 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 August
2010 Fred Grants
Lee a Shot at the Big Time Bookie Fred Done
is backing the card-playing skills of one of his
employees who is aiming to hit the big time in two
televised Poker
tournaments over the coming weeks. Software tester
Lee Atherton, who works at Betfred's head office in
Warrington, is being sponsored by Fred to play in
the WPT London Poker Classic starting on August 31,
and the World Open, also in the capital beginning
on September 6. Fred is providing
the buy-ins, which amount to nearly £12,000,
for the two events as Lee takes on some of the
world's greatest poker players in front of the Sky
Sports and Channel Five cameras. "This is an
incredible opportunity." said Lee, 37, who began
playing poker seven years ago and includes the
prestigious Poker 6 among his list of victories.
"It epitomises what a unique character Fred is and
his uncanny ability to break the mould in gambling
circles. He has delivered me a real shot at the big
time and I intend to do everything I can to justify
his faith in me." While many of his
fellow competitors - including WPT London Poker
Classic rival Phil Ivey - have been playing the
game for many years, Lee's introduction only came
when he tuned in to the Poker Million to follow the
fortunes of a bet he had placed. "I didn't know
much about poker at the time, but I was a big fan
of snooker player Jimmy White and I backed him to
win the Poker Million." explained Lee. "I was glued
to the TV as I watched Jimmy win and that's how I
got into poker." Besides the
possibility of going head to head with Phil Ivey,
Lee finds himself in a strong heat of the World
Open with his opponents being, at the time of
writing, James Akenhead, Neil Channing, Ian Frazer,
Sam Trickett, Marty Smyth, Jean-Robert Bellande and
Peter Jetten. "It will be a
fantastic experience to pit my wits against some of
the world's best poker players." added Lee. "I have
a chance as well. They know nothing about me but I
know all about them." Fred is confident
Lee can make a major impact in the 400-strong field
for the WPT London Poker Classic, where
£350,000 will go to the winner, and also at
the World Open, in which 48 players will compete
for a place on the final table of seven with a
first prize of $200,000. "I've seen talent
in this kid and he's well worth the bet." said
Fred, whose company Betfred is the world's biggest
independent bookmaker. "He could be a
star." |
|
|
|
Contact Casino Beacon - Casinos - Privacy Policy Copyright © 2011 CasinoBeacon.co.uk |