Monday, November 20, 2006

Ok here's my $0.02 worth
I am well aganist the idea of having casinos (oops what I meant to say was erm.. Integrated Resorts...and while I'm on this topic...giving something a nicer name doesnt make it any better...pls refer to post on Singapore Toilet Association) A gambling den is a gambling den...

I mean... whats the point of building casinos and telling the citizens that measures and policies have been put in place to help gamblers cope with gambling addiction...Duh...and after I had read this article about Singapore's first international poker tournament, I was totally inspired to go get myself a deck of cards...I mean wow...people my age gambling to possibilly win the USD$451,000 grand prize...Wow Wee!

WHATS THE POINT OF PUTTING UP POLICIES AND MEASURES WHEN YOU BLATENTLY TEMPT PEOPLE WITH THE MEDIA....Oh and wouldn't it be cool to appear on the 'reality tv show'....

Ok Im not really stimulated to talk about this topic...does anyone have any views?


Friday November 17, 10:17 PM
Two Singaporeans in last 10 playing for poker tournament top prize

SINGAPORE: At 4pm on Friday, two Singaporeans will be among the final 10 players sitting down to play for the grand prize of US$451,000 ($702,000) at the inaugural Betfair Asian Poker Tour - Singapore's first international poker tournament.
Even before the first cards are dealt, each player is already guaranteed at least US$17,500 for having made it thus far.
Mr Neil Yong, a contractor, and Mr Joshua Ang Pang Leng, a day trader, were among 11 local hopefuls who started out in the tournament on Wednesday.
Two days of gruelling elimination play at the poker tables saw the field of 313 players whittled down to just 10 at 11pm Thursday.
Those who fell by the wayside after the first day included big-name players such as Singapore-born Willie Tann, Dane Gus Hansen - the only player to win three World Poker Tour open tournaments - and Australian professional poker player Mel Judah.
Mr Yong, Mr Ang and the other eight surviving players will battle it out from 4pm today for the right to be crowned tournament champion.
The international tournament - the largest in Asia ever - attracted over 700 players from 32 countries. They each earned the right to take part in the main event by winning online tournaments, forking out a US$5,000 "direct entry" fee, or via the qualifying rounds.
To earn even the smallest slice of the total prize pool of more than US$1.5 million, a player has to finish in at least 36th place, which pays out US$5,830.
For one of the ousted Singaporeans, Mr Tan Wee Yee, who works in the finance department of a hedge fund, it was a case of "so near yet so far" as he was emptied of all his chips on Wednesday night.
"It was a pity. I was probably half an hour away from qualifying for day two. I didn't have much luck and the cards didn't go my way at the end. But it was a good experience, and I plan to fly to Melbourne to take part in another major tournament in January," the 29-year-old told Today.
The Singapore competition is being filmed reality TV-style, with cameras watching the move of all the top players.
Friday's grand final will be recorded and broadcast to a worldwide audience next year. - TODAY

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