Tuesday 3 March 2009

CHARITY

CHARITY
By Mick McCloskey

Poker tournaments have for a long time been a way of raising funds for various charities and community projects throughout Ireland. Indeed, when I first started playing tournament poker, back in the pre internet dark ages, the only tournaments available in my part of the world, were organised mostly by sporting, community or charitable groups as a way of raising funds for various projects. The game in those days was mostly 5 Card Stud in the North of the country and 5 Card Draw Poker in the rest of Ireland. Such local events exist to this day, now mostly playing Hold’em, and a lot of the major events in Ireland now have a charity tournament included, due largely to the fund raising efforts of Padraig Parkinson and Eamonn Connolly. It is a great credit to the organisers and players involved and I’m sure their generosity is fully appreciated by the beneficiaries of these events.

Players will have a further chance to show their charitable sides this month, with the opportunity to win significant prizes for themselves in the process. One of the biggest buy in charity events yet is scheduled to take place in Dublin’s Fitzwilliam Club on 21st and 22nd March. The action is due to get underway at 4pm on Saturday 21st. The buy in is €500 + 50 of which €100 from each player goes direct to the designated charity, TOUCH Ireland, and €400 goes into the prize pool.

The Poker community in Ireland can now play their part in helping the valuable work of TOUCH Ireland. Over the last 6 years they have been responsible for building residential centres, schools, health and support centres in Zambia, Cameroon, India and Sri Lanka. 100% of the funds raised by TOUCH Ireland go directly to the source of these projects. Specifically, TOUCH is looking to raise funds in 2009 to buy a pick up truck which is essential to continue the building programme for 2 schools in Lusaka, Zambia.

So, as there is really not much happening in Ireland this month as regards major ranking tournaments, this is a great opportunity for players to get involved in a big buy in event and to feel good about themselves, whatever the outcome. So get yourselves to the Fitz on the 21st and do your bit for a worthy cause. Full details can be found on the Fitzwilliam Card Club website.

NEWS

Dealer Co-Coordinator, Danielle Paynter has set up a database of poker dealers in Ireland and can organise and supply dealers for events of any size, as well as actually organising dealer shifts and tables during the event itself.
If you are organising a poker event or wish to work as a dealer, Danielle can be contacted by email to danielledealers@gmail.com or by phone in Ireland at 087 235 0256 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 087 235 0256 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or in the UK at 07775 844481

IRISH OPEN

Ireland’s premier poker event is fast approaching and live satellites for seats are currently being organised in clubs throughout Ireland and, no doubt, further afield as well. Paddy Power, the event sponsors, are running a special promotion for players who qualify on their online site, in the form of a €100,000 value package for the longest lasting qualifier. Sounds like a great last longer bet to me.
For players who do not qualify, Paddy Power has launched an online registration service through the www.irishpokeropen.com website for all events over the Easter weekend at Dublin’s City West Hotel.
A Paddy Power rep tells me that players will have free tea, coffee and bottled water available over the weekend. These items can be expensive in many Irish hotel poker event venues and will, no doubt, be well appreciated by the players.

J P POKER MASTERS

This event, sponsored by Bruce Poker.com, has been announced for 7th to 10th May at the Red Cow Hotel, Dublin. The €100,000 guaranteed main event has a buy in of€750 (reg. included) and a full schedule of support events is in place. For full details log onto www.jppoker.ie

SHORT HANDED

For 6 handed play specialists, Green Joker Poker has announced the European Short Handed Poker Championship, to be held at the Ballsbridge Inn, Dublin, from 4th to 7th June. The €1,000 + 100 main event has a guaranteed €150,000 prize pool. For full details, check out the Green Joker Poker website.

If you have any news views or events, you can contact me by email to mickymccloskey@hotmail.com