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Copyright 2004 Newspaper Publishing PLC
The Independent (London)
November 4, 2004, Thursday
HEADLINE: POKER
BODY:
THE BIGGEST ever redistribution of wealth on
the European poker scene is about to take place, starting this
weekend. Three major tournaments
will be happening at the same time - in Blackpool, Amsterdam and
Monte Carlo.
A few years ago, before the online poker rooms
had popularised the game, this might have diluted the attendances.
Next week, however, all three are likely to be mobbed by players
looking for a big pay-day.
The Monte Carlo Millions at the Salon Francois
Blanc is restricted to 72 players, all of whom either put up or
won a $ 20,000 (pounds 11,000) package to participate. This was
sold out almost a month in advance.
Several Americans have overcome their fear
of flying and will be in the starting line-up. These include the
former world champion Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, John Juanda,
Howard Lederer and Phil Ivey.
As a side show, the quartet will be playing
a heads-up match, one vs one, against the Hendon Mob - Joe Beevers,
Ram Vaswani and the siblings Barny and Ross Boatman. At stake
will be the small matter of $ 100,000 (pounds 55,000).
Meanwhile, even bigger prize money will be
on offer at the annual Master Classics of Poker at the Holland
Casino, Amsterdam.
Last year, more than pounds 1m changed hands
and the winner of the main event, the Swede Johann Storakers,
took home EUR243,000 (pounds 167,000). This year, the buy-in for
the no limit hold'em affair has been increased to EUR5,000, about
pounds 3,500, a hike of 66 per cent.
Rather than deterring potential players, the
increase is likely to have the opposite effect. The organisers
have increased the field limit from 220 to 270 and spread the
competition over three days rather than two.
The forecast prize pool is around the pounds
700,000 mark, and the winner's purse is likely to top the pounds
250,000 mark for the first time. The support events will probably
generate as much again, and an indication of the poker frenzy
about to descend on the Dutch capital is that the opening competition
was sold out two weeks ago.
Stay-at-home Brits who don't fancy the idea
of lobbing pounds 5,000-plus into a week of poker will be heading
for the Northern Lights Festival at the Grosvenor Casino, Blackpool.
Buy-ins during the series range from pounds 100, with the main
event priced at a more modest pounds 500. Even so, about pounds
300,000 or so will change hands in the town, which is tipped to
become the UK's Las Vegas.
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