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Tin Hat for me

21st July
Newbury
2.25
Golden Wolf @25/1  1point win

3.35
Red Balloons @11/2  2point win

little nibbles today

[July 21, 2018, London:]

July 21, 2018, London:  The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (APAT) is delighted to release details of the twelfth season of its critically acclaimed tour for recreational players with stops in APAT UK & Ireland, APAT Benelux and APAT Central Europe confirmed, alongside a visit to Malta.  

Season highlights include:-

Media:   APAT is again pleased to partner with Bluff Europe, Europe's largest poker magazine, which will feature regular content on APAT's live tour throughout Season 12, and APAT will provide a comprehensive live update/blog through the APAT forum and the integration of social media.

Headline Partner:   APAT is pleased to announce the continuation of their relationship with the UK's largest casino chain, Grosvenor Casinos, as its UK & Ireland Season 12 headline sponsor.  The partnership will again see each APAT main event Champion win an added value seat to a GUKPT main event worth £560, and cements the continued commitment from both, to the development of players at every level.

Central Europe:  Following on from the hugely popular APAT Benelux as a permanent seasonal feature, APAT expands further with the creation of APAT Central Europe from Season 12, which includes 3 National Amateur Poker Championship events.

Malta:  APAT will pay a first-ever visit to Malta, the largest of 3 islands that form the Maltese archipelago that lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with superb sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history.  The Maltese Amateur Poker Championship forms part of The Malta Poker Festival which runs from November 1st to 6th, and the MPF Main Event carries a €500,000 Guarantee and in addition to APAT, is supported by numerous events throughout, including The Hendon Mob Championship.

UKICOAP:  The inaugural UK & Ireland Championship of Amateur Poker will host the 'UK & Ireland County Championship', seeing teams from all counties compete to be crowned Champions.  One team will be selected for each County based on all members having been born in the County, or currently living there.

APAT Event Structure:  APAT remain committed to player value for money and the player experience taken from every event, and consequently all main events will see the historical 15,000 starting stack increased to 20,000 (post-Coventry), and minor adjustments made to the event structure to enhance and streamline play, including a trial at selected events during Season 12 with the introduction of a Button Ante, and/or the use of a Shot Clock.

APAT Season 12 Schedule:

May 18th-21st, 2018	Namur, BEL (Luxembourg Amateur Poker Championship)
Aug 1st-5th, 2018	Coventry, GBR (European Championship of Amateur Poker)
Sep 7th-9th, 2018	Spa, BEL (Belgian Amateur Poker Championship)
Sep 14th-16th, 2018	Cardiff, GBR (Welsh Amateur Poker Championship)
Oct 5th-7th, 2018	As, CZE (German Amateur Poker Championship)
Oct 19th-21st, 2018	Stockton/Newcastle, GBR (English Amateur Poker Championship)
Oct 28th-29th, 2018	Dublin, IRL (Irish Amateur Poker Championship)
Nov 5th-6th, 2018	St Julians, MLT (Maltese Amateur Poker Championship)
Nov 8th-11th, 2018	Namur, BEL (Dutch Amateur Poker Championship)
Nov 30th-Dec 2nd, 2018	As, CZE (Czech Amateur Poker Championship)
Dec 14th-16th, 2018	Manchester, GBR (UK & Ireland Championship of Amateur Poker)
tbc, 2019	Blackpool, GBR (UK Team Championship)
Feb 7th-10th, 2019	Vienna, AUT (Austrian Amateur Poker Championship)
tbc, 2019	Spa, BEL (Benelux Championship of Amateur Poker)
Mar 16th-17th, 2019	Edinburgh, GBR (Scottish Amateur Poker Championship)
Apr tbc, 2019	tbc (World Championship of Amateur Poker)

ABOUT APAT

The Amateur Poker Association & Tour created the UK's first national poker tour in 2006.  Since launch, APAT has developed into a global operator in the live events arena, holding multiple festivals in Europe and North America, in addition to a comprehensive schedule in the United Kingdom.  The organisation remains dedicated to the development of amateur players, providing an affordable, professionally run tour that enables members to enhance their poker skills in a fun, but competitive, environment.  Members who have final tabled APAT national events have gone on to win WSOP, WPT, EPT, Irish Open, GUKPT and many other internationally recognised professional poker titles.

Further, more detailed information, can be found at APAT.com

[Media:]

Am delighted to release details of APAT Season 12 with stops in APAT UK & Ireland, APAT Benelux and APAT Central Europe confirmed, alongside a visit to Malta.  

Season highlights include:-

Media:   APAT is again pleased to partner with Bluff Europe, Europe's largest poker magazine, which will feature regular content on APAT's live tour throughout Season 12, and APAT will provide a comprehensive live update/blog through the APAT forum and the integration of social media.

Headline Partner:   APAT is pleased to announce the continuation of their relationship with the UK's largest casino chain, Grosvenor Casinos, as its UK & Ireland Season 12 headline sponsor.  The partnership will again see each APAT main event Champion win an added value seat to a GUKPT main event worth £560, and cements the continued commitment from both, to the development of players at every level.

Central Europe:  Following on from the hugely popular APAT Benelux as a permanent seasonal feature, APAT expands further with the creation of APAT Central Europe from Season 12, which includes 3 National Amateur Poker Championship events.

Malta:  APAT will pay a first-ever visit to Malta, the largest of 3 islands that form the Maltese archipelago that lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with superb sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history.  The Maltese Amateur Poker Championship forms part of The Malta Poker Festival which runs from November 1st to 6th, and the MPF Main Event carries a €500,000 Guarantee and in addition to APAT, is supported by numerous events throughout, including The Hendon Mob Championship.

UKICOAP:  The inaugural UK & Ireland Championship of Amateur Poker will host the 'UK & Ireland County Championship', seeing teams from all counties compete to be crowned Champions.  One team will be selected for each County based on all members having been born in the County, or currently living there.

APAT Event Structure:  APAT remain committed to player value for money and the player experience taken from every event, and consequently all main events will see the historical 15,000 starting stack increased to 20,000 (post-Coventry), and minor adjustments made to the event structure to enhance and streamline play, including a trial at selected events during Season 12 with the introduction of a Button Ante, and/or the use of a Shot Clock.

APAT Season 12 Schedule:

May 18th-21st, 2018	Namur, BEL (Luxembourg Amateur Poker Championship)
Aug 1st-5th, 2018	Coventry, GBR (European Championship of Amateur Poker)
Sep 7th-9th, 2018	Spa, BEL (Belgian Amateur Poker Championship)
Sep 14th-16th, 2018	Cardiff, GBR (Welsh Amateur Poker Championship)
Oct 5th-7th, 2018	As, CZE (German Amateur Poker Championship)
Oct 19th-21st, 2018	Stockton/Newcastle, GBR (English Amateur Poker Championship)
Oct 28th-29th, 2018	Dublin, IRL (Irish Amateur Poker Championship)
Nov 5th-6th, 2018	St Julians, MLT (Maltese Amateur Poker Championship)
Nov 8th-11th, 2018	Namur, BEL (Dutch Amateur Poker Championship)
Nov 30th-Dec 2nd, 2018	As, CZE (Czech Amateur Poker Championship)
Dec 14th-16th, 2018	Manchester, GBR (UK & Ireland Championship of Amateur Poker)
tbc, 2019	Blackpool, GBR (UK Team Championship)
Feb 7th-10th, 2019	Vienna, AUT (Austrian Amateur Poker Championship)
tbc, 2019	Spa, BEL (Benelux Championship of Amateur Poker)
Mar 16th-17th, 2019	Edinburgh, GBR (Scottish Amateur Poker Championship)
Apr tbc, 2019	tbc (World Championship of Amateur Poker)

Season 12 will host a Player Of The Year (POTY) Ranking Leaderboard, with points awarded from all APAT live and online Main Events and Side Events.  The WCOAP will also host a WCOAP Player Of The Series (POTS) Ranking Leaderboard, with points awarded from all WCOAP live and online events.  Both the POTY and POTS Leaderboards will conclude with the WCOAP Online events.

Teams will again compete for a team and an individual prize pool in the UK Team Championship, which will run as an MTT with points awarded for individual finishing positions, and team member points combined to identify and crown the UK Team Champions.  Entry is £75+£7 per player with the prize pool split between the top teams and the highest finishing individuals.  

The UK & Ireland Championship of Amateur Poker (UKICOAP) will host the UK & Ireland County Championship where teams will represent each County by playing in a series of STTs with points awarded and combined to qualify for the Final Table, and teams will be able to 'tag' team members between hands and will play to a conclusion to identify the UK & Ireland Champions.  With only 1 team per County, a Team Captain will be selected by APAT for each team, and then Team Captains will select the other team members.   As we can't have anyone just say 'I want to represent Devon etc', then APAT will publish a definitive list of Counties and ALL team members must either have been born in the County, or currently live there.

As APAT team events are hugely popular, with each year more teams wishing to partake than we have places for, then teams wishing to play will need to apply in advance, with the full team buy-in paid in advance via a Grosvenor Poker Online Holding Tank - EVERY individual player needs to pay the buy-in via this method by the set deadline.  Details on the application and payment process for both the UK Team Championship and the UK & Ireland County Championship will be released in due course.

The English Amateur Poker Championship will see Day 1a played in Grosvenor Stockton on Friday, with Grosvenor Newcastle hosting Day 1b on Saturday and Day 2 on Sunday.

The Welsh Amateur Poker Championship will again have a Day 1a on Friday, and a Day 1b on Saturday.

[U S Navy Flag @15/2 2points ew]

14th July
Newmarket
1.40  Bunbury Cup
Spanish City @8/1  2 point win
Mastham Star @20/1  2point win
Muntadab @22/1  1point win

2.15 July Cup
U S Navy Flag @15/2  2points ew

Nice and you went EW

I was worried he'd run out of gas and get pipped in the last half furlong :O

are we doing this again this year?

well this herbert here is up for it, obviously the herbert asking is up for it!!
the 3rd herbert is always up for it (so the rumours say)

any and all herberts are welcome to join in the fun :-)

[Event 78: $1,000,000 The Big One for One Drop No Limit Hold'em]

Event 78: $1,000,000 The Big One for One Drop No Limit Hold'em

Winner	Justin Bonomo
Runners	27
Paid	5
Final Table	9

Player	Position	Points
Justin Bonomo	1	25
Fedor Holz	2	18
Dan Smith	3	15

Selector	Points		Selector	Points
Justin	58		Luca 2	25
Jon	40		Nathan	25
Stuart	40		Nic 2	25
Brian	25		Rob	25
Carl 1	25		Simon B	25
Debbie	25		Stephen 1	25
Del	25		Suzanne	25
Derek	25		Vince 1	25
Gareth	25		Vince 2	18
Glenn 1	25		Carl 2	15
Jordan	25		Chris K	15
Luca 1	25

After an exciting finish, Bonomo brought it home to make Barrie our champion for the second year is a row. Holz had a big lead over Smith and Bonomo when it was three-handed and extended it but, eventually, Bonomo fought his way back and Smith was eliminated, which was all Barrie need to see off Carl's challenge. The Heads-Up still mattered, though, as Jordan needed Bonomo to win to jump up to 3rd place.

It seems that this may be the last $1m event, as interest has waned and only 27 players showed up in the end, despite a few other promises (and $50k deposits forfeited). Even Guy Laliberte didn't play his own tournament.

So why aren't fewer players taking part? Firstly, Laliberte had a major falling-out with the Macau players when he refused to cover $4m lost by a player he introduced to their game, so they didn't come.

Some of the squillionaire businessmen who played before didn't take kindly to how they were treated. They know they are at a skill disadvantage but some of the professionals barely disguised that they saw them as donators. The professionals are all staked for most of the buy-in and, worst of all, they are all swapping percentages with each other "to reduce variance". The amateurs found themselves playing against a team, who were highly skilled anyway, so a lot of them didn't bother to come back. Laliberte apparently didn't tap up his mates or play himself for this reason.

And the pro players were down too, perhaps partly because the amateurs were fewer, but it seems some of them couldn't raise the staking. Most of them aren't so wealthy that they can toss in $1m on their own account.

Those professionals who did play were largely passing the money around. Sure, there is an amount being taken out of the prize-pool, but there was no rake on the tournament and they expect one of themselves to win, and others to fill most of the prize places, so they'll get it back and bump up their lifetime records etc in an artificial game. Ending Day 2 on the bubble made the situation worse, as there can't be any doubt that more business was done between the team and others before Day 3.

When the final three went on a break, the microphones picked them up discussing a deal before they were clear of the tournament area, and they concluded it quickly. It is believed they just went with ICM, giving $7.6m to Holz, $7.1m to Bonomo and $5.3m to Smith, leaving no cash to be played for - just the bracelet and the phony record. And then the cash was redistributed again, depending on their individual arrangements.

Ooh, got a bit carried away there. In short, don't expect another.

Justin posted the highest score ever achieved by a selector in a single tournament, having the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places covered. He's obviously part of the conspiracy.

[Selector]

I'll put up the details of #78 in a bit but, in the meantime, I can post the overall final result.

The scores have been checked and verified by our independent adjudicators and the results are as follows:

Selector	Points		Selector	Points
Barrie 1	324		Glenn 2	216
Carl 2	322		John 1	216
Jordan	316		Barrie 2	213
Paxo 1	313		Rob	213
Vince 1	312		Stuart	211
Chris H 2	309		Stephen 2	210
Debbie	309		Suzanne	209
Adam	304		Derek	205
Jo 2	297		Aneurin	203
Paul	293		Carl 1	203
Jo 1	291		Jon	197
Craig 1	282		Gareth	194
Glenn 1	278		John 2	194
Jake	274		Richard	189
Simon L	272		James 1	178
Tommy	271		Karen	176
Nathan	270		Chris B	168
Luca 1	261		Brian	167
Simon B	258		Justin	165
Chris K	256		Craig 2	162
English Tom 2	251		James 2	159
Del	248		Joe	144
Nic 1	245		Paxo 2	135
English Tom 1	238		Dave	133
Chris H 1	232		Irish Tom 2	128
Luca 2	228		Nic 2	111
Stephen 1	223		Irish Tom 1	82
Vince 2	217

It's the final countdown - and we still don't know who is going to win. In fact, we don't know any of the top three positions, though we know that Barrie will fill one of them, but not which one.

There are only six players still in the tournament, and we have just three of them on our teams, so the possible results should be fairly straightforward, right? Not so - a vast number of outcomes are still possible.

We have a piece of Bonomo, Holz and Smith. Justin has all three of them, so could have a record-breaking tournament (he also has Ivey, so it could have been even more), but he can't challenge the leaders.

The current top three (Barrie, Paxo and ChrisH) don't have any players left, so are sitting ducks for the sharp-shooters below. Barrie is in pole position on 321 points, looking likely to retain his title, but Carl (currently 4th) will knock him off his perch if Dan Smith wins or finishes second. Carl is guaranteed to secure 2nd place if Smith lasts one more place and cashes in the tournament, as that will give him a minimum of 315.

If Bonomo wins and secures 25 points for his backers, Jordan will leap from 289 into 2nd place on 314, above Chris H, who is stranded on 307. Not only that, but Chris wouldn't even be 4th or 5th, because Vince and Debbie are currently on 284 and 283, so would also squeak in above him to 309 and 308. All that is dependant on Smith being next out, though, because otherwise Carl will jump over them all into 2nd and the others will all move down one place.

A runner-up spot for Bonomo would see Jordan tie with Chris for 3rd (or 4th) on 307, with Vince and Debbie slipping into 6th and 7th. Jordan will finish 5th if JB gets 3rd and 6th if Justin bags 4th or 5th. Vince and Debbie...oh, I can't be bothered.

Got all that? Simple really.

But who'd have thought that at this stage so much would still be up in the air?

It's better if everyone does this - keeps the queues down when I'm re-entering at the desk.