Nine Internet poker players who honed their skills using software
developed by CryptoLogic Inc., licensed through its WagerLogic subsidiary,
have finished "in the money" at the elite World Series of Poker (WSOP)
championship event in Las Vegas. The nine players, who finished in the top
10 per cent of all competitors, collectively won more than $850,000 --
with one player, John McGrane, finishing in the top 20.
Playing 78 hours of poker in six days, Mr. McGrane placed 18th out of more
than 5,600 players who started the championship tournament. Making it to
the final two tables, Mr. McGrane took home $350,000 in prize money.
Mr. McGrane qualified for the WSOP through a $40 on-line tournament at
williamhillpoker.com, a leading poker site that uses software developed by
CryptoLogic. A total of 102 players won their way to the WSOP through
WagerLogic licensees' sites -- winning a package worth more than $14,000
including a seat in the championship event.
"Thanks to great players and CryptoLogic software focused on meeting the
needs of the Internet poker player, we have had an amazing run at the
World Series of Poker," said Andy Goetsch, CryptoLogic's vice-president of
poker software development and a world-class player in his own right. "The
WSOP is poker at its finest. It is about the cards, but it is also about a
player's skill -- and to see so many users of CryptoLogic software finish
in the money is a tribute to the Internet poker experience we deliver."
The final $10,000 buy-in no-limit Texas hold'em championship event
attracted a record 5,619 entries for a prize pool exceeding $52-million.
The 2005 WSOP grand prize was $7.5-million, up from $2.5-million in 2003.
Entries for the event have increased by more than 550 per cent over the
past two years -- a strong indication that poker's popularity continues to
grow.
"This is the first time our licensees have sent players to the World
Series of Poker -- with phenomenal results," said A.J. Slivinski,
WagerLogic's managing director. "It is clear that their players have what
it takes, and that our software delivers. We look forward to seeing many
more players qualify through our licensees in next year's event.
SOURCE: Cryptologic
