Interview: Poker millionaire tells all (South Africa)

“Ray Rahme finished third at the recent World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, pocketing himself a cool $3.1-million (R22.7-million).

The Times caught up with Rahme and he revealed what he plans to do with his millions.”

The Times (08/20/07)

Event: Poker Powers Converge at World Poker Congress (Malta)

“The organizers of the World Poker Congress (WPC) are thrilled to announce that Steve Lipscomb, president of the World Poker Tour, and Jeffery Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker will jointly deliver the opening keynote address at WPC 2007 on November 29 & 30 in St. Julian’s, Malta. The two veterans at the helms of competing poker institutions will discuss the current state of the game and what the future has in store.

WSOP: International players swarm 2007 WSOP

“The flags said it all.

The standards for the U.S., England, South Africa, Canada and Denmark were waved proudly in the stands as fans stood in solidarity with their players at the final table of the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event. Add in the birth counties of three other players – Laos, Russian and Vietnam – and the WSOP had its diverse Main Event final table ever.

The international flair at the final table was a microcosm of the entire WSOP. Although U.S.-born players still dominate WSOP fields, more international players than ever competed in 2007. More than 27 % of the field starting Day 2 action came from outside the U.S. And several left the Series as rising superstars.

WSOP: Final table has international flavor

Many hours later, there will be one last man standing, and his victory will be the catalyst for a year’s worth of corporate sponsorship, publicity tours, countless interviews, lucrative endorsements and serious TV time in the world’s major poker tournaments. It is the dream of every poker player, from the battle-hardened pros to the amateur recreational players who try to qualify for the $10,000 buy-in event by winning cheap online tournaments.

With its world-wide popularity boom over the last few years, poker is no longer just a great American pastime, but a global phenomenon. More than half the final table are from overseas.  Along with the four Americans, there is a Vietnamese-born Canadian, an Englishmen, a Dane living in the UK, a Russian and a South African.

MSNBC (07/17/07)

World Series of Poker ups the ante, expands event to Europe

“In the midst of this year’s record-setting World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Jeffrey Pollack is preparing for another first.

The world’s biggest poker event is going global in September — sort of a “Poker Europa,” the World Series of Poker Europe on Sept. 6-16 in London. The event includes a three-day H.O.R.S.E. tournament, a two-day Pot-Limit Omaha tournament and a six-day No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament.

“It’s our first step forward to meaningful international expansion,” said Pollack, the WSOP’s commissioner. “I think long-term — long-term being the next 12 to 36 months — we are looking to launch other events around the world….”

USA Today (06/29/07)