing!<br />
<br />
Amongst those playing were regulars such as Katherine Hartree (a high cash finisher at last year's WSOP), Liz Lieu, Lucy Rokach, Beverley Pace, Jen Mason, plus the wives of the winners of Poker Million IV (Tony Jones) and Poker Million V (Raj Modha).<br />
<br />
Jackie Meecham was not so well-known in poker circles but, with her history in playing top class pool, a competitive spirit would not be lacking. She had qualified to play in the ELC tournament via a £1.50 online tournament win at Ladbrokes Poker and the outcome proved her fighting spirit to the end. She found herself well behind by the heads-up stage to Angelina Nilsson of Sweden but was able to tough it out before going on to win. The final table positions were:<br />
<br />
1st -Jackie Meecham - Leytonstone England - £15,000<br />
2nd - Angelina Nilsson - Sweden - £10,000<br />
3rd - Lorna McDermid - John O'Groats, Scotland - £8,000<br />
4th - Jen Mason - Hampstead, England - £5,000<br />
5th - Tina Loucaides - Palmers Green, England - £4,000<br />
6th - Bev Pace - Essex, England - £3,000<br />
7th - Veronika Larsen - Norway - £2,000<br />
8th - Janine Regan - Swindon, England - £1,000<br />
<br />
Jackie Meecham was naturally very happy with events and will purchase a new car with her winnings. She also said:<br />
<br />
"I watched poker on TV for a few months before I started to play and decided that this was a game that I could do well at. I packed my bags soon after and headed to Las Vegas for a holiday with the express intention of leaving knowing how to play poker well."<br />
<br />
"I think I can safely say that has been achieved! I can't wait to participate in the Poker Million VI, as apart from the experience the amount of money to be won is astounding. If you just get to the semi-final you are guaranteed at least £6,000. It is an opportunity of a lifetime that I am going to grasp with both hands."<br />
<br />
The European Ladies Championship will be broadcast as a prelude to The Ladbrokes Poker Million VI on Sky Sports 2 in July and August over 6 episodes. Jackie will then return to defend her ELC title next year.<br />
<br />
Source: Poker News]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Jackie Meecham, a UK champion pool player from East London, saw off a poker challenge from 47 other ladies at the second Ladbrokes European Ladies Championship at Southbank Studios in London to secure a seat at the Poker Million VI.<br />
<br />
Jackie won prizes worth £32,000 which included the cash prize of £15,000 (proudly held aloft in the picture) plus a much sought after seat at the jewel in the Ladbrokes Poker crown, the Poker Million VI. Jackie is a Home Office Manager when she is at work but has also been a no.1 ranked UK champion pool player. In comparison, Jackie's poker background has been a lot shorter - two and a half years.<br />
<br />
Jackie's biggest win to date at the poker<br />
&#36;500 free chips<br />
table was £700, which she picked up at her local card room, Equal Chance. Now she has the opportunity to go for the &#36;1,000,000 or more that will be on offer in one of Europe's richest poker events.<br />
<br />
The European Ladies Championship had its inaugural outing last year at Riverside TV studios in Hammersmith, West London. This year, it moved a little further up the Thames river, decamping to Southbank Studios. 48 ladies paid good money or else qualified online at Ladbrokes Poker to grab a seat at this friendliest of poker tournaments where happy discussion is the norm rather than macho posturing!<br />
<br />
Amongst those playing were regulars such as Katherine Hartree (a high cash finisher at last year's WSOP), Liz Lieu, Lucy Rokach, Beverley Pace, Jen Mason, plus the wives of the winners of Poker Million IV (Tony Jones) and Poker Million V (Raj Modha).<br />
<br />
Jackie Meecham was not so well-known in poker circles but, with her history in playing top class pool, a competitive spirit would not be lacking. She had qualified to play in the ELC tournament via a £1.50 online tournament win at Ladbrokes Poker and the outcome proved her fighting spirit to the end. She found herself well behind by the heads-up stage to Angelina Nilsson of Sweden but was able to tough it out before going on to win. The final table positions were:<br />
<br />
1st -Jackie Meecham - Leytonstone England - £15,000<br />
2nd - Angelina Nilsson - Sweden - £10,000<br />
3rd - Lorna McDermid - John O'Groats, Scotland - £8,000<br />
4th - Jen Mason - Hampstead, England - £5,000<br />
5th - Tina Loucaides - Palmers Green, England - £4,000<br />
6th - Bev Pace - Essex, England - £3,000<br />
7th - Veronika Larsen - Norway - £2,000<br />
8th - Janine Regan - Swindon, England - £1,000<br />
<br />
Jackie Meecham was naturally very happy with events and will purchase a new car with her winnings. She also said:<br />
<br />
"I watched poker on TV for a few months before I started to play and decided that this was a game that I could do well at. I packed my bags soon after and headed to Las Vegas for a holiday with the express intention of leaving knowing how to play poker well."<br />
<br />
"I think I can safely say that has been achieved! I can't wait to participate in the Poker Million VI, as apart from the experience the amount of money to be won is astounding. If you just get to the semi-final you are guaranteed at least £6,000. It is an opportunity of a lifetime that I am going to grasp with both hands."<br />
<br />
The European Ladies Championship will be broadcast as a prelude to The Ladbrokes Poker Million VI on Sky Sports 2 in July and August over 6 episodes. Jackie will then return to defend her ELC title next year.<br />
<br />
Source: Poker News]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
	</channel>
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