APAT UK Amateur Poker Championship

[kvnstv]

I think a national amateur association needs to be regionalized and utilize regionally organized tournaments some online and others live which can act as feeders to national competitions. This would help in a number of ways;

Players
1.) Players will have to opportunity to play within there region for a package that will cover cost's to the national comp.
2.) Foster relationships within the APA community.

APA
1.) All players will have a fair chance to play in the national competition.
2.) More involvement for sponsor poker stars.
3.) More flexibility in choosing venues which is already outstripping demand.

If your getting 800+ applications for each event you are never going to be able to supply the demand without some kind of qualifying structure. This will stop a lot of criticism if it’s fair and open to all.

[Zebediah]

What about people who became members after the first event? Do they automatically qualify for Aspers due to "missing" the first event?
I have talked about how brilliant the APAT is to some poker mates, so now they will be first in the list on that system.

[tikay]

Correct me if I am wrong, but before the mini event that was held in Birmingham, and the raffle for places. Wasnt there a statement from the directors that all future events would be held at venues that can cater for the sort of numbers that wish to enter!

Therefore at event 2, why are we having to experience a raffle mark 2.

I fully support the ethos of APAT and have regulary enetered the online series, but if I miss out on the second live event due to a further raffle, perhaps is the right time to say "adios"

Well, Kinboshi has answered this pretty much, but let's expand.

Yes, after Event One, we DID say that we'd try & find a way to overcome the capacity problems for future Events. Bear in mind, I have aLWAYS been 100% open & honest with you guiys, so don't be fretting that I'll run away from anything I've said, on APAT, or owt else.

Anyway, we set up Event Two, almost to the point of making the aannouncement, we were 24 hours away from going public, when we realised we had overlooked something - Disabled Access. Damn! That was completely my fault, I had recce'd the venue, & for some reason, I thought they had disabled access organised. They did not. We determined immediately - no Disabled Access, no APAT, end of story. That's a shame, because we had set it up to have 2 opening Days, Friday & Saturday, & with each days capacity at 216, we had a capacity of 432. A big improvement, & in keeping with our committments to improve the capacity problem. (Which, by the way, is hardly APAT's fault).

So we found an alternative venue, with, we were told, massive capacity. Things did not quite turn out to be what they appeared to be there, either, so by now, we were in a bit of a hole as to finding somewhere big enough, & the clock was ticking, too.

So we plumped for Aspers in the end, & with time against us, decided to keep it simple - one opening day, and a capacity of just over 200. I'm not convinced, personally, that we will sell the 200 tickets, but we shall see, & obviously, I hope we do.

I hope that explains some of how we ended up where we are.

As the Season unfolds, we may be able to organise "double opening days" & the like, we shall see. We were hoping DtD would come on stream earlier than it now looks likely, but at least for Season Two, they will be able to host us in style. (Already discussed with Rob....)

This is only our second ever Live Event, so bear with us guys. It took Mr Duthie a season to get it right with the EPT, but he got there, & so shall we. There's a bit of hollering & hooting & jumping up & down going off, but as far as I & my APAT colleagues are concerned, we KNOW we are going the right way. We are adding HUGE value to £75 Tourneys - nobody else is doing that, so far as I am aware. Perhaps someone will tell me if I am mistaken on that. These Tourneys are aimed at recreational players, & to them, it's a bit special. Plesase don't mar their enjoyment by spoiling the atmosphere. The Broadway was awesome, and Aspers will be too.

[tikay]

What about people who became members after the first event? Do they automatically qualify for Aspers due to "missing" the first event?
I have talked about how brilliant the APAT is to some poker mates, so now they will be first in the list on that system.

No, neither they, nor anyone else, will "automatically qualify".

First in the list "in that system". What system?

[Zebediah]

Looks like the APAT boys have a nightmare on their hands, do whatever you think is best Tikay.
Not gonna flame you for putting on the best value tourneys ever.

Perhaps have qualifiers? They could be regional too, or online if easier. A thought for future events?

[tikay]

I will explain, later today, after I've worked through all the chaff, how & why we are selling seats the way we are, on Saturday.

It's not quite as straightforward to solve as you may think, for reasons which will become obvious a little later today. Be patient, please, & all will become clear &, hopefully, you'll better understand.

[turny]

what about the local guys who now see theres no event on at there casino that weekend? they will prob join apat just so they can play at there local casino that weekend without any intention of supporting apat thereafter!

is this fair??

[kinboshi]

Kinboshi, I take your point m8, but consider this, YOU miss out on ALL the live events this/next year. Will you still be as happy with the system of "choosing" players?

TK - I dont envy your job one bit today!!

I wouldn't be too overjoyed, you're right.  I think the ballot process, no matter how imperfect, is the best solution.  Far better than penalising people who are unavailable on a specific date and time to make their application.

The fairest way to me seems to be the ballot process, with some provision for those who are unsuccessful so that they are guaranteed/have a far greater chance of getting into the next tournament. Maybe a 'points' system, so that it also benefits members who have been members for longer and haven't just registered in time for the latest event.

I don't know how many members there are - but if there are 800 (for argument's sake) and an event caters for only 200, then there are going to be quite a few disappointed people (many might not want to play, but there will be some who can't get in).  Like I said, without the APAT all 800 wouldn't be playing, so it's just a case of working out the fairest way possible for members.

I'm sure Tikay or Des will mention this, but I'm not sure what the rationale was at dropping the ballot and moving to the ticket office approach.  We aren't seeing all the hard work they are obviously putting in behind the scenes.  Like the proverbial duck on the pond.

[tikay]

Looks like the APAT boys have a nightmare on their hands, do whatever you think is best Tikay.
Not gonna flame you for putting on the best value tourneys ever.

Perhaps have qualifiers? They could be regional too, or online if easier. A thought for future events?

No, no nightmare. We've founded a great Tour, & we are in our infancy, suffering a few growing pains. Intelligent peeps understand that. These growing pains are, partly, caused by the extraordinary value we are offering, so it's, overall, a GOOD thing for poker, no matter what anyone says. We have managed to get that breakthrough - sponsors not just adding their name to events, but adding proper extra value. This gets very little mention amongst all the flak, but if it all ended tomorrow for yours truly, I'd be proud to have been part of that breakthrough for Tournament Poker.

I also know that for just about everyone that attended Event One, it was a very special & memorable day, with the nicest atmosphere I've ever encountered at a Tournament.  Event Two will be just as good. If this causes capacity probs, well, as in life, we just can't have it both ways.

[Jon MW]

I think Tikay and the rest of APAT will have to accept that Blondeites are just perfectionists.

We can all see the really good parts of the APAT ''vision', that's why they don't need mentioning - they don't need improving.

Once the niggles and glitches which are inevitable in the first season of a venture this size have been ironed out - then we'll stop whinging.

[tikay]

Kinboshi, I take your point m8, but consider this, YOU miss out on ALL the live events this/next year. Will you still be as happy with the system of "choosing" players?

TK - I dont envy your job one bit today!!

I wouldn't be too overjoyed, you're right.  I think the ballot process, no matter how imperfect, is the best solution.  Far better than penalising people who are unavailable on a specific date and time to make their application.

The fairest way to me seems to be the ballot process, with some provision for those who are unsuccessful so that they are guaranteed/have a far greater chance of getting into the next tournament. Maybe a 'points' system, so that it also benefits members who have been members for longer and haven't just registered in time for the latest event.

I don't know how many members there are - but if there are 800 (for argument's sake) and an event caters for only 200, then there are going to be quite a few disappointed people (many might not want to play, but there will be some who can't get in).  Like I said, without the APAT all 800 wouldn't be playing, so it's just a case of working out the fairest way possible for members.

I'm sure Tikay or Des will mention this, but I'm not sure what the rationale was at dropping the ballot and moving to the ticket office approach.  We aren't seeing all the hard work they are obviously putting in behind the scenes.  Like the proverbial duck on the pond.

We got pilloried big time for having a ballot, the flak was extraordinary. So we said, "OK, we will do it different next time". And we have.

There will not be a raffle, or a ballot, on this occasion.

We shall, later this week, but before the weekend, narrow down the time frame as to when the tickets will go on sale. It'll likely be something along the lines of "between x o-clock & y o-clock" a 2 or 3 hour timeframe. And, probably later today, time permitting, I will explain WHY it is being done that way. It does make sense, when you hear the methodology......

[turny]

I also know that for just about everyone that attended Event One, it was a very special & memorable day, with the nicest atmosphere I've ever encountered at a Tournament.  Event Two will be just as good. If this causes capacity probs, well, as in life, we just can't have it both ways.
[/quote]

i dont think one person on this thread has doubted this.
 i was a spectator on day 1 of the last event (prematurly cut short bysome bad luck to the person i was supporting). it was a great atmosphere and as you say im sure the next one will be to.

with all the added packages surely it should be fair to all members to have the same equal chance to qualify for one ie playing the same amount of events?

[TightEnd]

For information payment methods at the weekend are

Visa credit
Mastercard credit
Visa delta debit
Electron debit

No neteller I am afraid, sorry about that

[tikay]

what about the local guys who now see theres no event on at there casino that weekend? they will prob join apat just so they can play at there local casino that weekend without any intention of supporting apat thereafter!

is this fair??

It's possible, yes.

Is it fair? Probably not. Theres not much we can do about it, really.

I am still not convinced we will sell all the seats. But like I said, I hope we do.

[TightEnd]

what about the local guys who now see theres no event on at there casino that weekend? they will prob join apat just so they can play at there local casino that weekend without any intention of supporting apat thereafter!

is this fair??

this would be the same anywhere we went..it happens for blonde bashes, it will happen for APAT.