Bad Publicity

Recently a major British bookmaker sponsored a large poker tournament which was won by a well-known player. In the wake of situations like this it is common practice within the industry to issue a press release after the event with details of the final table, the winner, the final hand, a photograph of the winner and, usually, a glowing comment on the success of the event.

Not so for this rather tardy bookie.

Over a week after the event the only information sent to the poker press remained a press release sent out by the sponsor of the player with a photo of said player winning a different tournament for his company, complete with colourful branding, earlier in the year. I’ve never known the sponsor of the tournament to be out maneuvered like this by a competitor. All that publicity, branding, and social conversation about your tournament and it is effectively handed over to a competitor. That’s some bad PR!

Elsewhere a well-known online operator is sponsoring its biggest ever live event in a couple of months time and while online qualification has been underway for several weeks not a word has been communicated to the press so that we might offer some useful information to our readers who would be interested in qualifying.

Any company that has problems communicating with the media has problems communicating with its players. It is going to have problems full stop – look at Full Tilt for example.
As Oscar Wilde said, “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

Card Player Columnist Wins Again

Congratulations to paddypowerpoker.com Irish Open winner and Card Player columnist Niall Smyth who lifted the Irish Poker Festival title in Killarney in early October when he topped a field of over 500 players to cement his reputation and take down the €70,000 top prize.

That’s Life

Irish poker is a less colourful place this month with the death of popular scenester Sean Gregory.

Whether at the bar or on the felt Gregory’s sunny disposition never failed to raise a smile from his fellow drinkers or players.

His untimely death from cancer, which he fought against bravely over a long period, robs Irish poker of a unique character but his wit, wisdom, and humanity will be fondly remembered by all who ever spent a few minutes in his company.

Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Elsewhere another well-liked Irish pro, Padraig Parkinson, had his own all-too-close brush with death when he suffered a heart attack at the end of September.

The Card Player contributor spent two days in hospital before being released and tweeting, “Thanks to all who tweeted, etc to see if I was alive. 9 months after I quit cigs I had a heart attack carrying 26 euros worth of fruit and veg.”

Later he tweeted, “accused by @MikeSexton_WPT of having heart attack to win our weight loss bet. I guess the dual amputation master plan is toast.”
It’s hard to keep a good man down! ♠