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New Addition to
the European Poker Masters Tour Schedule
The European Poker Masters is
proud to announce the addition of the Austrian
Classics to their tour schedule with Absolute
Poker confirming title sponsorship.
“We look forward to this event,
it’s a special opportunity to present our great
brand and online poker room internationally,
mentioned Marketing Manger, Garin Gustafson. We
hope to share in the excitement and see a great
final table showdown.”
The Austrian Classics is a well
established tournament, attracting 234 players
in 2005. Larger than life characters,
unpredictable strategies and amazing skill will
combine to make this year’s event even bigger.
Austrian Classics Main Event
Date: October 3rd – 4th
Buy in: €3,000
Estimated Prize pool of €750,000
James Hopkins, Tour Creator and
Head of Programming at All In Sport, said:
‘The London All Star Challenge
was a huge success and the perfect start to the
European Poker Masters. The addition of the
illustrious Austrian Classics in Vienna further
adds to the kudos of the Tour – we are thrilled
to be working with Absolute Poker and The
Concord Card Casino for this event
‘
Additional Information about
AbsolutePoker.com:
AbsolutePoker.com
is the world's fourth largest online poker
destination offering worldwide access to
multi-player online games 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. Absolute Poker’s spring ‘Win Your
Tuition’ tournament is currently underway and
more information can be found at
www.absolutepoker.com/tuition. Powered by
proprietary software, AbsolutePoker.com has one
of the most comprehensive, interactive online
poker rooms, providing such innovative features
as hand history, stat retrieval, player
note-taking, chat, ‘locate a player’, six-table
play, customizable table ‘skins’ and
representative image selection. Absolute Poker
offers many multi-player games including: Texas
Holdem, Omaha High, Omaha Hi/Lo, Seven Card
Stud, Seven Card Stud
Hi/Lo, and a complete selection of Sit and Go
and Multi Table Tournaments.
AbsolutePoker.com offers friendly customer
service which is always fast, knowledgeable, and
professional. Established in 2003,
AbsolutePoker.com is headquartered in Costa Rica
and licensed and regulated in Canada.
For more information on the
AbsolutePoker.com Austrian Classics please
click here.
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Hansen storms to victory in London All Star
Challenge
‘I beat out some really tough players and it
feels good. I can’t help but think I won the
first WPT and now I’ve won the first European
Poker Masters. So it feels good.’
Gus Hansen, Full Tilt Poker
Fifty London hosted the inaugural event of the
European Poker Masters, The Full Tilt Poker London
All Star Challenge. Extravagant chandeliers
and floor-to-ceiling windows set the scene for
what became an unforgettable tournament.
The prestigious venue was a fitting location as
the poker worlds elite came to play for the
illustrious title of London All Star
Challenge Champion. With over 30 WSOP
bracelets between them, the players took their
seats in what has been considered the best line
up in European Poker History. Phil Ivey, Chris
Ferguson, Jennifer Harman, Tony G, John Juanda
and Eric Seidel were among the players vying for
a place at the final table.
‘It was a challenge. It was a very tough game
with a lot of great players’
Barny
Boatman, Hendon Mob
The opening day took some big name casualties
including Full Tilt Poker pros Mike Matusow, Allen
Cunningham and the 2006 WSOP PL Hold’em
Champion, John Gale. As time went on nerves grew
as players began to edge nearer to the prize
money. Ex-England and West Ham striker, Teddy
Sheringham finishing an impressive 12th
in what was an incredibly tough field that
included arguable the most feared player in the
world, Phil Ivey.
Finally after 12 hours the All Star line
up was whittled down to the final 8, Peter Gould
getting knocked out on the bubble by fellow
Englishman Marc Goodwin. The man from Birmingham
took his seat at the final table as chip leader,
little consolation as he sat down in between
Phil Ivey and Gus Hansen. 5 time WSOP bracelet
winner to his right and a 4 time WPT title
holder to his left. Action was tight as players
took their time to ease into the game, no one
wanting to be the first out the door.
Having breezed into the final table, Phil Ivey
never looked in danger of an early exit.
However, after being re-raised All In by
Gus Hansen’s A 10 suited Ivey was left short
stacked and shortly after decided to make a
stand with his Q 10 off suit. His Danish rival
called with Q 8. Ivey went into the flop 75%
favourite and appeared destined to double up
until the flop revealed an 8, leaving the young
champion in 7th position.
The hand of the tournament came during the
gripping heads-up battle between Marc Goodwin
and Gus Hansen. Goodwin raised pre flop from the
big blind with A 8, only to be called by
Hansen’s 5 4 of diamonds (small suited
connectors being his trade mark hand). The flop
came down 5 5 8, trips versus two pair.
Both players heart rates slowed down, both
believing they had the better hand. Goodwin
checked, trying to set a trap for the Dane who,
knowing he was ahead casually tapped the felt.
Fourth Street revealed a second 8, giving both
players a full house. Commentators James
Hartigan and Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson saw a
disaster unfolding before them and quickly
quoted ‘All the chips are going in here’.
Not a single sign of emotion came across either
player as they checked to the river, an
irrelevant 4. After a few seconds of silence
Marc reached out and placed $40,000 over the
line, only to be re-raised another $60,000.
After a brief moment of quiet reflection, Marc
announced ‘All In’, a move which surprised no
one but the Great Dane himself. Hansen sat back
in his chair, sipped some water and played out
the hand over and over in his head, occasionally
muttering something inaudible to himself. Could
he really have the higher Full House? What are
the odds? With the pot being $336,000 it seemed
impossible for him to fold. But he did, a move
that astounded everyone, including his opponent
who later claimed it to be ‘the best play of the
year’.
The four time WPT title holder showed us why he
is considered one of the best players in the
world today as he fought back from behind to
take the title of the 2006 London All Star
Champion and the £53,600 1st prize.
The final
standings
1.
Gus Hansen £53,600
2.
Marc Goodwin £26,800
3.
Melissa Hayden £13,400
4.
Jeff Buffenbarger £10,720
5.
Willie Tann £9,380
6.
Nathan Lee £8,040
7.
Phil Ivey £6,700
8.
Charalambos Xanthos £5,360
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A Snapshot of the action...
Please visit our
photo section to see a snapshot of the action at
the FullTiltPoker.com London All Star Challenge.
Click here for more photos!
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Ivey Leads The Way In London
The
Glamorous Fifty London played host to the
inaugural event of The European Poker Masters,
The Full Tilt Poker London All Star Challenge. The
exclusive event showcased an impressive ensemble
from both sides of the pond including Phil Ivey,
Chris Ferguson, Jennifer Harman, Tony G, John Juanda and England’s very own Hendon Mob.
Play
got underway as the All Star line up took to
their seats in what has been considered the best
line up in European Poker History. And it didn’t
take long for the action to get underway, as 7
times WSOP bracelet winner, Eric Seidel was left
short stacked after running into Marc Goodwin’s
quad sevens. And although battling on he could
simply not recover, only adding to the list of
early casualties that included Fellow Full Tilt
Poker
pros Mike Matusow, Allen Cunningham and the 2005
European Poker Champion, Tony G.
One
of the hands of the night came as Gus Hansen
looked down at pocket sevens and after
announcing ‘I don’t know how to play this hand’
pushed his chips across the line. Unfortunately
for him a delighted Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson was
sat to his left and from under his trademark
cowboy hat called before turning over the pocket
rockets. Silence fell as everyone’s eyes focused
in on the dealer. The flop was turned and the
audience roared as the first card to hit the
felt was another Seven, The Great Dane had hit
his set and in the process crippling an
unsurprised Ferguson who shortly exited the
tournament in search of London’s dance hot
spots.
Ex-England and West Ham striker Teddy Sheringham
came an impressive 12th in what was an
incredibly tough field which included, the 2005
Monte Carlo Millions Champion Phil Ivey who
breezed into the final 9 as chip leader.
The
final table will take place on Monday, 11th of
September and if tonight’s action is anything to
go by it will be a thrilling game of poker as
two of the biggest names in the game battle it
out for the illustrious title and the 134,000
prize pool.
2,000 Freeze Out,
Texas Hold’em
9th September 2006
67 Runners
Prize Pool - 134,000
Final 9 Chip Positions – to be played down to
final table of 8 on Monday. Final table to start
at 3pm.
1. Phil Ivey 86,000
2. Gus Hansen 84,000
3. Marc Goodwin 72,000
4. Jeff Buffenbarger 64,000
5. Willie Tann 59,500
6. M Hayden 58,000
7. C Xanthos 44,500
8. P Gould 40,000
9. N Lee 28,000
Play was suspended for the day with nine players
remaining.
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Stars Confirmed For EPM London Event
With the
London All-Star Challenge nearing the maximum 80
player capacity, the star studded line up for
this event is unrivalled. Just some of the
confirmed players for this event include:
Phil Ivey
Gus Hansen
Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson
Howard Lederer
Erik Seidel
John Juanda
Allen Cunningham
Mike Matusow
Erick Lindgren
Jennifer Harman
Barny Boatman
Ross Boatman
Joe Beevers
Ram Vaswani
Tony G
Kenna James
Marc Goodwin
John Gale
Roland de Wolfe
John Duthie
Gary Jones
Caralambos Xanthos
Harry Demitriou
Ben Roberts
Tony Bloom
John Hewston
Roy Brindley
Surindar Sunar
Teddy Sheringham
Jimmy White
Stephen Hendry
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All In Sport Launches New European Tour
European Poker Masters – Season 1
This Friday 1st
September, All In Sport announces the launch of
the inaugural European Poker Masters. A new
pan-European poker tour featuring the world’s
biggest pros playing for an estimated £1m
prize pool in the most glamorous casinos and
card rooms across Europe. The tour combines
high profile existing events as well as exciting
new poker tournaments debuting on the global
poker circuit this year. The 2006 tour schedule
includes events in London, Paris and Dublin.
With broadcast of the shows
across 100m+ homes across Europe on Eurosport 1
& 2 starting this Autumn, this promises to be
the most exciting calendar of events on the
European poker circuit. Sponsors of this year’s
tour include
FullTiltPoker.com
and
Pokerheaven.com,
and the European Poker Masters will be
officially tournament directed by former WSOP
finalist Mel Judah. Information on the
tournament schedule and how to qualify can be
found at
www.europeanpokermasters.com.
Tournament Schedule:
THE LONDON ALL-STAR CHALLENGE
LONDON – 9th & 11th
September 2006
The European Poker Masters kicks
off on September 9 & 11 at the glamorous Fifty
Casino, in Piccadilly, London with a buy-in of
£2000. Event sponsors,
FullTiltPoker.com,
will be flying out their best pros for the event
from across the pond, making this the ultimate
US vs European poker event. American pros such
as Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris ‘Jesus’
Ferguson and Jennifer Harman are due to attend,
along with top European pros such as Gus Hansen,
Willie Tan, John Gale and Roland de Wolfe.
PARIS HOLD’EM TROPHY
Paris – 21st & 22nd
October 2006
The Aviation Club de France hosts
the
Pokerheaven.com
sponsored Paris Hold’em Trophy on October 21 &
22 for the French leg of the European Poker
Masters. The Paris Hold’em Trophy is to be the
feature event at the already well established
and high profile Hold’em Series. With a buy-in
of €3,000 this event is expected to attract
record numbers of players this year.
DUBLIN ALL-STAR CHALLENGE
Dublin – 17-19th
November 2006
The Sporting Emporium will host
the fourth and final leg of the European Poker
Masters from 17-19 November. The Sporting
Emporium is the latest and most luxurious gaming
and card club in the heart of Dublin city. The
Dublin All-Star Challenge will be held in
association with sponsor FullTiltPoker.com
and will see the best of US poker taking on
European and Irish contenders in this new
prestigious annual event.
A fourth European Poker Masters
Event, the “Austrian Classics”, in
Vienna on 3rd & 4th
October 2006 is expected to be added to the
tour schedule, further details will be announced
shortly.
James Hopkins, Tour Creator and
Head of Programming at All In Sport, said: “The
European Poker Masters is the most exciting
addition to the global poker calendar for many
years. Never before has Europe hosted so much US
talent. This is the strongest line up we could
have hoped for.”
-Ends-
For more information, images or
an interview, please contact:
All In Sports Press Office 0208
600 2698
Notes to Editors
The European Poker Masters is the
latest format launched by The Poker Channel’s
production arm. Other large scale tournaments
launched since the channel launched in March
2005 include the hugely successful British Poker
Open and the Quick Fire Shoot Out (formally
World Speed Poker Open).
'The Poker Channel' recently
re-branded to 'All in Sport', a move that sees
the channel expand into a new, multi sports
remit. Rocketing four hundred places up Sky's
channel listings from 844 to 444, this high
drama sports channel is now available in the
sports section of Sky's Electronic Programme
Guide ('EPG').
Originally launched as 'The Poker
Channel' in March 2005, in addition to providing
its core established and growing audience of
poker fans with the very best coverage from the
biggest poker tournaments across the world, the
new 'All in Sport' channel will attract new
viewers through a compelling mix of high drama
sports including the latest in world class
football, fighting and fishing.
All In Sport originally launched
as the Poker Channel on 23rd March
2005 and is available to all Sky digital
subscribers, as a free to air channel, and
previously listed as channel 844 in the Gaming
and Dating section of the Sky EPG. All In Sport
began broadcasting at 0900 on Monday 14th
August 2006 the Sports section of the EPG at
channel 444 and will provide 16 ½ hours of
sports action each and every day. For further
information, please visit
www.allinsport.co.uk.
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