So What’s with all the sponsorship?

• Author: Ed
• Filed under: General
• Date: Jul 21,2008

These days, it is noted that at many of the more popular poker tournaments, there are a-lot of sharks out there looking to ‘sponsor’ new and upcoming players.  It can be seen clearly at the WSOP when a great deal of players were wearing as many corporate logos as they could or touting they belonged to a various poker site.  But why?

For many these popular events can be hard to enter.  They can be invitation only and or require a high buy-in for example WSOP has a buy-in of $10,000.  For many a buy-in like this is unthinkable.  For a few sponsorship is the only option. 

Nowadays you can even gain online poker sponsorship, due to the games amazing popularity online.  Online poker sponsorship is perhaps key to making a professional career sooner rather than later.  There are risks involved just like any sponsorship deal – so here’s a bit of general information.

So how do you obtain sponsorship ?
The secret here, is not actually a secret.  Many, many poker sites nowadays run many online tournaments.  In fact for many – it is the main attraction.  When an event comes up; such as the WSOP more often than not most of the best poker rooms will be offering a tournament to win a spot (sponsored by them) in the competition.  This in turn gives them the chance to win big, and the poker-site the chance to get a lot of visibility.  However, in this day and age – one needs to be careful and know what they are signing up for.

What is Online Sponsorship?
Online sponsorship is also available for some people.  Many online casinos have been known to sponsor players due to the fact that it brings them more players! also – nowadays, all the bonuses of signing-up to online poker sites could be seen as sponsorship also.

But if you are looking for a more direct approach – we found a rather interesting web-site offering online poker sponsorship – pokerinside.com – who have a range of online sponsorship deals.  Quite lucrative for both parties involved I would think, But it does open up the door and get you started, that is if you already have what it takes…

Good Luck!

WSOP – It’s almost over Roundup Day 7

• Author: Ed
• Filed under: Tournaments
• Date: Jul 19,2008

It’s all eerily quiet in Las Vegas as the World Series of poker 2008 almost draws to a close.  Today saw the final day being played until the grand finale which will be played in November.  From 6,844 down to 27 we are finally ready to find out who will be playing for the $9 million dollars.

We’ve seen all our celebrities die out.  We’ve seen many brave warriors fight until the last breath, but succumb to younger, older, better and worse players.  The truth is it’s done.  It’s almost decided and for those that didn’t make the cut – you have still been a part of poker history just like every other WSOP tournament entrant – you’ve played your role and you should be proud.  You can tell your friends I’ve been there, and maybe if you’re lucky you even have a bracelet.  For many you are already in the annals of poker fame and for us we tip our hats and congratulate you all for a very brave and fearless battle.

But meanwhile, the fight continues.  Today is day 7 and there is one last showdown. 27 will enter, and 9 will survive.  So what happened and who survived?  This year there remains maybe one poker celebrity still in the fold.  The majority of players are relatively unknown although highly successful.  They are both old and young, and come from all walks of life.  This year the table will see many American faces, as five Americans managed to survive.  Everyone that managed to survive today’s competition will continue on to the main event in approximately 117 days on the 9th November 2008.

Dennis Phillips 26,295,000
Ivan Demidov 24,400,000
Scott Montgomery 19,690,000
Peter Eastgate 18,375,000
Ylon Schwartz 12,525,000
Darus Suharto 12,520,000
David Rheem 10,230,000
Craig Marquis 10,210,000
Kelly Kim 2,620,000

Congratulations.  You’ve earned a three-month vacation.  I think you definitely need it!

WSOP Day 5 & 6

• Author: Ed
• Filed under: Tournaments
• Date: Jul 17,2008

Following on from Day four, day five sees 189 players enter the game ready to see who will be the next WSOP poker champion.  Popular players remaining in the contest include Allen Cunningham and Phil Hellmuth to name a few. 

Players started today with a rough average of 760,000 chips and today saw Phil Hellmuth survive ready for day six.  At the end of the day only 79 players managed to survive, and all will claim prize money. 

Today’s top players include

Mark Ketteringham 5,800,000 chips
Jeremy Joseph – 3,100,000 chips
Nikolay Losev 4,058,000
everyone who entered the contest today was guaranteed a minimum of $38,600 dollars in prize money.  The loser fund is significantly rising, so no one will go away empty handed.  Tomorrow this figure will rise to approximately $77,200.
Today saw three female players eliminated, and it looks like two will survive on over until day six.  Tiffany Michelle and Lisa Parsons are carrying on into day six.  We wish them the best of luck and hope to see them at the final table.

WSOP Day 6

Today’s entrants are down to 79 and this is the last day until the main event.  Undoubtedly day 6 is to be the fiercest yet, and today will see a large number of players drop out and go home with at least some amount of winnings.

ESPN as usual are selecting ‘feature’ tables, and today every table is being filmed for the chance to air it on television later.  If you’re playing today -chances are you’ve already been featured on TV. If not – you may very well be today. 

Today finally saw Phil Hellmuth eliminated, and we are very pleased.  You can maybe tell we aren’t a big fan, but he finished in 45th place which is a great achievement, and it does prove us wrong.  He is a good poker player.  Last year however, he took 27th place so maybe this is a decline for the poker-pro?

Surviving players today are 27, and today saw both Mark Ketteringham and Jeremy Joseph eliminated.  Today’s leader is now Dennis Phillips and now has a staggering 11,910,000 chips.  Second place falls to Craig Marquis with 11,460,000 chips.  Of our female players from yesterday, Lisa Parsons was eliminated in 79th place, and Tiffany Michelle currently survives with over 9,755,000 chips.