I am delighted to announce my winning team for the UK Championship next January.
The following players have been selected to represent one of the two APAT forum teams "Fish with chips"..
Both John and myself would like to thank all those who expressed interest in representing APAT and hope everyone will get behind both teams in their quest to win what will be a fought battle over the two days.
As with all selecting processes undoubtably there are going to be players who have not been selected, with only limited spaces available its never easy leaving people out.
I am very happy with my team and strongly believe we have a huge chance to run deep and be up there fighting for gold come day 2.
My team is mainly made up with a hard core APAT regulars with a couple of relativity newer members added to the frame who in my eyes are going to be successful in the coming seasons.
So here is a quick introduction to the "MAGNIFICENT 7" who will be joining myself in representing APAT.
Linda Iwaniak..
Linda has been a regular freindly face amongst the APAT crowd from early days, and always plays a steady well constructed game of poker may it be NLH, PLO, RAZZ, HORSE etc she knows her way around the felt.
With numerous APAT cashes over the years and a couple of WSOP flags to add to her results it was a easy pick for me to have Linda in my team.
Ian "pables" Thompson..
Ian needs little introduction, along with Linda he has been a regular freindly face on the APAT scene be it either live or online. Ian also has had numerous cashes along the way, he also managed to come 2nd in the individual part of the 2011 team championship and is a former 7 card stud world champ, and we all know that 7 card stud is the game of true champions (just ask Tony Trippier). Ian is one of the nicest most genuine people you would ever have the pleasure to meet, when i first started playing APAT Ian was one of the first people to introduce himself to me and in my eyes is a true ambassador for everything good about poker/APAT, a real credit for any team.
Adam Neal..
My first relative new comer to the APAT family addition to the team. Adam has been playing the online games on Coral for the last few seasons and is desperate to get involved in a live event. Adam is a real online whizz and smashes the games most nights, he has passion for the poker and works constantly hard on his game and will spend hours upon hours doing hand reviews to better his poker. Adam loves the APAT games and the deep structure suits him down to the ground, i have never known a guy who can read a persons hole cards quite like Adam and is usually spot on. Adam has had some recent APAT success and is a proud owner of a Silver medal after getting second place in the last online national.
Not only a talented poker player but also a talented musician/rapper artist so am looking forward to a poker related rap when we win
Phil Hertel..
Phil is a player who has been playing APAT games for both himself and his beloved Canada at WCOAP, and with some success and won a bronze medal for his hard work so i know he has the right attitude to play team poker.
Luton will be considered home ground for Phil and is a regular at the casinos around the area so im hoping home ground advantage will score some extra points for the team. I know Phil was overjoyed to be selected and could hardly contain his excitment, this to me just proves my correct decision to have him in my team and im positive he will leave nothing behind in trying to win points for his team members and more importantly representing APAT.
Paul Pitchford
Paul has been like many others a regular supporter of APAT, with some impressive results to show.
Paul has a gold medal when he won PLO at WCOAP 2009, finished 10th the same year in the ME, the following season he continued to show his class when he finished 4th in the HU WCOAP, not only a month later he popped into a £1000 WSOPE event and finished 4th for an impressive £40k!
Paul is a worthy replacement for Colin, who has had issues with his new work commitments and is unable to attend, and i am delighted Paul agreed to step in and represent APAT.
Paul has in the past played for APAT and in his own words he did not put in a great showing and is itching to put that right this time around.
Gary Phillips..
Like many others Gary needs little introduction to most of you, a long serving APAT regular who supports both live and online events. Gary has cashed and made final tables on a regular basis over the years, always happy to make conversation and perfect for team poker in my opinion as will fight to the very end and will not give his chips away.
A proud Welshman and also a proud member of the team im very happy to have the old bear in the team.
Warren Jones..
Talking about the Welsh, guess i had better introduce you to my final team member, have you heard of him before?? well if you havent i guess i had better give you a few quick words..
Warren has played the odd game or 2 over the years for APAT with a modicum of success
he may of represented and captained his country aswell. Warren is 1 of only 3 players in APAT history to win 2 national events and he only managed to win those back to back!
Warren is one of the most feared and respected players on the APAT circuit and supports most of the live events and makes day 2 on most occasions, i was lucky to win the fight with John to have him in my squad.
I am more than happy with my team selection and very confident in their ability and am sure they will do everything in their powers to help bring success to the APAT name, thanks for Des, Matt and Toms faith in choosing me to captain one of the teams its a great honor.
Lets hope Johns team can bring home the Silver and we make it a 1 and 2 in Luton!
