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Amateur Poker Association & Tour Announces Scottish Amateur Poker Championship

London, March 7th, 2007 –   The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (“APAT”), in association with PokerStars.com, today announces details of the fourth live event in its critically acclaimed tour for non professional players.

APAT is the world’s first combined Poker Association and Tour, and will hold its fourth live event, the Scottish Amateur Poker Championship, at the Gala Maybury Casino in Edinburgh, on April 14th & 15th, 2007. 

The entry fee will be £75.00 and the winner will take home an expenses paid entry to a European Poker Tour event, in addition to the Scottish title and a substantial cash prize.  Players will not be required to pay a registration fee for the event and APAT standardised rules will be in operation at Gala Maybury.

Players will start the event with 10,000 in chips, and a structure designed to encourage creative play throughout. 

Gala Maybury operates the largest casino cardroom in Scotland, and a total of 130 seats will be available and allocated in one of following ways:

•   Five seats will be available via a live £20 satellite at Gala Maybury Casino on Saturday 10th March at 5pm sharp.  Gala will not charge a registration fee to APAT members for this event. 

•   Thirty seats will be available in total, via three online satellites at PokerStars.com, taking place on Sunday 11th, Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th March 2007 at 8pm sharp.  These events will feature a $20 + $2 entry fee.

•   Due to expected overwhelming demand, the remaining seats will be allocated via a member draw on Wednesday 14th March. The process for the member draw will be as follows:

-   Players wishing to be placed into the draw should send an email to tournament@apat.com by 8pm on Wednesday 14th March.

-   A draw will be conducted and independently scrutinised on Thursday.

-   The players and reserves list will be published late on Thursday at www.apat.com.

-   APAT will send payment links to members on the players list via email on Friday.

-   Members will have until Sunday night to pay for and secure their seat.

-   Any seats not paid for at this time will be offered to reserves in strict draw order.

In season one, APAT features seven national and international events culminating in European and World Amateur Poker Championship events.  Each APAT event winner will receive a cash prize, an engraved Championship Cup and an expenses paid European Poker Tour or World Series of Poker main event entry. 

Tony Kendall, APAT Chairman, stated:  “APAT are delighted to partner with PokerStars and Gala in bringing the inaugural Scottish Amateur Championship to Edinburgh.   APAT is increasingly becoming ‘the’ affordable proving ground for players wanting to realise their potential in high quality live events, and a guaranteed added value prize pool is great news for our players.  I look forward to welcoming existing and new APAT members to Edinburgh and am confident of giving you an outstanding experience.”

APAT Membership can be obtained online at www.apat.com.  Individual Membership of the Association costs £10.

Further Information For Editors

Daniel Phillips won the inaugural APAT event, the English Amateur Poker Championship in September 2006 and was rewarded with a seat into the 2007 EPT event in Copenhagen as part of his prize.

Max Ward was the winner of the UK Amateur Championship in December 2006 and received entry into the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event as part of his winning prize.

Lee Mulligan won the Welsh Amateur Poker Championship in February 2007 and will play this weeks’ EPT Dortmund as part of his winning prize.

For additional information on the Amateur Poker Association & Tour, contact Richard Prew on 07887 987044 or via media@apat.com, or visit the Press section at www.apat.com.

email sent!

Flushy for MOD

chances are i wont be allowed to travel so i wont be appling for a seat unless things change in next week

Is that in the conditions of your ASBO?

Just done the route planner to the casino ;hide; 4 hours....

Looking at the flights.....£67 Return... A no brainer really. It would cost me that in diesel....

Just got to get in now....

Toss up between the flight and the drive.  Free diesel if we drive, quicker by plane - but hassle of messing around at the airport, etc., if we fly.

Anyone looked into hotels?  Looks like the casino is very close to the airport?  Anyone have experience of hotels in that area?

Marriot is right across the road... believe its fairly priced.

Email sent also, I just know that if I travel the entire length of the country from Reading I will bust out first hand though!

I'm guessing each satellite online will have 10 seats, maybe 200+ runners in each but still seems like a good chance with three of them running.

Cheers big man!!  :)up

I'm sure we'll see you at this one? 

Nope ill be thousands of miles away arranging my vegas wedding milking the low limit vegas games and tournies.

130 seats? Only just noticed that bit

Fair enough!!  See you at the one after then, possibly...

I'll miss this 2. Newcastle for a stag weekend.
Stupid mates getting married.
Prob never get a seat without playing the satellites anyway.

I'm afraid so!

But APAT Season Two should have at least 3 UK Venues with a 300+ capacity.

Do you think one of them might possibly be in Nottingham?

 ;carlocitrone;

It might possibly be......

Marvellous...

E-mail sent it's all down to the drawmaster and his balls.........oops sorry

Are you now alternating clickfests and draws, or have you decided to go with draws all the time ?

If it is to be draws all the time at smaller venues, should not people who have missed out so far get preference ?

I'm not trying to be difficult, but having missed out in a draw and two clickfests  I would feel hard done by to miss out again if I were interested in going to Scotland, while some people who have played all of the live events so far could get in ahead of me. There must be quite a few others who missed out in the first three events.

I really hate the draw idea, i understand why it has to be done so i will keep schtum.
But a click fest is more like a tournament registration in a casino, if you dont turn up before it gets full then you dont get to play. They dont wait til everyone has turned up then raffle off the seats.

email sent too ;)

Typical its on home turf and i'm heading out on saturday to tenerife onholiday.So as i cant play the sats its now in the lap of the gods.

 Email sent --- now who can I have bribed/maimed to get me in?

Mines in, probably get lost in the post or something.


Just thought I would mention that Scotland is actually closed that weekend so no point in anyone else sending an e-mail in ok!

Honest!!

What?  ;whistle;

E-mail sent.

One question: With each event having varying number of entrants, shouldn't the number of points awarded for the tournament leaderboard compensate for that? I would assume it would be easier to win a tournament where there are only 130 runners as opposed to winning one where 250 people are playing. At present, I am assuming that you would win the same number of points, dependant on position you finished, regardless of how many players participated.

Joseph

E-mail sent, but as i'm flying out to Florida at the weekend, so i'll also miss the online sats..........................or maybe find an internet  room HeHe.

Hope the old footballers doing the draw treat my balls with respect.

We have no specific policy on clickfests v draws, we are feeling our way through Season One & trying to be as fair as we can to everyone. To a degree, it depends on how many seats the Venue can hold.

But we have introduced a lot more in the way of Live & Online SuperSats.

Season Two will be much better, as we will have larger capacity venues available to us, indeed we have all sorts of interesting plans for Season Two which will help with the seat demand/supply equation, & I'm certain they will meet with general approval.

It may seem, or indeed even be, a little unfair to those who do not get a seat, but we've tried to be as fair as we can. We apologise to those who get unlucky, but everyone seems to want to play these Events, and it's tough to accommodate them all.

If you plan to try & get a seat in the draw (for Scotland), I wish you luck, likewise if you intend to try the Super-Sat Route, may the Poker Gods be kind.

Do tournament directors have to send emails as well?

Having attended an APAT event as a railbird/tourist, I can now see why the events are massively popular, its a unique poker experience and the only other events that come close to matching the atmosphere and spirit are our very own blonde bashes.

Good luck to everyone who is trying for a seat.

Given its a draw this time, it should be easy to exclude those who have attended already, and draw 130 seats.    ;scarymoment;

If there are still places after that, put the "excluded" back in the hat, and complete the draw.

Already choosing between City v Liverpool and the Grand National on the 14th, so will give Edinburgh a miss. Good luck to everyone in the draw.

Well I no longer work for APAT as TD , decided to go back down the work for a living route so it means I can play
more live poker which is good my winning streak is back , won sheffield 20 rebuy on tuesday and brighton rendevous the other week so back in the swing of things ;)

Well done Mel and it would be good to see you play in Edinburgh.

Regards,

Des.

The draw is fairer than fastest finger.

If you can't be there for whatever reason at the time of the draw - you can't play.  The draw is fairer.  Everyone who wants to play is on a level playing field.  If there are 130 seats, and 500 people who want to play - then there are going to be 370 disappointed people - whichever way it's done.

There are some who say that first-timers should be given preference.  There are others that would say that those who have played every event should be given preference (as they've supported and made the APAT what it is).  There are even those who say that anyone who has scored points in previous events should be allowed first shot - as they've earned it.

Whichever way, there will be people disappointed if demand exceeds supply.

An interesting point though.  The first APAT event used a draw system.  I didn't make it onto the 120.  No, I was 69th on the reserve list of 80.  But there were enough people who didn't take up their place, and enough on the reserve list who didn't take up their place which meant I was given a chance.  I went and won it (who knows how?).

Whichever method is used, someone will find a way to complain.  Without the APAT, 120 other people would be disappointed for this event.  If I don't get in, I will be disappointed - but I'll get over it.  If I get in and donk out early doors (again), I'll be even more disappointed. 

See you in the sats!!

Thanks Kev...to even approach the atmosphere of blonde bashes makes me extremely pleased at how far APAT has come.  As Tony indicated elsewhere, there are a lot of developments going on behind the scenes and given time, APAT can make a real difference for players.

Des.

Good post Daniel!!

My thoughts and sentiments exactly...

Stroll on the sat.........

Is it not still a draw if you do click fest???  :dontask:

P.S I was also on reserve list for brum event and qualified through ppl dropping out.

No.  If you want to play, you get a chance with a draw - it's a level playing field.

If you can't make the exact time a click-fest is taking place - then you can't play.  Less fair (IMHO).

But sadly surely when it comes down to it isnt poker a cutthroat sport. Its like tickets for a gig, its first come first serve! Or even as i mentioned earlier like a tourney in my local casino. If the seats are full and there are 20 people who didnt get in they dont do a raffle, they are turned away.
I know its for us amateurs but surely it must still work with a professional entry system.

Des/Tikay,

Could you answer my question if possible?

If they were to change the points structure they would have to go back to the 1st event and change that. There was 120 runners there.

Points on a pro rata basis... Doesnt work for me.....

Once you get playing it's cut-throat.  No need to make entry unfair though - might as well strive to make it as fair and equal as possible.

If they wanted to make it unfair, the first thing they could do is ban any Welsh from playing...

 ;iagree;

The following hotels have excellent rates and are a stone's throw away from the venue:

 http://www.smithfieldhotel.co.uk/

http://www.ceabhar.com/

:)up

Booked them both.

Hi Joseph,

For me there are two reasons really.

1)  Winning an APAT live event is quite an achievement and I would not want to lessen the value of any player's victory due to the restriction of the largest available venue in that country.

2)  The rankings competition is well underway and there is a very worthwhile prize at the end.  Changing the rules half way through is just not an option.

But like everything else, we will listen to what our members tell us and revise whatever elements of the tour have proved unpopular, for season two.

Cheers,

Des.

any word on dates and numbers for the 3 overseas events unlike the UK event most people will have to travel and some will have to take time off work etc etc usually 5 weeks is enough and obviously you dont want to be promoting all the events at the same time but dates and chances of getting seats will be vital info also when will online quailfing start for vegas as obviously we will want alot of sats to help get the number of brits over there up

finially when will the APA as an assocition befored rather than just the tour


sorry alot of time on my hands at present to waste on planning my future

Thanks Des for your reply and I agree with both points made. Something to consider for next season perhaps?

On a seperate note, when are these new non-ranking tournaments on Stars going to take place? I'm curious as to why the delay?

Hi Iron,

Hope you are getting on okay.

We are treating the Irish event similarly to the other domestic events.  We agree on offering as much notice as possible for the remaining two events and they are firmly in mind.

At the moment a lot of the APA work that is being done is groundwork, building relationships, proving concepts that work etc. 

If you can view the APA Tour as the ideal of the experience we believe recreational players are after, and consider the quality of sponsors that APAT has, and the quality of venues that we have brought on stream, and understand that all of these agreements have been reached with board directors at each respective company, then I hope you can see that APAT aim to bring 'meaningful' representation to our members going forward.  It's a big vision and it will take time to deliver. 

Regards,

Des.

Can someone point me to the pokerstars game?id number or location?

had a quick look around and cant see it yet??

cheers

Purely technical reasons at APAT that I won't go into here, but it is frustrating that we have not been able to put this on yet.  

They will be up by Saturday!

Email sent.  Hope to win a seat if possible.  These events are fabtastic, hope I get a seat, top poker, top organisation, top fun.  Hope to see some familiar faces up in Edinburgh.  GL to all playing in the sats.

Ohhhh 130 players .....thats a tough one to qualify for or even to make the click-fest! Oh well hopefully we'll all be there....Dan what you doing re travel arrangements? Give me an email, if were both going we'll have to sort something out!!

Not sure yet - but will drop you an email this weekend.

Hi Joseph,

Thank you for your question, which Des has answered already.

I'd just add, really much the same thinking as Des - that.....

1) Simple is best, & if we alter the points per comp based on runners, it soon starts to get very complicated indeed.

2) It is, to our way of thinking, unthinkable to amend the Rankings Criteria halfway through the Season, it's just unfair on everyone. Season Two, well we can & will change things if our Members give us the feedback that suggests we should.

really hoping to be able to play this.  Think I'll try one qualifier, then get my name in the hat and keep everything crossed!

Iron asked about the progress of the Association, & Des replied saying (amongst other things)....

At the moment a lot of the APA work that is being done is groundwork, building relationships, proving concepts that work etc. 

If you can view the APA Tour as the ideal of the experience we believe recreational players are after, and consider the quality of sponsors that APAT has, and the quality of venues that we have brought on stream, and understand that all of these agreements have been reached with board directors at each respective company, then I hope you can see that APAT aim to bring 'meaningful' representation to our members going forward.  It's a big vision and it will take time to deliver. 

This is a "read between the lines" thing. For example, APAT Tournament Rules, approved by the GC,  have now been used in The Broadway, Aspers, a Grosvenor, & now a Gala, & agreement to APAT Rule use has been agreed with Stanleys for APAT Events. That may seem a small step, but it's a huge step for us & we have built on that foundation already via discussions with the interested parties. Things are happening behind the scenes daily now, & we are very much ahead of target.

Our Hosts this season - Broadway, Aspers & Grosvenor Cardiff thus far - have dialled in precisely to the APAT culture, & worked as hard as we have to deliver  a stunning player experience. Do they do that because the think we are nice people? I think not - the've recognized that by helping to deliver a better Player experience, it's good for everyone. For that, they've made concessions to us, financial & procedural, which we passed on, & for which we are grateful.

Believe me, we are getting there.

Season Two, for which plans are well advanced, will be even better.

Do you get any sort of confirmation when you join apat or register for the event, all I've got is my paypal receipt so far.

I booked the Smithfield - Only a good 9 hour drive...from hotel to casino....

if you can drive it then i would be amazed

Glad to hear that the money is rolling in " drinks on Mel in Edinburgh"

#

All I have to do is drive very fast, open the car doors, and it will fly over the water. Just the same as my toy cars did when I was a kid......

First two online sats up now, within Tourney / Special.

On completing your payment via paypal you should have been directed to a welcome new members page.  I will make sure a manual email is sent out to you today happybhoy.

Cheers,

Des.

Cheers Des,
Too much clicking and not enough reading on my part I suspect

hehe foggy thought it was your round ...  didn't i get them in in newcy?

Paid by debit card, all I have received  so far is an email confirming payment from Metacharge but that's it :dontask: Do I get a membership number or other confirmation from APAT?

your email address is your membership ID

Thanks

4 hours to the satellite woo

RichD, i do not know what has happened, but comp seems to be starting at 7pm !!!

Please do not miss it, i don't think i can make a 7pm start myself.

des is aware and trying to get it sorted

Cheers Des, fingers crossed.

Lucky I seen Bains post about it being at 7... I took it as red that it was at 8....

Do we know who qualified at the Casino?

No problem sir, good luck to you.

Its showing in Pokerstars as 8 now...

One more hour of footy...... what am I going to do....

Hi guys,

I covered this some time ago on the thread in the "internet" category.  PokerStars have corrected their error and the satellite will now kick off at 8pm as advertised.

Regards,

Des.

Something like that Lee. 

Good effort in Dortmund - unlucky with that flush on the river.  Good fun though?

Lee, I hope you was as vocal in Dortmund as you were in Cardiff. You were a good fun...

Look forward to reading your post...

Yeah, you were on my table briefly. But on day 2, the allins were great..... Supeb... The pure enjoyment...

Great to watch and be a part of..