Elky Wins The 2008 Festa Al Lago WPT Event

Bertrand Grospellier (Elky) won the WPT “Festa Al Lago” event, picking up a prize of $1,411,015. Elky is one of only 3 players to win a EPT and a WPT event. The win came after a tense final table the winning hand was three of a kind tens, after a preflop all in saw 10,10 Vs Ace-Queen.

This WPT event saw 368 players battle it out for a prizepool of $5,354,400

This win adds to Elky’s fantastic year which has seen an excellent performance at the PokerStars’s WCOOP and the PokerStars Carriban Adventure (EPT Event).

WPT Festa Al Lago Event Results

1st: Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier – $1,411,015
2nd: Nam Le – $943,215
3rd: Osmin “Oddie” Dardon – $506,245
4th: Nenad Medic – $373,010
5th: Adam “Roothlus” Levy – $266,445
6th: William Mietz – $186,510

Check Out Our Page On The WPT Satellites!

Poker Rankings Tournament Guides

This is just a short post keeping all of your readers up to date with the latest poker rankings updates. We are currently working on producing the most comprehensive online poker tournament guide avaiable, to check this out view the poker tournament page or read our page on poker tournament rankings.

Anybody who has visited the poker tournament page before will notice we have added more articles on a variety of subjects including; the EPT, the Aussie Million and the WPT we are working on many more specific online and offline tournament guides.

Bookmark PokerRankings.Co.Uk soon to be the most comprehensive poker tournament guide on the web!

Betfair Poker Aussie Million Satellites

Betfair Poker have announced they will be running satellite events to Australia’s largest poker tournament, the Aussie Millions! The Aussie Million has a guaranteed prizepool of 2,000,000 Australian Dollars and to buyin directly you’ll have to part with 10,000 Aussie Dollars.

On the 28th December 2008 Betfair are running a huge “Aussie Million” Super Qualifier, which is guaranteeing 5 seats directly to the Aussie Million main event! To buy in to this super satellite you’ll have to pay $525+$25, but in typical betfair style you’ll be able to qualify for this super satellite for considerably less money.

If you manage to qualify Betfair will hook you up with an amazing package which includes; the main event package, luxury accommodation, travel expenses, spending money and entry to a exclusive Betfair side tournament!

Now has never been a better time to sign up at Betfair Poker!

Read more about the Aussie Millions event here.

If you use this link or any other link on PokerRankings.Co.Uk you will receive a exclusive $600 bonus!

PokerStars.It To Launch

PokerStars recently had their application to launch a Italian poker site granted, by the AAMS (Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato).  The passing of the license means that Italians will be able to compete for real money in the PokerStars.It software, and play in exclusive Italian only poker tournaments ranging from 0.50 Euro’s up and through to 100 Euro’s.

“Players on PokerStars.it will have the opportunity to win their entry into famous international poker events – like the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. These competitions require players to have the right mix of skill, training, concentration and luck” – PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri.

Online poker in Italy has been growing rapidly recently, with the success of several Italian poker professionals. The market is set to be worth an estimated 400 million euro’s. Estimates show within a year 500,000 accounts will be created!

Sign Up At PokerStars.Com Today and use a PokerStars Marketing Code

PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Satellites

PokerStars are running online satellites for the prestigious “PokerStars Caribbean Adventure” event which is set to take place at the Atlantis Resort and Casino, located in the beautiful surroundings of the Bahamas.

The 2009 event takes place between Januray 5th and January 10th, and is set to be bigger then ever!

The event is part of the EPT (European Poker Tour) which means it’s bound to attract 1000’s of entrants. Last years Caribbean Adventure saw over 1,100 entrants do battle for a prizepool worth over $8,000,000.

Last years “PCA” winner, Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier, won over $2,000,000!

PokerStars has hundreds of daily satellites being run, which includes “step” tournaments and many more smaller tournament to give everyone a chance at qualifying. The 2009 PokerStars prize package’s are worth $14,300 and this includes the Main Event buy-in, hotel accommodation and money for expenses.

Visit PokerStars.Com For More Information

Betfair $100,000 Cash Celebration

As the WSOPE recently drew to an end, Betfair have there latest “big tournament” promotion up and running. The “$100,000 Guaranteed Cash Tournament” is taking place on the 9th November at 18:00 GMT. In typical betfair fashion everybody has a chance to qualify for this huge poker tournament.

Betfair players can buy in directly to the tournament for $550 ($520 + $30) although for players on a smaller budget numerous daily qualifiers can be found with a entry cost as low as $2.20.

$100,000 Guaranteed Satellites

$2.20 Daily Level 1 Tournament : These tournaments have 2 minute blind levels and offer unlimited rebuys for the first hour. The tournament runs 3 times a day at; 12:25, 14:25 and 16:25 GMT. For each $55 in the prize pool a seat is given to the “Daily Level 2“

$7.70 Daily Level 1 Tournament : This tournament is run daily at 17:25 GMT. Players have 2000 starting chips and blind levels increase every 10 minutes. For every $55 in the pool, a seat is awarded to the daily level 2 satellite.

$55 Daily Level 2 Satellite Tournament : This tournament offers a  “direct route” to the  $100,000 Guaranteed tournament. This tournament runs daily at 20:15 GMT, players are given 2,500 starting chips and blinds are increased every 15 minutes. For each 11 entrants one player wins a seat at the $100k Tournament.

For more large tournaments look at the “Sunday Poker Tournaments” page or the Sunday Million page.

Sign Up At Betfair Here

Online Poker Traffic Growth

Despite the recent global economic crisis, online poker seems to be booming. In recent weeks more and more players have been putting in more hours, and playing more online poker then ever!

The recent WCOOP saw the largest online poker tournament in the history of online poker take place, poker scout has noted a worldwide increase of 25% in the poker market, and sites such as PokerStars, Titan Poker and Cake Poker have all seen significant (40%+) increases in player traffic.

Bodog Poker has seen a decrease in traffic as of late, and is down around 35% on last year’s traffic. although they still accept US players. It is possible that the domain name fiasco that hit Bodog in August of last year may have played a part. Also many players are choosing to migrate to “bigger” sites such as PokerStars and Titan Poker .

With the current global economic crisis are more players turning to poker as a way of making some easy money?

If your looking to make some quick money through poker, sign up at Cake Poker and use a Cake Poker Bonus Code for some easy poker bonus cash and play against some of the weakest online poker players..

2008 WSOPE Main Event Winner

The WSOPE (World Series Of Poker Europe) came to a close on the 3rd of October. The 362 entrants all paid £10,000 to enter Europe’s largest and most prestigious poker event which saw over 5 days of poker action take place!

Players and fans alike had high expectations of last years inaugural WSOPE win, Annete Obrestad, but she failed to make it into the money after busting out on day 4 of the 5 day event.

The final table saw the following players battle it out for 1st place which awards the coveted WSOPE Main Event bracelet as well as a cheque for over £860,000!

The final table consisted of Chris Elliot, Toni Hiltunen, Robin Keston, Scott Fischman, Daniel Negreanau, Bengt Sonnert, Ivan Demidov, Stanislav Alekhin and John Juanda.

At the final table, the final 2 players left battling it out for 1st and 2nd where Stanislav Alekhin and John Juanda, played for nearly 24 hours making it the longest final table in world series of poker history. John Juanda finally prevailed as the winner and 2008 WSOPE Champion!

The WSOPE payout structure saw 36 players “paid”, with the following prizes

28th-36th - £25,340

19th-27th – £28,960

16th-18th – £36,200

13th-15th – £45,250

10th-12th - £54,300

9th – £81,450 – Chris Elliot

8th – £108,600 – Toni Hiltunen

7th - £135,750 – Robin Keston

6th - £171,950 – Scott Fischman

5th – £217,200 – Daniel Negreanau

4th -  £271,500 – Bengt Sonnert

3rd – £344,850 – Ivan Demidov

2nd - £533,950 – Stanislav Alekhin

1st - £868,800 - John Juanda

The WSOPE is sponsored by Betfair Poker read more about Betfair at our Betfair Poker Review.

Betfair Poker $10 Maximum Rake!

Betfair Poker have taken the extraordinary step of implementing a maximum rake of $10 on ANY sit and go tournament tournament played, regardless of the buy in size!est

From October 1st to December 31st 2008 all sit and go tournaments will see this reduced “fee” which makes becoming a winning poker player even easier! The standard 10% “fee” players have to pay for each sit and go tournament played, means that players have to not only beat the other players but also overcome the fee’s they have to pay.

The only players who’ll notice this change is players who play high stakes sit and go tournaments, as Betfair’s “fee” only creeps over the $10 mark at sit and go tournaments with a buy in of over $150.

Below is Betfair Poker’s Sit And Go rake table, along with the savings you’ll make!

Sign up at Betfair Poker today and you’ll soon see the difference the lowered rake makes to your pockets! Read The Betfair Poker Review.

PKR Road To Vegas

I’ve just checked out PKR’s promotions page, and they have set up a seriously great promotion for any players looking to make it big at next year WSOP! PKR are giving away, yes GIVING AWAY, 33 WSOP entrys over a period of 33 weeks!

In one of the largest WSOP promotions even seen, PKR is sending 33 players, complete free of charge, to the 2009 WSOP.

Team PKR – Road To Vegas Promotion

Each week PKR updated the “Road To Vegas” page with new criteria, which can range from; hands played, tournament rankings, participation or even high hand jackpots, if/when a player meets these requirements they are given entry in to a exclusive freeroll at the end of the week from which the winner is crowned a Team PKR player and is sent of to next years WSOP.

Team PKR will take shape, with players from every level, every genre of poker, joining the ranks. Cash game shark, Sit & Go stalwart or tournament titan, you’ll find many opportunities that match your game and even more that catch your eye!

Playing at the WSOP is any poker players dream, and with PKR you can make this reality!

Sign Up At PKR Today And Use A PKR Bonus Code To Get The Best PKR Bonus!