It has been very difficult to select just seven players from the applications, as there were several players who I wanted on the team, but who I couldn"t fit in. Unfortunately, I have had to let down some good players who support lots of APAT events and have had success, but there just aren"t enough places for everyone. I have given a lot of weight to people"s participation in APAT, and all the players on the team have made substantial contributions to the APAT story. I have also taken account of results and the team is littered with APAT Championships and medals.
So, without further ado, here is the APAT Chocolate-Lovers team for the Inter-Forum event:
TOM SLIKBOER
Few people have contributed as much to APAT as Tom, who has set up and run APAT's Belgium section, with help from one or two Belgian regulars. Tom has run several successful large tournaments and series under the APAT banner, as well as online events. He has brought many Benelux players to the WCOAP in London and, just last week, brought more than 40 players to the IPO/APAT series in Dublin. He has also been a successful player, leading the Belgian national team several times, including all the way to Prague for the 2013 European Championships, where they won silver medals.
ANDY OVERTON
A long-standing APAT member, Andy has had several final tables and cashes, starting with final-tabling the Welsh Championship in Season 3, right up to this year"s English Championship in Coventry, where he just missed the final table. Andy has a second-place finish in the WCOAP to his name and has considerable experience of team events, having been a key member of the all-conquering West Midlands and Walsall teams, which won the APAT online league numerous times. Andy"s hero is Phil Laak, who he emulates in appearance and playing style.
SHIRLEY COLE
Luton has happy memories for Shirley, as that was where she won the APAT English Championship Main Event last year. Shirley has been a regular at APAT events and has the distinction of finishing very deep in the WCOAP Main Event two years in a row, her 12th place this year just ahead of her 21st last year. Shirley is also a very successful footballer.
DAVE GREEN
Dave has won an APAT PLO event, but he is more famous (infamous) for having won a late-night post-APAT PLO Hi-Lo event without ever looking at his cards. A regular in APAT's earlier years, he had to miss some events when the Queen asked him to live in Gibraltar and fight Britain"s enemies there, but he is back in the UK now. So committed is Dave to APAT that he travelled from Gibraltar to play APAT events when he could, which is one of the reasons he is on the team. Dave"s favourite poker keepsake is his yellow Betfair scarf.
SCOTT BERRIDGE
I don"t think I have been to any APAT event in the last few years where the McBride/Berridge family group hasn"t been present, with Ken and Scott playing and their wives along in support. I gather that Ken is playing on another team, so it wouldn"t be the same without the rest of the family. Apart from the great support they give APAT, Scott also earns his place with his play. He finished 4th in the UK Championship Main Event in Leeds last year, as well as cashing in the WCOAP Main Event.
BRENDAN BYRNE
Brendan reached the final table of the first APAT Irish Championship and has continued to achieve big results ever since. He has made numerous appearances for the Ireland team, twice winning the European Championship. He has cashed in the WSOP and reached the final table of last year"s Galway IPO. Brendan is a brother of the world-famous player Sean Byrne, who has twice come close to winning WSOP events.
JASON KEMP
Reaching three APAT Main Event final tables is no mean achievement. Jason"s most recent final table was as recent as two months ago, when he finished third in the Welsh Championship (Shirley finished tenth). Jason was one of the points-scorers when he was a member of the Hendon Mob team that finished second in this very event two years ago. He is currently sitting in first place on this year"s points table.
