Fifty St James hosts sports stars in charity poker showdown

Sam Torrance OBE and Teddy Sheringham showed their skills outside their respective sports in a charity poker tournament at Fifty St James in London last night.

Sheringham finished just outside the money while Ryder Cup hero Torrance won the 6th place prize of £2,000.

When quizzed by Clare Balding in an interview before the event Torrance claimed poker was not his strong suit and that golf (predictably) was where he made his money betting.

But in a 72-strong field that included the great Willie Tann and Poker Million winner Rajesh Modha, Torrance can be well pleased with his performance.

England rugby star Tom Voyce also fared well, finishing 17th. Clare Balding, competing in her first ever poker event, made a creditable 37th place. Sports TV presenter Natalie Pinkham came 26th.

The Betfair.com Fifty Spring Festival was won by journalist and author Vicky Coren who donated half of the £12,000 winnings to the three charities supported by the event: Moorcroft, The Irish Youth Foundation and Cancer Research.

Coren also took home a trophy to sit alongside her European Poker Tour title that she won in London last year.

Including a charity auction and some generous donations from players more than £25,000 was raised for the three charities.



Notes to editors:

1. Pictures available on request.
2. Seventy-two players each paid £500 to play in the event, of which £200 went to charity. Players were also permitted to re-buy into the event before the dinner break where another £100 would be paid to charity.
3. Dinner was provided by Richard Corrigan.
4. 1st Vicky Coren (£12,000) – 2nd Karim Wilkins (£7,500) – 3rd (John Dwyer (£4,500) – 4th Martin Dwyer (£4,000) – 5th Richard Fronda (£3,000) – 6th Sam Torrance (£2,000).

A different kind of satellite from Betfair Poker

Betfair Poker is offering its customers the opportunity to win “Passport Stamps” which can be used to buy into any live poker event in the world.

The unique Betfair Poker Passport Stamps are up for grabs in weekly satellite tournaments starting from $5.50.

Each stamp is worth $3,000 and offers unrivalled flexibility and choice. Players can either use the stamp to buy into local tournaments, which would normally be too expensive, or accumulate stamps in order to challenge for higher buy-in events such as the World Series of Poker.

Players can even choose how to spend the value of the Passport Stamp. The full sum can be spent on the buy-in or the costs of flights and/or accommodation can be included.

“This satellite structure puts our customers in the driving seat,” said Betfair’s Head of Poker Ben Fried. “The Passports, combined with the Threedom Pass, give our live event offering the best value and flexibility in the industry.”

Hans Vogl, who made the final table at both the Betfair Asian Poker Tour and the Aussie Millions, is one of the exclusive Threedom Pass club. “With the Threedom Pass and the Poker Passport I don’t know why anyone would want to qualify anywhere else.

“You can pick and choose your events and if you do well Betfair will sponsor you in for three years.”

Betfair Poker will continue to offer traditional satellites to tournaments worldwide.

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Notes to editors:
1. The weekly Passport Stamp satellite final takes place on Sundays at 2145. The buy-in is $150+$15. Satellites start at $5.50.
2. At least one Betfair Poker Passport Stamp is guaranteed every week.
3. Each Passport Stamp is valid for 18 months.
4. Stamps can be redeemed for any live poker event in the world provided that Betfair Poker is able to comply with the terms and conditions of that event.
5. The Threedom Pass offers free buy-in for three years to an event for any Betfair Poker player making the final table of that event. The pass is transferable to comparable tournaments.