The B&L Poker Mall Tour rolls off

Last Saturday, Nov. 19, was the first day of the Business & Leisure Texas Hold’em Mall Tour – Eastwood City Challenge held in Libis, Quezon City. We wanted to bring the increasingly popular mind game of poker, specifically the current favorite of new and old players, the Texas Hold’em variety, to popular venues to bring it closer to the people. Initially, we wanted to bring across the message that poker goes beyond the other card games and should not be lumped along with the very idea of gambling. Although it is a card game, the elements of chance (odds and risks) are there, but for every deal, a whole lot of analysis, evaluation and psychology go into the game from all the participants.

To further illustrate this point, and to invite a bigger base to join the ranks, we made this mall tour a non-cash wager tournament, that is to say that the chips issued to the players at the start of the tournament have no cash value but are there merely as units necessary for determining the winner. Imagine that you can play poker for a token registration fee of P1,000, enjoy a whole night of poker, a lot of good food and wine from Ralph’s Wines & Spirits, camaraderie from other poker players and members of the Poker Club of the Philippines, and very possibly win any of the valuable prizes at stake! How difficult is that?!?

Mother Nature came along with the idea and re-routed the typhoon westward, so we enjoyed a cool night last Saturday, the first day of the tourney. The tent we had pitched made the night more festive, and the elegant chairs from Concept One, high-backed, fully upholstered in leather and in dramatic colors of red, black and beige, where all the ten players for the night including the official dealer and the tourneyís Grand Marshal, Rey John Gamboa sat comfortably, lend a lot of sophistication to the "no cash wager" gaming scenario. The long red-topped poker table occupied a cordoned area for the nightís game, in full view not only of our invited guests but also the mall goers, and Eastwood City was positively teeming with people that night.

Eastwood City management had generously given us a strategic space, fronting Go Nuts Donuts and Twist Restaurant, and before we knew it, we had crowds milling about, watching the game on two giant screens we had provided for the occasion. Remember the Celebrity Poker you watch on Solar’s Sports Plus Channel? We replicated that, minus the celebrities but with all the attendant excitement of the game. The giant screens captured the full essence of the game, all the nuances, all the facial expressions of the players. And our favorite deejay, Slyde, lent his contagious brand of annotating talent to make the evening more exciting.

The 10 players arrived early – most of them were familiar faces, having joined the earlier matches. One thing, of course they had in common was their love for Texas Hold’em, and most of them play only this variety of Poker. There was a lot of ribbing prior to the games, friendly cajoling, and a lot of camaraderie. Some of the wives/girl friends were there to cheer, and we even had the cute doggie of as part of the gallery.

By just dropping a name card into our special "fish bowl", invited guests and any spectator present can win an array of valuable prizes from donating sponsors like gift items from Honda Cars Philippines, overnight stay at Vistamar Beach Resort and Hotel and Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila, wines from Ralph’s Wines and Spirits, car care products from A-Toy Body Kits, etc., which are raffled every now and then to serve as breathers for the intensely competing tournament participants.

The "last man standing" that night was Oscar Ocampo. He went home with the Leg Champion’s All-Glass Trophy courtesy of Asahi Glass Philippines, an all-free overnight stay for two at the Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel, an overnight stay with two with breakfast at the Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila, car care products from A-Toy Body Kits and other prizes. Chuck Reyes, who played "heads-up" with (champion’s first name) and came out as first runner up and British Joe Davies both brought home the Runner-up Glass Plaque and other prizes plus the right to advance, together with the leg champion to the Championship Night on Dec. 10.

Our major sponsor for the night, Honda Cars Philippines was ably supported by a full staff led by marketing top honcho Arnel Doria and media specialist Tintin Reyes. Our friend from Toyota Motor Philippines, Danny "Sir John" Isla, SPMJ, Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists colleagues Vernon Sarne, Brian Afuang and "SPMJ’s Early Warning" project director, Quito da Roza, Valle Verde Country Club cohorts Benny de Guzman, Rey Felix, Eddie Boy Zandueta, Boy Raymundo, and Poker Club of the Philippines founding directors Eric Roxas, Tony Sulit and Tony Halili were among the crowd cheering the game.

The 2nd Elimination Leg of the Business & Leisure Texas Hold’em Mall Tour – Eastwood City Challenge is tonight at 6 o’clock at the same venue. Everyone and we mean everyone, is most welcome to come and watch some top-notched poker and stand the chance to win valuable prizes from the raffles that are held in the breaks within the game. Brace yourselves for more exciting action of Texas Hold’em.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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