John Juanda Wins 2008 WSOP Europe

John Juanda wins the record breaking Main Event at the World Series of Poker Europe presented by Betfair

LONDON, UK; October 3, 2008 --- At 10:32 am American John Juanda was the last man standing at the dramatic final table of the World Series of Poker Europe played at The Casino at The Empire, Leicester Square. Outlasting a starting field of poker heavyweights including Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson the newly crowned 2008 WSOPE champion Juanda has taken home the £868,000 cash first prize and a coveted WSOPE winner's bracelet.

Juanda is the first American to win a WSOPE bracelet and his victory in London has ended his own personal drought dating back to 2003. Juanda came into the final table as chip leader and his shrewd and cunning performance throughout has landed him his 4th WSOP bracelet.

In a pulsating encounter which saw the record for the most hands played at a final table emphatically smashed, Juanda had to overcome two determined, rising Russian stars to claim the title. First he eliminated Ivan Demidov, the first man to reach both the WSOP and WSOPE final tables, and then he had to overcome Stanislav Alekhin, the man who had led for long periods of the day’s play. In the final heads up of the six day Main Event which lasted more than 19 hours Juanda revealed a (insert hand) beating Alekhin’s (insert cards).

Attracting the best players from around the world, WSOPE is the most prestigious event to take place outside of the US and compliments the WSOP which takes place annually in Las Vegas.

Beginning on the 19th September this year's WSOPE has seen established pros and Betfair online qualifiers go head-to-head to compete for the millions of prize money on offer.

Taking place at The Casino at The Empire, Leicester Square this year's showcase tournament has featured 1047 entrants for the four sanctioned bracelet events (No-Limit Hold'em / H.O.R.S.E / Pot Limit Omaha and World Championship No Limit Hold'em), with 362 chasing the Main Event dream.

1st Place – John Juanda (£868,800)
2nd Place – Stanislav Alekhin (£533,950)
3rd Place – Ivan Demidov (£334,850)
4th Place – Bengt Sonnert (£271,500)
5th Place – Daniel Negreanu (£217,200)
6th Place – Scott Fischman, USA (£171,950)
7th Place – Robin Keston, England (£135,750)
8th Place – Toni Hiltunen, Finland (£108,600)
9th Place - Chris Elliott, Scotland (£81,450)

Link: WSOPe2008.com

- Report by Nolan Dalla

http:blog.billbruce.info

World Series Of Poker EUROPE is off and running

BIGGEST NAMES, BRACELETS, BROAD TV EXPOSURE
AND THE CHANCE TO DETHRONE THE QUEEN. WORLD SERIES OF POKER EUROPE PRESENTED BY BETFAIR IS OFF AND RUNNING AT THE CASINO AT THE EMPIRE IN LONDON

LONDON, U.K., September 19, 2008 – The 2nd annual World Series of Poker Europe Presented by Betfair has arrived, and so have the biggest names in poker from all across the world.

With ESPN set to televise this year’s WSOPE Main Event in the U.S. and across Europe, the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe will become the most broadly televised poker tournament ever – and the first European poker tournament to receive TV coverage in the United States.

“We had tremendous success at the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe, but are convinced the changes to this year will result in an even better tournament,” said WSOP Director of Marketing Ty Stewart. “Registration is tracking ahead of last year and the lineup of names and the addition of another bracelet event have brought an electric buzz to start off this tournament.”

This television exposure and the chance to win the most prestigious prize in all of poker – a WSOP gold bracelet – is drawing the biggest names in poker.

“Betfair are delighted with the launch of the WSOPE. The player feedback has been tremendously positive and we look forward to this being the largest and most successful tournament in Europe this year,” said Ben Fried, head of poker for Betfair.

Among the players registered to participate in the 2008 WSOPE include the following professionals: 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, 10-time WSOP champion Doyle Brunson, 10-time WSOP champion Johnny Chan, Defending WSOPE Main Event Champion Annette Obrestad, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Allen Cunningham, Layne Flack, Patrik Antonius, Gus Hansen, Josh Arieh, Howard Lederer, Robert Williamson III, Barry Greenstein, Chris Ferguson, Mike Matusow, Max Pescatori, Vanessa Rousso, David Williams, Eric Seidel, Michael Mizrachi, Robert Mizrachi, Nenad Medic, David Benyamine, Tuan Le, Eli Elezra, Steve Zolotow, Ted Lawson and November Nine finalists Craig Marquis, Ivan Demidov, Peter Eastgate & Kelly Kim.

Last year, 18-year-old Norwegian Annette Obrestad bested a star-studded field to win the inaugural WSOPE Main Event and take home the largest prize ever for a female in any sporting contest, £1 million. Obrestad, who celebrated her 20th birthday yesterday, returns to defend her crown, against what promises to be another tough field of the game’s best poker players.

The 2008 WSOPE features four gold bracelet events, a £1500 No-Limit Hold’em that opens the tournament today and tomorrow (two start days), plus a £2500 H.O.R.S.E. event (9/22), a £5000 Pot Limit Omaha (9/24) and the Main Event (9/26), a £10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship.

http:blog.billbruce.info