UK Amateur Poker Championship 2009 - Discussion

[scottydooda]

Just a quick question about this weekend. Due to all the snow and bad road conditions etc. Is everything still on as usual? and if people cannot make it there due to the weather is there still no refund? Thanks, Scott

[kinboshi]

The main roads in the Midlands (near Walsall) are clear at the moment, and unless there's a significant snowfall and deterioration of the weather then I can't see getting here being a problem - as long as where you're travelling from is also clear.

Give yourself plenty of time - aim to get there for noon.  It starts at 2:30 and even if you arrive at 5:00, the slow structure and 10K starting stack means that you'll still have plenty left to play with.

Des or someone will provide you details of the amount of notice you need to give in order to get a refund.  I don't think it will be a problem, because if you call and tell the casino/APAT that you can't play (in good time before the start) your seat will be opened up for a reserve to purchase for £75.  So everyone's happy.  But obviously, if you call after 2:30 (and possibly earlier than that), your entry will be non-returnable and you'll be entered into the comp.

So if anyone can't make it, it makes sense to tell someone so that you get your buy-in back and someone else gets the chance to play.

[AMRN]

even if you arrive at 5:00, the slow structure and 10K starting stack means that you'll still have plenty left to play with.

....... and you'll win a few last longer bets!!

[APAT]

Just to be clear, as per seat purchase terms, there will be no refunds available. The responsibility is with the seat holder to arrange transfer of their seat through the Seat Exchange board if they feel they cannot make the event.  APAT has had to pay several entry fees in past events through players sending emails on the morning of the tournament cancelling.  As we are at the event, we have zero awareness of these cancellations and have paid out advertised prize pools.

By all means continue to post on the Seat Exchange board on Saturday morning should you need to cancel, and we will encourage players who may wish to purchase a seat to check the board from the venue, but from an administration point of view, we are solely focussed on running the event from Friday and throughout the weekend. 

The only exception to the above, is in the event of the tournament being postponed, but that appears extremely unlikely at this point.

[APAT]

The main roads in the Midlands (near Walsall) are clear at the moment, and unless there's a significant snowfall and deterioration of the weather then I can't see getting here being a problem - as long as where you're travelling from is also clear.

Give yourself plenty of time - aim to get there for noon.  It starts at 2:30 and even if you arrive at 5:00, the slow structure and 10K starting stack means that you'll still have plenty left to play with.

Des or someone will provide you details of the amount of notice you need to give in order to get a refund.  I don't think it will be a problem, because if you call and tell the casino/APAT that you can't play (in good time before the start) your seat will be opened up for a reserve to purchase for £75.  So everyone's happy.   But obviously, if you call after 2:30 (and possibly earlier than that), your entry will be non-returnable and you'll be entered into the comp.

So if anyone can't make it, it makes sense to tell someone so that you get your buy-in back and someone else gets the chance to play.

This is not the case Daniel.  We simply do not have the time to deal with several cancellations on the day of an event.  In addition, APAT face horrendous refund charges from the banks; and in some cases are unable to refund to certain cards, leading to further administration that we are not resourced to deal with.  Our advice would be, if you think you can't make it, then sell your seat now.  Cancelling on the morning of the event increases the risk that you will not find a buyer for your seat. 

[kinboshi]

The main roads in the Midlands (near Walsall) are clear at the moment, and unless there's a significant snowfall and deterioration of the weather then I can't see getting here being a problem - as long as where you're travelling from is also clear.

Give yourself plenty of time - aim to get there for noon.  It starts at 2:30 and even if you arrive at 5:00, the slow structure and 10K starting stack means that you'll still have plenty left to play with.

Des or someone will provide you details of the amount of notice you need to give in order to get a refund.  I don't think it will be a problem, because if you call and tell the casino/APAT that you can't play (in good time before the start) your seat will be opened up for a reserve to purchase for £75.  So everyone's happy.   But obviously, if you call after 2:30 (and possibly earlier than that), your entry will be non-returnable and you'll be entered into the comp.

So if anyone can't make it, it makes sense to tell someone so that you get your buy-in back and someone else gets the chance to play.

This is not the case Daniel.  We simply do not have the time to deal with several cancellations on the day of an event.  In addition, APAT face horrendous refund charges from the banks; and in some cases are unable to refund to certain cards, leading to further administration that we are not resourced to deal with.  Our advice would be, if you think you can't make it, then sell your seat now.  Cancelling on the morning of the event increases the risk that you will not find a buyer for your seat. 

No problem Des.  Sorry to have misinformed everyone.

I guess the only way it could work (to avoid the transaction costs, an administrative nightmare for Des and Rich, etc.) is that if people are able to sell their seat (at face value) to someone else.  But logistically, it would be difficult to do this on the day.

[APAT]

The main roads in the Midlands (near Walsall) are clear at the moment, and unless there's a significant snowfall and deterioration of the weather then I can't see getting here being a problem - as long as where you're travelling from is also clear.

Give yourself plenty of time - aim to get there for noon.  It starts at 2:30 and even if you arrive at 5:00, the slow structure and 10K starting stack means that you'll still have plenty left to play with.

Des or someone will provide you details of the amount of notice you need to give in order to get a refund.  I don't think it will be a problem, because if you call and tell the casino/APAT that you can't play (in good time before the start) your seat will be opened up for a reserve to purchase for £75.  So everyone's happy.   But obviously, if you call after 2:30 (and possibly earlier than that), your entry will be non-returnable and you'll be entered into the comp.

So if anyone can't make it, it makes sense to tell someone so that you get your buy-in back and someone else gets the chance to play.

This is not the case Daniel.  We simply do not have the time to deal with several cancellations on the day of an event.  In addition, APAT face horrendous refund charges from the banks; and in some cases are unable to refund to certain cards, leading to further administration that we are not resourced to deal with.  Our advice would be, if you think you can't make it, then sell your seat now.  Cancelling on the morning of the event increases the risk that you will not find a buyer for your seat. 

No problem Des.  Sorry to have misinformed everyone.

I guess the only way it could work (to avoid the transaction costs, an administrative nightmare for Des and Rich, etc.) is that if people are able to sell their seat (at face value) to someone else.  But logistically, it would be difficult to do this on the day.

Yes, but it is important that it remains the player's responsibility.  It is far more practical for a player to sort out transferring their seat on the morning of an event (or face the penalty), than to have APAT deal with potentially 5 or 10 seats on the morning of an event. 

Don't get me wrong, we'll be there and technology permitting we'll facilitate transfers where possible - ie, the last thing we would want is empty seats if there are players waiting to play.  But two motivated players will find a solution far quicker than a motivated buyer and an overstretched APAT organiser, who is micro managing the casino staff to deliver on the important details that give APAT our usp.

[kinboshi]

Des, would you want players who decide they can't make it on the morning of the tournament to start a thread on the exchange board with their mobile number so that someone can call them, get the exchange sorted and then turn up at the casino and inform you?

Or would you still want to receive an email to confirm it all first?

[sorkkung]

Is there a time limit for late arrivals and in that case what happens to there seats?

[HaworthBantam]

Is there a time limit for late arrivals and in that case what happens to there seats?

No time limit.

If folk fail to turn up then their chips are blinded off.

[tiredofwork]

I want to be first on the alternate list.Is this open to me crossing someones palm with pieces of silver?

If not will I have to travel on Friday and camp out on the casino steps to ensure priority listing?

[Jon MW]

...

If not will I have to travel on Friday and camp out on the casino steps to ensure priority listing?

This one

[WarBwastardo]

I want to be first on the alternate list.Is this open to me crossing someones palm with pieces of silver?

If not will I have to travel on Friday and camp out on the casino steps to ensure priority listing?

The weather might purge the alternates queue a bit. Can't see has many people risking the journey without a guaranteed seat.

[duncthehat]

Looks like there may be a few empty chairs playing this event.  If I lose a pot to one this time, I swear I will .............................................................

[Santino67]

Good luck everyone especially Neil, Derek, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Mary, Chrissy & Gordon. Wish I was there now, regardless of the result I'm sure you'll have an amazing weekend.