Fred Grants Lee a Shot at the Big Time
| 25 August 2010 |    |
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100824/405131 )
Software tester Lee Atherton, who works at Betfred's head office inWarrington, is being sponsored by Fred to play in the WPT London PokerClassic starting on August 31, and the World Open, also in the capitalbeginning on September 6.
Fred is providing the buy-ins, which amount to nearly GBP12,000, for thetwo events as Lee takes on some of the world's greatest poker players infront of the Sky Sports and Channel Five cameras.
"This is an incredible opportunity," said Lee, 37, who began playingpoker seven years ago and includes the prestigious Poker 6 among his list ofvictories.
"It epitomises what a unique character Fred is and his uncanny ability tobreak the mould in gambling circles. He has delivered me a real shot at thebig time and I intend to do everything I can to justify his faith in me."
While many of his fellow competitors - including WPT London Poker Classicrival Phil Ivey - have been playing the game for many years, Lee'sintroduction only came when he tuned in to the Poker Million to follow thefortunes of a bet he had placed.
"I didn't know much about poker at the time, but I was a big fan ofsnooker player Jimmy White and I backed him to win the Poker Million,"explained Lee. "I was glued to the TV as I watched Jimmy win and that's how Igot into poker."
Besides the possibility of going head to head with Phil Ivey, Lee findshimself in a strong heat of the World Open with his opponents being, at thetime of writing, James Akenhead, Neil Channing, Ian Frazer, Sam Trickett,Marty Smyth, Jean-Robert Bellande and Peter Jetten.
"It will be a fantastic experience to pit my wits against some of theworld's best poker players," added Lee. "I have a chance as well. They knownothing about me but I know all about them."
Fred is confident Lee can make a major impact in the 400-strong field forthe WPT London Poker Classic, where GBP350,000 will go to the winner, andalso at the World Open, in which 48 players will compete for a place on thefinal table of seven with a first prize of $200,000.
"I've seen talent in this kid and he's well worth the bet," said Fred,whose company Betfred is the world's biggest independent bookmaker. "He couldbe a star."
Note to Editors:
If you would like to interview Lee Atherton in the build-up to the WPTLondon Poker Classic or the World Open, please inform Jon Wilde via thecontact details below.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100824/405131
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