The Pokeriety
Team events have a tendency to come and go in the UK poker calendar. More often than not they are one off events with a promotion attached. One such event that bucks this trend is the APAT UK Team Championship. The weekend of the 30th and 31st January 2016 will see the next of these events. The two day deepstack tournament will be the eighth running of what has become one of the most popular weekends on the APAT calendar.
So why does this event keep recreational players from throughout the UK wanting to come back for more each year ? Well first thing, lets provide you with some details. Teams are made up of 8 players selected as each team sees fit. The buyin is £50+£5 per player and the prize pool is split 50/50 between individual and team results. All 200 runners compete in a two day MTT that follows the excellent structure of an APAT National Event. The top 10% of players earn individual cashes and the top 50% earn team points, looking to be in the top 3 teams to share in the team cash.
Tom Brady, Head of Live Events for APAT explains, ‘This event has seen huge demand in previous years, and we are expecting similar interest this year.’
And that is such a true statement. This event has sold out in it’s previous 7 runnings, with many teams disappointed not to make the cut. In the past, individuals have even looked to setup poker groups with the sole intention of getting into the event. The APAT management are pretty savvy to the goings on in the poker industry though, and ensure a fair and balanced decision making process when inviting teams to participate.
As this is an open event, there has even been the odd pro and tour regular turn up for the weekend to represent a forum or poker community. Perhaps the biggest demand for team spots comes from APAT’s very own team. The APAT organisers will appoint a captain who then has the unenviable task of selecting 7 others to represent the ‘home’ team. No pressure there then.
Previous winners of the event include Bristol & South West Poker Meetup, Team APAT, London Poker Meetup, Gambling Network Forum, Blackbelt Poker and 2015 winners The Scotsquad. You can read up on all the previous events here.
If all this is whetting you appetite to get involved, then you need to be quick. APAT are accepting applications to play in the event up until Wednesday 21st October. So if you are part of a poker group, forum, community in the UK and fancy getting 8 mates from that group together for a weekend in Luton in January, then get across to the APAT forum to register your interest.
You’ll need to provide team outfits for the weekend and will have to deposit funds in advance with APAT for the whole team.
Hopefully The Pokeriety team will see you at the felt. Be warned, we want to take this one down.
