Poker Odds Calculator
        
Poker Tournament Information »
PokerPages > Poker News > Poker News

Poker News - Poker News

National Honor at Stake in Poker Nations Cup April 7

by PokerPages.com
Fri, Mar 28th, 2008 @ 12:00am

Six teams of poker players will compete for the honor of their home nation as well as a coveted trophy and $100,00 first prize money, when the Poker Nations Cup convenes in Cardiff, Wales April 7 through April 10.

The teams will represent Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Holland and the United States.

Poker Nations Cup is Channel 4's and PartyPoker's innovative team poker tournament, where teams consisting of 5 poker professionals and 1 online qualifier compete in 6 heats; each player competes only once earning points for their individual finish.

A total $280,000 prize pool is generated when each player pays a buy-in of $5,000, and $100,000 gets added by PartyPoker. From this, individual match winners scoop $20,000 for themselves for their efforts.

All 6 teams then compete in a 'tag' final. The size of the team chip stacks for the tag final depend on the points gained by the players in the six heats. The triumphant nation will be the last with a player standing.

MEET THE TEAMS

Sweden: Defending champions Sweden will again be captained by Bo Sehlstedt and feature William Thorsson, Johan Storakers, Mats Rahm and last year's hero Anders Henriksson. Joining them is an online qualifier with serious form in Johan Ocklind, who locked horns with the likes of Patrik Antonius, Tony G and Ilari Sahamies at the Scandinavian Poker Masters cash game last year.

Great Britain: The British team is captained by Roland de Wolfe and features reigning Poker Million champion Joe Beevers, 2008 Irish Open champion Neil Channing, format specialist Ian Frazer and the inimitable Surinder Sunar. Joining them is qualifier Francis Durbin. Captain for the past two years, Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliott is unavailable as he is in the United States.

Ireland: Ireland make a welcome return to the competition and are captained by legend Padraig Parkinson, joined by fellow Irish poker giant Donnacha O’Dea, 2007 Irish Open winner Marty Smyth, WSOP bracelet holder Ciaran O’Leary and 2007 PartyPoker European Open champion Liam Flood. Darren O’Brien joins the team as the qualifier.

United States: Team USA is captained by Robert Williamson III and will feature $12 million 2006 WSOP Main Event winner Jamie Gold, the one and only Freddy Deeb, the iconic Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson and Chad Brown. With there being no qualifier from the USA, captain Robert Williamson III has drafted in television host Montel Williams to make his European poker debut. Williams may be better known as a chat show host but he was the leading the WSOP Main Event for a period in 2007.

Germany: The German team is captained by Michael Keiner and the former plastic surgeon has moulded together a very strong team. Andreas Krause, one of the top European players last year is a key figure in the line-up as is Benjamin Kang, inaugural PartyPoker German Open winner Sebastian Ruthenberg and WSOP Europe bracelet winner Thomas “Buzzer” Bihl. Thomas Potzal is the qualifier joining this glittering role call of top pros.

Holland: The Dutch team is captained by Marcel Luske and features Thierry Van der Berg, Eric Van der Berg and Daan Ruiter with Quirijn Van Der Peet the qualifier. Marcel still has one selection to make.

PAST YEARS

Last year Sweden triumphed over the USA in a rollercoaster tag-final, while the year before there was glory for Great Britain. PartyBets.com make Sweden 3/1 favorites to win again with the USA second favorites at 7/2, Great Britain at 9/2, Ireland at 5/1, Germany at 6/1 and Holland the outsiders at 13/2.

A PartyPoker spokesman said, "The array of talent on display for the 2008 PartyPoker Poker Nations Cup is brilliant. Sweden have to be favourites to retain their title as their line-up of pros is unchanged and are used to the format and they are arguably strengthened by their online qualifier representative. That said, the USA will take some stopping with the likes of Gold, Ferguson Deeb and Brown on board while Great Britain boasts so many form players in their team. Ireland is a bit of a wildcard but there is little doubt that they have strength in depth in their side while Germany appear much stronger than previous years. The Dutch side led by Marcel have to be seen as the underdogs- the names don't jump out as much at you as they do with the other line-ups."

Here is the list of team players:

GREAT BRITAIN

  • Roland de Wolfe (Capt.)
  • Joe Beevers
  • Neil Channing
  • Ian Frazer
  • Surinder Sunar
  • Francis Durbin - qualifier
  • GERMANY

  • Michael Keiner (Capt.)
  • Benjamin Kang
  • Sebastian Ruthenberg
  • Thomas Bihl
  • Andreas Krause
  • Thomas Potzel - qualifier
  • HOLLAND

  • Marcel Luske (Capt.)
  • Thierry Van den Berg
  • Eric Van der Berg
  • Daan Ruiter
  • TBC
  • Quirijn Van der Peet - qualifier
  • IRELAND

  • Padraig Parkinson (Capt.)
  • Donnacha O'Dea
  • Ciaran O'Leary
  • Liam Flood
  • Marty Smyth
  • Darren O'Brien - qualifier
  • SWEDEN

  • Bo Sehlstedt (Capt.)
  • Johan Storakers
  • Anders Henriksson
  • Mats Rahmn
  • William Thorsson
  • Johan Ocklind - qualifier
  • USA

  • Robert Williamson III (Capt.)
  • Jamie Gold
  • Chris Ferguson
  • Freddy Deeb
  • Chad Brown
  • Montel Williams- Celebrity Player
  •  

     
     

    More Poker News Articles

    Top Asian Poker Pros Vie for Slice of $1 Million Prize Pool Pie at APT Manila
    12am Fri May 9th, 2008

    The top professional poker players with Asian heritage will be vying for their share of the $1 million guaranteed prize pool at the upcoming first stop of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) on May 27 to June 1 at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in the Philippines.

    Casino Bill with Online Poker Ban May Be Revived in Massachusetts
    12am Fri May 9th, 2008

    Despite the protests against and March defeat of his bill to build three casinos in Massachusetts and ban online poker and Internet gambling, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick said that his casino proposal to shore up ailing state coffers may yet make a comeback.

    Canadian Jack Hinchey Wins $1 Million at 888.com World Poker Crown Tourney
    12am Fri May 9th, 2008

    Canadian plumber Jack Hinchey this morning won the $3 million guaranteed 888.com World Poker Crown in Peralada Castle, Spain, defeating his fellow countryman Michael Lawson to take home the $1 million first place prize.

    British Peers Call French Protectionist Gambling Laws Atrocious
    12am Fri May 9th, 2008

    The UK House of Lords have collectively condemned the French government and the gambling laws that protect their state monopoly on gambling, which includes poker, calling the laws that put gamblers on a par with child pornographers as "atrocious." The criticism comes as France prepares to respond to continued European Commission (EC) pressure over its protectionist gambling laws.

    More Support for Dafur Relief at San Miguel Casino Charity Poker Tourney
    12am Fri May 9th, 2008

    At time of this writing, professional Poker player Annie Duke and Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle, are onsite at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland California hosting a celebrity Poker tournament and exclusive VIP after party to raise awareness and funds for the Ante Up For Africa project with proceeds going to the Not On Our Watch (NOOW) Project.

    Liv Boeree is Crowned Ladbrokes Poker European Ladies Champion
    12am Thu May 8th, 2008

    Liv Boeree bested 51 of Europe's top female tournament players, including WSOPE winner Annette Obrestad, Bev Pace, Louise Duffy, Michelle Orpe, and Katherine Hartree, last year's winner Jackie Meecham, poker journalist Shelley Rubenstein and Abi Titmuss, to become the new Ladbrokes Poker European Ladies Champion. In addition to the title, the Absolute Poker-sponsored pro is taking home the $30,000 first prize and a seat in the WSOP Main Event.

    World Poker Tour Owner Reports Q1 Net Loss of $2.8 Million
    12am Thu May 8th, 2008

    WPT Enterprises, Inc (WPTE), owner of the World Poker Tour, yesterday released its Q1 2008 results, reporting a 10 percent increase in overall revenues over the same period last year, but a $2.8 million net loss for the quarter.

    Bodog Cuts Ties With Poker Pro Josh Arieh
    12am Thu May 8th, 2008

    Just days after introducing Justin Bonomo as the newest member of Team Bodog, it has been announced that Josh Arieh has been dropped from the Bodog roster.

    Poker Players: If You Play, Have A Say
    12am Wed May 7th, 2008

    The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is using the global spotlight on the upcoming World Series of Poker (WSOP) to launch a voter registration campaign to increase awareness and support for reversing or blocking federal and state laws that prohibit gambling while playing online poker.

    Nevada Poker Players Alliance Director Tells Kyl UIGEA is Too Flawed
    12am Wed May 7th, 2008

    Nevada director for the Poker Players Alliance, Ken Illgen, lost no time firing back a salvo in response to an article last week in the Las Vegas Review-Journal in which Senator Jon Kyl, chief architect of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), said he is losing patience with the Federal Reserve and the Department of Treasury as they struggle to develop regulations to enforce the Internet gambling ban.

    Download Poker Software
    PokerPages
    Newsletter
    Online Poker »
    Poker News »
    Blog Coverage


    Top News
    Top Tournaments