Brennan, from Archway in London overcome Irish boxing legend Dave ‘Boy’ McAuley heads-up at the climax of an exciting final table. The key hand came when McAuley raised to 800 with Kh 10h and Brennan pushed all-in with Ah 3h. The board failed to help either player and the online qualifier sealed a memorable victory.

“I’m completely stunned, this is a dream” said Brennan. “Not only did I get to play poker with many of my sporting heroes, I also managed to win and qualifying did not cost me a penny! It means so much to me. I am currently out of work and the money couldn’t have come at a better time.” Brennan was cheered on by his mother Mary, who was overcome with emotion after he sealed his win. “I am so proud of him, especially the fact that he believed in himself and believed that he could do it,” she said.

Brennan qualified for the tournament through a series of online freerolls which were entered by a staggering 140,000 people. Brennan came through the darts qualifier. He won his heat with the darts stars, taking out legendary world champion and keen poker player Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor heads-up to secure his spot on the final table. The final table featured three online qualifiers in the form of Brennan, Scott O’Reilly and Paresh Patel. They joined England rugby union star Henry Paul, Germany’s European Championship football winner Thomas Helmer, boxing legend McAuley and popular French golfer Jean Van De Velde in the fight for glory.

Boxing legend McAuley was a gracious runner-up. The Belfast hero retired from boxing in 1992 but was involved in some of the biggest and most memorable fights of the late 1980s. “I lost my first two world title fights and won the third so maybe next time the title will be mine,” he said. McAuley previously played in the event two years ago but was eliminated very early.

First out on the final table was golfer Jean Van De Velde, who will forever be famous for the 18th hole at the 1999 Open Championship. In this poker debut he reached the 18th but at least he made the fairway and proved that he was no fish in these waters. Next to go was 42-year-old online qualifier Paresh Patel from Blackpool - he got to play with football stars and took out French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf heads-up in his heat to win a place in the final. He was shortly followed by German European Championship winning footballer Thomas Helmer.

Following these eliminations there was an exciting period of four handed play with Brennan the aggressor – never being afraid to get his chips in and intimidate the rest of the field. Next out was England Rugby Union international Henry Paul, followed by online qualifier Scott O’Reilly. After finishing 54th in the WSOP Main Event in 2006 for over $165,000, O’Reilly was undoubtedly the favourite to triumph and had ended the dominance of Brennan but a couple of cruel beats sent him to the rail. O’Reilly is a member of PartyPoker.com’s VIP club  and came through a high octane motorsport heat that featured F1 icons Giancarlo Fisichella and Jacques Villeneueve. This left Brennan and McAuley heads-up but the online qualifier always looked the more likely winner.

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “We’d like to congratulate Jason on his win - it is truly remarkable that he managed to be the last man standing from over 140,000 players. He says his poker hero is Tony G but he looks like a contender to become UK poker’s Ali G figure in a straight fight with Luke ‘Full Flush’ Schwartz and Josh Tyler! Kara Scott’s win in this event in 2008 was a huge springboard to further success so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Jason.”

Eddie Hearn, Director of Matchroom Sport said: “It was a fantastic event and there was no surprise that the fastest heat was the motorsport one. All the sports stars were great fun and spent plenty of time socially with all those lucky players that won seats online. Giancarlo Fisichella and Ronald De Boer, in particular, showed they have some serious form on the green felt and they were unlucky not to be in the final.”

Amongst the sports stars knocked out in the heat stages included 2008 European Ryder Cup team member Graeme McDowell, David Frost and Sam Torrance. Footballers included Holland’s Ronald De Boer, Romania’s Florin Radiciou and Denmark and Liverpool legend Jan Molby. The boxing tear-up featured Germany’s former unbeaten World Champion Sven Ottke, while the rugby heat didn’t prove fruitful for union’s former France and Wasps captain Raphael Ibanez.  For the first time in the Matchroom Sport organised event’s history there were heats for motorsport professionals, top golfers and an online qualifier element.

PartyPoker.com players had the chance to win a seat through a freeroll in the sports heat of their choice. The sports were football (two heats), rugby (union and league combined), motorsport, boxing, darts and golf. The winner of Sports Stars Challenge I was former rugby union star Austin Healey, while the second instalment saw victory for Irish snooker champion Ken Doherty. Last year’s winner was television presenter Kara Scott, who used the tournament as the starting point for a breakthrough successful year on the circuit that also included big cashes at the WSOP Main Event and Irish Open. Scott won £20,000 after defeating Manchester United football legend Norman Whiteside heads-up. There was no presenter heat in the format this year.

The winner of each of the seven heats took their seats at the seven seat final table. Each player sat down with 2,000 chips with the heat winner getting £7,000. The overall winner received £20,000 with second getting £10,000 and third receiving £5,000.

Coverage of the event will be aired in the UK later this year on Sky Sports in the UK and then distributed internationally. Jesse May leads the commentary and was joined by Nik Persaud, Ian Frazer and Matt Broughton.

PARTYPOKER.COM SPORTS STARS CHALLENGE IV – PRIZE POOL – London – 29th May – 1st June

1st - JASON BRENNAN (ONLINE QUALIFIER DARTS) £20,000
2nd - DAVE MCAULEY (BOXING) £10,000
3rd - SCOTT O’REILLY (ONLINE QUALIFIER MOTORSPORT) £5,000
4th - HENRY PAUL (RUGBY)
5th - THOMAS HELMER (FOOTBALL)
6th - PARESH PATEL (ONLINE QUALIFIER FOOTBALL)
7th - JEAN VAN DE VELDE (GOLF)

PARTYPOKER.COM SPORTS STARS CHALLENGE IV FINAL TABLE – London – 29th May – 1st June

SEAT 1 – JEAN VAN DE VELDE (GOLF)
SEAT 2 – DAVE MCAULEY (BOXING)
SEAT 3 – JASON BRENNAN (ONLINE QUALIFIER DARTS)
SEAT 4 – HENRY PAUL (RUGBY)
SEAT 5 – THOMAS HELMER (FOOTBALL)
SEAT 6 – PARESH PATEL (ONLINE QUALIFIER FOOTBALL)
SEAT 7 – SCOTT O’REILLY (ONLINE QUALIFIER MOTORSPORT)

“Next up should be Mike Sexton. He has some impressive accomplishments as a player, he won the Tournament of Champions in 06′, the European Heads Up, and is one of the leaders in WSOP cashes including one bracelet. If I’m not mistaken he also won the 1st 10k event at Foxwoods as well. I can’t think of anyone though who has contributed more to the growth of the game then Mike and that’s why he should be the next inductee. As the WPT’s announcer he is the guy who introduced no limit poker to millions of people, and who explained it in a way that drew them in and got them interested. I meet people all the time who don’t even play poker but watch the WPT because he manages to keep it exciting for everyone. People can tell his enthusiasm is real, Mike loves poker and fortunately is able to translate that for the viewer. He deserves huge credit too for the growth of the online game. As a consultant for PartyPoker he helped the online game get started and helped Party create the biggest poker site in the world. Party was just another poker site until Mike’s commercials on the WPT started running, then overnight the numbers doubled, tripled and very quickly they became the largest site poker has ever seen. He is one of the best ambassadors poker has ever seen and I hope he is on deck for admission in 09’.”

London – 1st June 2009 – The final table is set at the Party Poker’s Sports Stars Challenge in London. Sports stars, both past and present, have taken their seats in the hope of being crowned the ultimate sporting poker champion in the strongest and most international line-up to date. For the first time in the Matchroom Sport organised event’s history there were heats for motorsport professionals, top golfers and an online qualifier element.

The final table features three online qualifiers in the form Scott O’Reilly, Jason Brennan and Paresh Patel. They join England rugby union star Henry Paul, Germany’s European Championship football winner Thomas Helmer, Irish boxing legend Dave ‘Boy’ McAuley and popular French golfer Jean Van De Velde.

O’Reilly is a member of PartyPoker.com’s VIP club http://www.palladiumlounge.com/ and came through a high octane motorsport heat that featured F1 icons Giancarlo Fisichella and Jacques Villeneueve. Previously he ran deep in the WSOP Main Event in 2006 winning over $165,000 as a PartyPoker.com qualifier. Jason Brennan, a 34-year old unemployed road builder from Holloway, London found his way to the final table after chinning darts legend Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor in his heat. Paresh Patel is 42 years-old from Blackpool and got to play with football heroes and took out French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf heads-up in his heat.

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “ 140,000 people overall took part in the special Sports Stars Challenge freerolls online and three players have made the final table. A number of the sports stars have shown they have real game when it comes to poker with Ronald De Boer and Giancarlo Fisichella, in particular, showing solid aggressive games. Both were unlucky not to make the final table.”

Amongst the other sports stars who were knocked out in the heat stages included 2008 European Ryder Cup team member Graeme McDowell and Sam Torrance. Footballers included Romania’s Florin Radiciou and Denmark and Liverpool legend Jan Molby. The boxing tear-up featured Germany’s former unbeaten World Champion Sven Ottke, while the rugby heat didn’t prove fruitful for union’s former France and Wasps captain Raphael Ibanez.

PartyPoker.com players had the chance to win a seat through a freeroll in the sports heat of their choice. The sports were football (two heats), rugby (union and league combined), motorsport, boxing, darts and golf.

The winner of Sports Stars Challenge I was former rugby union star Austin Healey, while the second instalment saw victory for Irish snooker champion Ken Doherty. Last year’s winner was television presenter Kara Scott, who used the tournament as the starting point for a breakthrough successful year on the circuit that also included big cashes at the WSOP Main Event and Irish Open. Scott won £20,000 after defeating Manchester United football legend Norman Whiteside heads-up. There is no presenter heat in the new format this year.

The winner of each of the seven heats will take their seat at the final table, where seven players will battle it out until one of them walks away with the title. Each player sits down with 2,000 chips with the heat winner getting £7,000. The overall winner receives £20,000 with second getting £10,000 and third receiving £5,000.

Coverage of the event will be aired in the UK later this year on Sky Sports and then distributed internationally. Jesse May leads the commentary.

PARTYPOKER.COM SPORTS STARS CHALLENGE IV FINAL TABLE – London – 29th May – 1st June

SEAT 1 – JEAN VAN DE VELDE (GOLF)
SEAT 2 – DAVE MCAULEY (BOXING)
SEAT 3 – JASON BRENNAN (ONLINE QUALIFIER DARTS)
SEAT 4 – HENRY PAUL (RUGBY)
SEAT 5 – THOMAS HELMER (FOOTBALL)
SEAT 6 – PARESH PATEL (ONLINE QUALIFIER FOOTBALL)
SEAT 7 – SCOTT O’REILLY (ONLINE QUALIFIER MOTORSPORT)

Jen Mason, Maria Demetriou, Shana Casaletto, Aisling Collins and Cat O’Neill lead the charge for the UK. Mason reached the final table of this event in its inaugural running in 2007, finishing second to Beverley Pace. Also a highly respected live tournament reporter, Mason will be looking to go one better this time and has a respected aggressive game that fits well with the format. Similarly well supported is Maria ‘Chili’ Demetriou. Maria was one the favourites to win the tournament before a card was dealt and amongst other great domestic achievements has made the final table of Late Night Poker. She came through what many thought was the most difficult of the heats that also featured EPT Dortmund winner Sandra Naujoks and Spanish whirlwind May Maceiras.

Shana Casaletto has won back-to-back GUKPT side events recently and was in dominant form taking down the first heat. Aisling Collins is a tv producer, who, like a lot of the field, has big support in the green room and in the online forums. Cat O’Neill is from Belfast and was put forward for the tournament by WSOP bracelet holder, Poker Million and PartyPoker.com World Open winner Marty Smyth. Joining the UK hot shots is Japan’s Kim Wooka, who dazzled to win her heat. Wooka already has great name in the Far East as Japanese Ladies Champion but was discovered by organizers of this tournament at the Asian Poker Tour Manila event back in January and she certainly isn’t disappointing. Joining Kim is Cecilia Nordenstem, who has for a long time been one of the most glamorous figures on the Swedish circuit but also a deadly player as she showed in her heat. Cecilia cashed in her first five WPT events.

Other players who failed to make the final table include PartyPoker.com Premier League III star and inaugural WSOP Europe winner Annette Obrestad, Germany’s Christine Klecz and WSOP bracelet holder Jennifer Tilly. Among the others who took part included UK Women’s Poker Tour Champion Lynne Beaumont, Veronique Gordon, European Ladies champion Liv Boeree, France’s Lise ‘The Pink Lady’ Vigezzi, Ireland’s Colette Murphy, Eliza Burnett, Stephanie Bergener and Polish boxing champion Agnieska Rylik. There were also four specially invited players from PartyPoker.com’s VIP club, http://www.palladiumlounge.com/

Women’s World Open II defending champion Soraya Homam from Germany narrowly missed out on a place at the final table by finishing runner-up in the second chance heat. The UK’s Beverley Pace won the inaugural Women’s World Open I title.

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “The standard of play has been strongest in the event’s history and the final table is sure to be a great spectacle.”

The tournament featured six six-seater heats with one six seat runner-up heat. The final table features seven players. Commentary will be led by Jesse May, who will be joined by Annette Obrestad. The action will be broadcast on Five in the UK later this year and then distributed internationally. A limited number of qualifiers took place with Equal Chance, International Club and the Eglinton Casino in Galway all running satellites.

PARTYPOKER.COM WOMEN’S WORLD OPEN III – London 24 - 27th May 2009

FINAL TABLE SEATING POSITIONS
SEAT ONE – KIM WOOKA (JAP)
SEAT TWO – JEN MASON (UK)
SEAT THREE – AISLING COLLINS (UK)
SEAT FOUR – MARIA DEMETRIOU (UK)
SEAT FIVE – CECILIA NORDENSTAM (SWE)
SEAT SIX – CAT O’NEILL (UK)
SEAT SEVEN – SHANA CASALETTO (UK)

FINAL TABLE PRIZE POOL

1st - $50,000
2nd - $20,000
3rd - $12,000
4th - $10,000
5th - $8,000
6th - $5,000
7th - $3,000

You can vote for Mike now at: http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/pokerhalloffame/halloffamevoting.asp

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “We encourage the poker community to vote online for Mike Sexton’s induction into Poker’s Hall of Fame. Mike famously said that poker takes five minutes to learn and a lifetime to master – it takes five minutes to vote and mark the lifetime achievement of the master! Mike meets all the criteria and deserves to be top of the list when the process gets to the Hall of Fame committee.”

Inaugural WSOP Europe winner Annette Obrestad has already expressed her intention to vote for Mike.  “I may be from a different generation of poker players to Mike but in my mind he deserves induction into poker’s hall of fame this year.”

PartyPoker.com recently renewed its association with Mike, who will act as a host, consultant, ambassador and player.  Sexton needs little introduction and is unarguably one of the most respected figures in the game. As the face and voice of the World Poker Tour and holder of a WSOP bracelet, Mike is truly one of the games pioneers. Sexton is in the top ten for the most cashes at the World Series of Poker and is instantly recognizable to all poker enthusiasts. Regarded as ‘The Ambassador of Poker,’ for years Mike advocated corporate involvement with poker to take the game he loves into the mainstream. Notably, Sexton also won the first $10k buy-in NL hold’em championship event at Foxwoods World Poker Finals in 1992 and in 2000 was the first American to win the championship event at the Euro Finals of Poker in Paris, which at the time was the biggest event in Europe.

Through his role with the World Poker Tour Mike brought the game to millions around the world. In 2006 Sexton won the Tournament of Champions at the World Series of Poker, a concept he had originally created. He donated $500,000 of his winnings to charity and has since become a co-founder of http://www.pokergives.org/, which encourages players to make charitable donations.

The Poker Hall of Fame was established in 1979. Its membership includes poker’s most influential players and other important contributors to the game. There are 16 living members, and to date 37 members have been bestowed the honour of entry. The WSOP Hall of Fame traditionally elects one or two new members annually. The enshrinement ceremony is now held during the final table of the Main Event of the WSOP. The criteria for selection is as follows:

A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition

Played for high stakes

Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers

Stood the test of time

Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results

Mike ticks the boxes! The Hall of Fame needs its ambassador! Amongst the most recent inductees include Henry Orenstein, Dewey Tomko, Phil Hellmuth, Barbara Enright, TJ Cloutier, Bobby Baldwin, Johnny Chan and Lyle Berman. Doyle Brunson was given Hall of Fame status in 1987. Once the public has voted the top ten among consideration are announced during the Main Event. It then goes to a committee stage in August and then a secret ballot of living Hall of Famers in September. In addition, a select group of media members will also be sent a ballot for ranking the finalists.

May 26, 2009 (London, UK) – Today at 8pm (GMT) Littlewoods Poker will play host to Bluff Europe’s exclusive monthly free-roll tournament. Tonight’s free-roll offers a $3,000 package - made up of $1,000 added cash plus $2,000 worth of big money tournament tickets.

All players need to do is go to http://www.bluffeurope.com/cardgang and follow the simple on-screen instructions in order to sign up.

“Once again we have a great opportunity for Bluff Europe readers to join in on the action courtesy of CardGang and Bluff Europe,” said Michael Caselli, Editor-in-chief. “Players should keep their eyes peeled at http://www.bluffeurope.copm/cardgang for monthly free-rolls and exclusive high value tournaments.”

Littlewoods Poker is part of Littlewoods Gaming, one of the oldest and most trusted names in Gaming in the UK. It offers a large range of cash games as well as a number of major prize tournaments and bonus opportunities.

For details and to sign up and play, visit www.bluffeurope.com/cardgang

London, May 22, 2009 – Next generation online poker room PKR.com today announced that they have agreed a blockbuster deal with Bluff media that will see PKR.com act as the exclusive sole live broadcaster of 24 bracelet events from this year’s World Series of Poker.

With ESPN no longer broadcasting many World Series events across Europe, PKR.com will be the only place for poker fans to watch some of the biggest bracelet tournaments unfold. Even better news for European fans is the fact that they can watch the live action from one of the most eagerly anticipated WSOP’s ever, free of charge when they log onto http://wsop.pkr.com/ – PKR.com’s very own World Series micro-site.

PKR.com’s most popular live broadcast looks sure to be full coverage from the final table of the $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E, widely considered by many purists to be the true benchmark of the world’s most complete poker player. Other events certain to see many fans stay up late to watch them will include five $10,000 World Championship final tables of tournaments such as the $10,000 World Championship Heads Up No Limit Hold’em (event #29) and the $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha (event #41).

PKR.com Marketing Director Simon Prodger said, “The World Series of Poker is without doubt the biggest event of the poker calendar and it fills me with delight that PKR has managed to scoop exclusive rights to be the official broadcaster for these 24 bracelet events.”

As part of the deal PKR.com will also become the exclusive non-US sponsor of the official World Series of Poker website. The announcement tops of a year of unprecedented World Series activity for the company with the recent announcement of PKR.com World Series welcome party on the July, 1st at the Palms, along with a wide range of $12,500 World Series Main Event packages up for grabs now on www.PKR.com.

Full details of live coverage will be announced shortly and will include highlights like:

$50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E event
$10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Lo Split 8 or Better (event #18)
$10,000 World Championship Heads Up No Limit Hold’em (event #29)
$10,000 World Championship Limit Hold’em (event #33),
$10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha (event #40
$10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Hold’em (event #45)
$1,000 No Limit Hold’em ‘Stimulus Special’ (event #4)
$1,000 Ladies Championship (event #17)
$5,000 Pot Limit Omaha (event #35)
$5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout (event #41)

May 22, 2009 (London, UK) – Another eagerly anticipated Card Gang freeroll, staged by Bluff Europe, is on the horizon. This time Littlewoods Poker is taking its turn to host the free tournament, offering a $3,000 package.

The package will be made up of $1,000 added cash plus $2,000 worth of big money tournament tickets. (10 tickets to the $100k (valued at $132 each) and 10 tickets to the $20K (valued at $66 each) All for zero financial risk!

The tournament is scheduled for an 8pm GMT start on Tuesday 26th May. Freerollers from all over Europe will be logging on to Littlewoods poker in order to battle it out for a share of the prize money so make sure you do not miss out on Littlewoods big giveaway!

All you need to do is go to www.bluffeurope.com/cardgang and follow the simple on-screen instructions in order to sign up.

“Once again we are offering a great opportunity for people to join in on the action and make a few bob courtesy of Cardgang and Bluff Europe,” said Michael Caselli, Editor-in-chief at Bluff Europe. “Players should keep their eyes peeled at www.bluffeurope.copm/cardgang for more excellent freerolls every month.”

Littlewoods Poker is part of Littlewoods Gaming, one of the oldest and most trusted names in Gaming in the UK. It offers a large range of cash games as well as a number of major prize tournaments and bonus opportunities.

Leading the line-up is PartyPoker.com Premier League III star and inaugural WSOP Europe winner Annette Obrestad, who will have her work cut out in a field that also includes Academy Award nominated actress and WSOP bracelet holder Jennifer Tilly, EPT Dortmund champion Sandra Naujoks, UK Women’s Poker Tour Champion Lynne Beaumont, Late Night Poker finalist Maria Demetriou, Jen Mason and Veronique Gordon. Recent additions to the line-up include European Ladies champion Liv Boeree, Sweden’s Cecilia Nordenstram, Japan’s Kim Wooka, France’s Lise ‘The Pink Lady’ Vigezzi, Ireland’s Colette Murphy and Polish boxing champion Agnieska Rylik.

Also taking part, and back to defend her title, is Women’s World Open II champion Soraya Homam from Germany, who is joined by fellow 2008 final table participants Stefanie Bergener, Spain’s May Maceiras and Eliza Burnett. 46-year-old German poker professional Homam, a veteran on the circuit from Frankfurt, danced a jig with delight after she beat fellow German Bergener in an epic heads-up match to scoop $50,000 and the title. After a number of swings that saw the balance of power switch a number times, Homam’s AK suited held-up all-in against Bergener’s A6 off-suit. The UK’s Beverley Pace won the inaugural Women’s World Open I title.

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “There are certainly some interesting heats lined-up. The opening heat features Annette and Germany’s Christine Klecz while the second in the afternoon features both Jennifer Tilly and Jen Mason. Heat five on Wednesday looks to be one of the toughest on paper, however, as it features May Maceiras, who seriously impressed last year with her hyper-aggressive game, as well as Maria Demetriou and Sandra Naujoks.”

“There are four specially invited players from PartyPoker.com’s VIP club, the Palladium Lounge, who have serious form online and they have a fantastic opportunity to show what they are made of in front of the cameras in a live environment.”

Eddie Hearn, Director of Matchroom Sport said: “The line-up for this year’s event is simply breathtaking. We have WSOP, WSOPE and EPT champs battling it out for what has become the biggest event in women’s poker.”

The tournament features six six-seater heats with one six seat runner-up heat. The final table will feature seven players. Commentary will be led by Jesse May, who will be joined by Annette Obrestad. The action will be broadcast on Five in the UK later this year and then distributed internationally. A limited number of qualifiers took place with Equal Chance, International Club and the Eglinton Casino in Galway all running satellites.

PARTYPOKER.COM WOMEN’S WORLD OPEN II – London 3rd – 6th October 2008

1st – SORAYA HOMAM (GER) $50,000
2nd – STEFANIE BERGENER (GER) $22,000
3rd – MAY MACEIRAS (ESP) $14,000
4th – ELIZA BURNETT (UK) $10,000
5th – MICHELLE ORPE (UK) $7,000
6th – KYLA KALMAR (UK) $5,000

PARTYPOKER WOMEN’S WORLD OPEN I –  London -  7th -10th August 2007

1st BEVERLEY PACE (UK) $50,000
2nd JEN MASON (UK) $22,000
3rd MARIA DEMETRIOU (UK) $14,000
4th BRONWYN CAMPBELL (CAN) $10,000
5th JACKIE VASWANI (UK) $7,000
6th KARA SCOTT (UK) $5,000

19 May, 2009 (London, UK) - Dublin’s Sporting Emporium hosted the third successful Bluff Europe Poker Academy last Saturday (16 May). The Academy will be making its final stop this Saturday, 23 May at London’s Casino at the Empire.

With Manchester, Birmingham and Dublin legs proving a success, the Academy looks to London for its biggest turn out which will be led by one of the industries most famous poker pros, Phil Laak. So far, attendees of the Academy have been granted a helping hand from a number of poker professionals including Paul ‘Actionjack’ Jackson, Ian ‘Razor’ Fraser, Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliot and Alex ‘Pickleman’ Rousso - all of whom have shared their insight on how to win at poker.

The fourth and final Poker Academy at London’s Casino at the Empire will offer the opportunity to meet, learn from and play against poker legend Phil “Unabomber” Laak. His legendary status in the poker world ensures this last session is one not to be missed.

Report from Dublin
Donnacha “The Don” O’ Dea and Alex “Pickleman” Rousso were joined by a particularly poker savvy group of players for the Dublin leg of the tour. A contingent of local talent from the venue itself – the very plush Sporting Emporium in the heart of Dublin – combined with about a dozen players from Paddy Power.

Seminar leader Alex Rousso was delighted by the overall standard of the class: “once again, the knowledge of the delegates was high, which is good news because it allowed us to tackle some of the deeper, more interesting issues.”

The top two prizes in the tournament were chopped between Sherman Kayer and Paddy Power’s Evan Frisby – each taking down £175.

The delegates’ comments on the day were glowing, with many rating the day as “excellent” value for money. Donnacha O’ Dea was deemed “knowledgeable”, “friendly and approachable”, “excellent”, and “gave an interesting analysis of value betting.” The head tutor was “clear, insightful”, “very informative” and with a “good interactive attitude.”

About the Poker Academy Team London
If you haven’t seen an image of a man doing press-ups at a WPT final table, then chances are you have not witnessed Phil “Unabomber” Laak in action. Even at the felt, you might not see Laak around because he’ll be the one in the sun glasses and hoodie attempting to show as little of his face to his opponent as possible. This led to him being named The Unabomber by his fellow pros because of his similarity to Theodore Kaczynski.

Laak, a former engineer, is a highly jovial person to have around the table known for doing unorthodox things. He will often stand around the dealer to see a turn or river card as soon as is humanly possible. Though he has a WPT title to his credit, his biggest win was in the UK when he won the inaugural William Hill Grand Prix defeating Ram Vaswani, flopping a straight in the final hand to win the £150,000 first prize. It is almost as good as playing Cleopatra Slot said Ram.

Alex Rousso has a PhD in evolutionary psychology and has taught university undergraduates. He ran the family pickle importing business until he started making more money per hour playing poker. He now writes a column for Bluff Europe (as “Pickleman”) and can be found most days online at the PLO cash tables.

There are places available for the final London stop. Tickets are £125 + £25, which includes the tournament buy-in. For more information or to sign-up, visit www.bluffeurope.com/pokeracademy.

Press seats are still available. Please contact Melissa Ross to book seats in London.