APAT Announces New Sponsor and Season Two Details

[APAT]

London, August 3rd, 2007 The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (APAT) today announced that Season Two of its critically acclaimed tour will feature close to 70 live events and be headline sponsored by leading UK sports betting and poker operator, Blue Square.

The agreement with Blue Square will generate close to $200,000 in sponsorship; more than double APAT's Season One budget, and be returned to players in GUKPT and WSOP event entry packages, added prize money in live and online events and in the removal of player registration fees at all live APAT events.

With the addition of a Regional Championship series, extended National Championship series and World Amateur Championship Festival; APAT is a world leader in the provision of low cost, high quality, sponsored poker tournaments.

Played in a wide array of dedicated premium casinos across the United Kingdom, APAT Regional events will reward leading players with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, ranking points and seats at APAT National Championship events.  APAT members will compete for 6 x GUKPT packages, 3 x GUKPT Grand Final packages and 3 x World Series of Poker main event packages in addition to Championship Cups and Medals under the Blue Square sponsorship.

The highlight of the season will be the 2008 World Championship of Amateur Poker which will take place at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London and be extended across several days to include Omaha, Heads Up and Stud events, in addition to the World Amateur Poker Championship main event.  The winner of the main event will receive an expenses paid entry to the $10,000 Championship event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Also added to the National Championship schedule are a UK Forum Challenge, International Team Challenge and APAT Masters; which will enable APAT's amateur members to play with professionals for the first time.

For more information, players should read the detailed briefing at www.apat.com.

For further information about APAT please go to www.apat.com or contact Media Director Richard Prew on 07887 987044 or on media@apat.com.

[kinboshi]

Sounds like an excellent deal for all.  Two things we"ll miss due to the move from PokerStars - one, the best software bar none for online tournaments; and two, EPT prize packages.

BUT, the pros certainly seem to outweigh the cons, and it looks like APAT will be going on to grow in 2007/08.  The partnership with Bluesq/Grosvenor is definitely a plus with regards to the live events - which to be honest is where APAT is strongest (there are loads of decent online tournaments, but nothing comes close to APAT with regards to the live tournaments).

Good work Des and everyone else involved (what do you mean you did it all by yourself Des? ), onwards and upwards!!

[APAT]

Thanks Daniel.

The Grosvenor UK Poker Tour has proved very popular with festival players around the country and I believe its popularity will jump again, when Channel 4 start to broadcast the events shortly.  The locations might not be as exotic as with the EPT, but I think you will find the tournaments themselves are superb and the prize pools very significant.

[kinboshi]

They do sound excellent.  It also means that the APAT Railers will be able to attend and offer support as well!

Not as exotic as the EPT events?  Luton, Brighton, Cardiff... you don"t get more exotic than that!    

[technolog]

Wow!

Right - now I"ve donned clean undercrackers, time for a few comments!

You fellas have certainly been busy - and at first sight it looks like you"ve done a fantastic job - I"ll have to re-read everything a few times to be sure  

It"s a shame to move from PokerStars as they"ve been a great 1st season sponsor and it"s my favourite site to play on. But having said that - I"ve not tried Blue Square yet (another bloody poker skin!).

Looking forward to regional events although with only 80 runners they could be a bit tricky to get into.

Love the idea of the forum challenge, international event and the Pro-Am.

Thanks a lot guys - you"ve done us proud again! Oh and thanks for the free membership too!

[APAT]

Thanks Jack, your comments are much appreciated. 

PokerStars were a fantastic sponsor but Blue Square will be tremendously supportive also, and they will have a great deal to bring to APAT both online and live. 

This will be a golden period for recreational poker players in the UK.

[technolog]

This will be a golden period for recreational poker players in the UK.

It already was!

Now, how do I setup a petition for Des" honourary knighthood for services to poker?

[HaworthBantam]

This will be a golden period for recreational poker players in the UK.

It already was!

Now, how do I setup a petition for Des" honourary knighthood for services to poker?

I"ll sign, once he"s been up to the bar........  

[APAT]

This will be a golden period for recreational poker players in the UK.

It already was!

Now, how do I setup a petition for Des" honourary knighthood for services to poker?

This is a complete team effort including Tony and Richard and some others in business functions behind the scenes who are far too cautious to pop their heads forward!

[kinboshi]

This will be a golden period for recreational poker players in the UK.

It already was!

Now, how do I setup a petition for Des" honourary knighthood for services to poker?

I"ll sign, once he"s been up to the bar........  

[JayCbee]

Sorry Im tired and have driven 8 hours today!!  Apologies if I have read this wrong.

Is it basically you wont now buy into the national championship events next year but will have to qualify via regional events?  Or will direct entry to the national events still be available?

[JayCbee]

lol - ill tell you what Ill read that thread thats all about this.... sorry

[APAT]

Three entry methods available to National events in Season One.

1)  Regional Qualifying.  Play an 80 seater event and if you finish in the top 10%, you qualify.  So maximum of 8 seats available in each of 11 Qualifiers for the English Championship.

2)  Online Qualifying.  Lets assume 10% of the seats will be issued in this way.  So 20 seats up for grabs at Blue Square.

3)  Direct buy in for the remaining balance of seats.  So lets say the National event will be a 200 seater, then 88 seats will go via Regional qualifying, 20 via Blue Square, so 92 would be available via direct buy in.

In theory.

[mikelott]

Excellent work everyone. I"m looking forward to more events and good to see that more people will be able to participate.

[technolog]

Three entry methods available to National events in Season TWO.

1)  Regional Qualifying.  Play an 80 seater event and if you finish in the top 10%, you qualify.  So maximum of 8 seats available in each of 11 Qualifiers for the English Championship.

2)  Online Qualifying.  Lets assume 10% of the seats will be issued in this way.  So 20 seats up for grabs at Blue Square.

3)  Direct buy in for the remaining balance of seats.  So lets say the National event will be a 200 seater, then 88 seats will go via Regional qualifying, 20 via Blue Square, so 92 would be available via direct buy in.

In theory.

FYP