Press Release
China Leisure Sports Administrative Center And World Poker Tour China Kick Off Inaugural Season Of WPT China National Traktor Poker Tour
First Provincial Champions Crowned at Regional Preliminary Event in Historic Lanzhou, Which Welcomed over 400 Competitors
BEIJING (October 15, 2007) – In a historic day that marked the evolution of Traktor Poker, or Tuo La Ji, from traditional folk game to an officially recognized Sport by the China Leisure Sports Administrative Center (CLSAC), the World Poker Tour (WPT) China National Traktor™ Poker Tour crowned its first Provincial Champions yesterday in Lanzhou, Gansu.
The tournament welcomed the Province's best players for the Tour's inaugural event, which is sanctioned under the CLSAC—the national Sports Federation governing Leisure Sports under the China State Sports Administration—and sponsored by WPT Enterprises (WPTE), the exclusive marketing partner of the Tour.
The Sports Center in Lanzhou, a city famous for its ancient culture and key position on the Silk Road, was filled to capacity with 418 competitors who battled for three days to determine the teams which will represent the Gansu Province in the National Tour Grand Final. The winning team, led by Zhu An Men and Chen Haili—both residents of Lanzhou City—posted a score of 5,090 to take the Gansu Provincial Title in the hard fought battle of seasoned competitors. (Photographs, results and highlights will be posted on www.wptpoker.cn)
Mr. Xing Xiao Quan, Secretary General of the CLSAC said, "October 12th will be remembered as a historic day for poker in China, as the beloved folk game of Traktor poker has been elevated to the position of an official National Sport."
The tournament was the first of 15 Regional Preliminary tournaments to be held each weekend throughout China during the inaugural Season, which will run October 2007 through April 2008. Tour play is based on a team structure where teams in each tour city compete to qualify for the Grand Final.
"We are proud to recognize these first Provincial Champions. The Gansu tournament has demonstrated that this innovative concept can be successfully executed in China," said Peter Hughes, Chief Operating Officer of the WPTE who attended the competition in Lanzhou. "This inaugural event is a strong sign of the success we anticipate for this Tour. Traktor Poker is a tradition and sport rich with history, and will only grow and build momentum from here."
The WPT China National Traktor Poker Tour 2007-2008 Season schedule is as follows.
WPT CHINA TRAKTOR™ POKER TOUR 2007 – 2008 SCHEDULE*
REGIONAL RELIMINARY/ DATES/ LOCATION
Week 1 Oct. 12, 2007 (Fri.) - Oct. 14, 2007(Sun.) Lanzhou, Gansu
Week 2 Oct. 19, 2007 (Fri.) - Oct. 21, 2007(Sun.) Taiyuan, Shanxi
Week 3 Oct. 26, 2007 (Fri.) - Oct. 28, 2007(Sun.) Xi'an, Shaanxi
Week 4 Nov. 02, 2007 (Fri.) - Nov. 04, 2007(Sun.) Zhengzhou, Henan
Week 5 Nov. 09, 2007 (Fri.) - Nov. 11, 2007(Sun.) Shenyang, Liaoning
Week 6 Nov. 16, 2007 (Fri.) - Nov. 18, 2007(Sun.) Beijing / Tianjin
Week 7 Nov. 23, 2007 (Fri.) - Nov. 25, 2007(Sun.) Nanchang, Jiangxi
Week 8 Nov. 30, 2007 (Fri.) - Dec. 02, 2007(Sun.) Nanjing, Jiangsu
Week 9 Dec. 07, 2007 (Fri.) - Dec. 09, 2007(Sun.) Shanghai
Week 10 Dec. 14, 2007 (Fri.) - Dec. 16, 2007(Sun.) Fuzhou, Fujian
Week 11 Dec. 21, 2007 (Fri.) - Dec. 23, 2007(Sun.) Hefei, Anhui
Week 12 Dec. 28, 2007 (Fri.) - Dec. 30, 2007(Sun.) Wuhan, Hube
Week 13 Jan. 11, 2008 (Fri.) - Jan. 13, 2008(Sun.) Changsha, Hunan
Week 14 Jan. 18, 2008 (Fri.) - Jan. 20, 2008(Sun.) Guiyang, Guizhou
Week 15 Jan. 25, 2008 (Fri.) - Jan. 27, 2008 (Sun.) Guangzhou, Guangdong
Online Open Preliminary October 2007 - January 2008 Ourgame.com
Grand Final end of March - early April 2008 TBD
*Schedule subject to change
To join the official WPT China Community, receive updates, or to find more information regarding the WPT China National Traktor Poker Tour, please visit www.wptpoker.cn.
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Technorati Tags: World Poker Tour, China State Sports Administration, Traktor Poker, Lanzhou
Suggested Links: CLSAC/WPTE Partnership, WPTE 8-K Filing for Partnership, WPT China Traktor™ Poker Tour
About WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour®, a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and is scheduled to begin broadcasting on GSN in early 2008. WPT is licensed for broadcast globally. WPTE also operates a real-money online gaming website, www.worldpokertour.com, which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and other restricted jurisdictions. WPTE currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media.
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