Tournament: US Student wins PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour’s First Event

“Brett Parise, a 22-year-old university student from Indiana USA, won the first event of the inaugural PokerStars Asia-Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) in Manila late Sunday, collecting first prize of $179,775 and a seat in December’s grand final in Sydney Australia.

Parise bested a field of more than 250 players at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Manila, Philippines, to take home one of the biggest tournament prizes ever awarded in Asian poker.

More than 200 players from 30 countries had started the three day event.”

Poker Pages (08/27/07)

Tournament: New Asia Pacific Poker Tour to Start Next Week (Philippines)

“In another show of the international force that poker has become, the new Asia Pacific Poker Tour kicks off next week in the Philippines with three stops planned. The launch event begins on Aug. 23 at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila. The second event is scheduled for Sept. 27 at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel and Casino in Seoul, South Korea, and the tour wraps up in December with the Grand Final at the Star City Casino in Sydney, Australia. At least three more events are expected for 2007 and the venues will be announced later in the year.”

bodog Beat (08/16/07)

Tournament: Jeff Haney runs down the main events of the National Poker League, which has just gained a base at the Venetian

“The National Poker League, which despite its name is actually pound-for-pound the most international of the major poker circuits, has found a new home base at the Venetian. The Venetian poker room will host two of the league’s five events this year including its world championship event, a three-day, $15,000 buy-in no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament scheduled for Dec. 3-5.

Tournament: Experience pays off at Women’s World Open (UK)

“At the end of the Inaugural Party Poker World Open it was none other than 50-year-old Beverly Pace who took home first place.

It was no walk in the park for Pace who had to overcome Jen Mason in heads-up play. Mason is one of Europe’s best female players and has been on a bit of a hot streak lately.

Beverly, who is from Bromley, Kent, UK, and is married to comedian/poker player Norman Pace, was understandably brimming with excitement.

Online: PokerStars Breaks World Record With Massive 20,000 Player Poker Tournament

“PokerStars (www.PokerStars.com), the world’s largest online poker site, shattered the record for the largest cash poker tournament on July 29th with the Sunday Hundred Grand. The tournament drew a field of 20,000 online poker players to the largest cash tournament in history. First place finisher Lynna1 captured the top prize, netting her $20,000 and an almost 2,000% return on investment after only a $10+$1 buy-in.

Surpassing yet another landmark, PokerStars recorded its 10 millionth customer. In just one year, PokerStars has doubled its community of players from 5 million to 10 million. Proving that poker has become a truly worldwide phenomenon, PokerStars is attracting players from nearly every country on the planet…”

PokerStars (08/08/07)

WPT Enters Chinese Market with First National Poker Tour (China)

“China Leisure Sports Administrative Centre (CLSAC), the national Sports Federation governing Leisure Sports in China, has announced the launch of the country’s first National Traktor Poker Tournament in an exclusive partnership with WPT Enterprises Inc.

The unprecedented five-year partnership is a landmark agreement in China Leisure Sports history and will focus on growing the sport of Traktor Poker, known as Tuo La Ji, China’s most popular poker game.

Event: Europe’s Largest Poker Tournament Ever?

“Irish poker tournament organisers Poker Ireland have teamed up with Danish online site Mermaid Poker to launch what they hope will be the largest ever tournament to take place on European soil. The event, the International Poker Open, will take place on Saturday, October 6th and Sunday, October 7th 2007 in the Royal Dublin Society Shelbourne Hall and the Jackpot Club, Dublin.

Players: World Poker Association Releases Ethics Code

“The World Poker Association [WPA] has announced the release of an Ethics Code designed to create baseline standards for poker tournaments. Adherence to the code is mandatory both for admission into and continued membership in the WPA, with the five-section code detailing all aspects of professional poker behavior as envisioned by the WPA’s members.

National Poker League Hosts Inaugural Event (UK)

“UK Open Is the First Stop on the NPL World Circuit Tour
The National Poker League announced on August 17 that it will host the first annual NPL UK Open at the Loose Cannon Club in London. The tournament will feature five events that begin on August 12 and end with the final table of the main event on August 18, which is a ₤2,500 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament.

Tournament: Poker in Germany to Take On a New Face (Germany)

“Thanks to poker room PKR, poker enthusiasts in Germany are going to be treated to something new and exciting pretty soon.  As it stands now, the norm in Germany is that most people play poker on their laptops or within a small cramped room with bad lighting – stereotypical but true.  With PKR’s upcoming event, though, things are just as likely to change.

On July 22, PKR is set to bring the biggest and most glamorous poker tournament that Germany has ever known.  Billed as Poker in the Sky, this event is going to be held on the top floor of the Cologne Triangle.