POKERSTARS SPONSOR CHAD BROWN MEMORIAL CHARITY TOURNAMENT AT DEBUT FESTIVAL IN NEW JERSEY
Memorial poker tournament for former Team PokerStars Pro and poker legend to take place on November 3
ONCHAN, Isle of Man – October 25th, 2016 – The 3rd annual Chad Brown Memorial Charity Poker Tournament will take place during the first live Festival that PokerStars, an Amaya Inc. (Nasdaq: AYA; TSX: AYA) brand, will hold in the Garden State. The PokerStars sponsored event will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. Hosted by Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu, the tournament, which kicks off at 8pm, will be preceded with a cocktail reception at 7pm. Proceeds from the tournament will help raise funds for the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research, which has separate funding specifically earmarked for sarcoma cancer research.
The $200 buy-in for the No-Limit Hold’em charity event will see 50% from each buy-in go straight to the T.J. Martell Foundation, which Chad Brown was a passionate supporter of, and the remaining 50% from each buy-in will go towards the prize pool. $100 rebuys will be available for the first six levels, 50% of which will go direct to the charity.
Resorts Casino Hotel, who is strongly supporting and hosting the event during PokerStars’ debut Festival, will donate $3,500 directly to the T.J. Martell Foundation in Chad’s name.
There are some amazing prizes up for grabs including: a $5,000 PokerStars Championship Bahamas Main Event seat, a $3,200 Players Poker Championship (PPC) Aruba Main Event Package; a WPT500 entry to any 2017 WPT500 events; a $500 VIP WPT Experience (valid to any televised event for Season 15, includes a one night hotel stay, VIP access for the winner and a guest to the televised final table, guided tour of the WPT set, chance to meet the cast, premium seating with the Royal Flush girls and chance to be on TV); a one-year subscription worth $228 for LearnWPT.com; a World Series of Poker (WSOP) School of Poker training session worth up to $1,100; a $499 Poker Academy training course by Rep Porter and Rick Fuller (Inaugural Chad Brown Tournament Champion); a home poker table designed by Gorilla Gaming (valued at $925); Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) Qualifier package worth up to $380.
Splash pot prizes include custom merchandise donated by Run Good Gear, PokerStars t-shirts, and Sully Urna (of Godsmack) tickets courtesy of Resorts (concert takes place at Resorts on Nov. 5).
“Chad was a close friend to me and many other people in the poker community and I’m delighted to be hosting this tournament in Chad’s honor,” said Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu. “It’s great to see different people, and indeed different poker companies, from across the industry come together to raise money for a great cause.”
Chad Brown was a well-loved member of the poker community. The New York native achieved fame as a television personality and top professional poker player – earning more than $3.5 million during his poker career. Chad passed away on July 2, 2014 at the age of 52, after suffering a rare type of cancer known as liposarcoma. Following his death, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) honoured Chad with the first ever honorary WSOP Championship Bracelet. Last year during the 2nd Annual Chad Brown Memorial Poker Tournament held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Los Vegas on July 2, a total of $80,000 was raised for The T.J. Martell Foundation. Stars from poker, television, and film all gathered in Las Vegas for the celebration of professional poker player and television personality Chad Brown’s life.
“I’m really happy to be having the event in Atlantic City this year. It’s the first opportunity for Chad’s East Coast friends who don’t play in the WSOP to pay their respects,” said Jennifer Winter, Event Coordinator and long-time friend of Chad’s. "I’m a coordinator by trade, so planning these events seems like the natural thing to do to help honor Chad’s memory. Working with PokerStars and being a part of their inaugural festival is something that would bring a smile to his face.”
Chad’s manager and friend of many years, Beau Eurell, said, “Years ago Chad, Vanessa [Rousso] and I envisioned making a difference through charity events. I wish he could see that with the support of our poker community, we are. I would like to thank Daniel Negreanu for acting as this year's host and for the support of this year's host casino, Resorts Casino Hotel, as well as the continued support from Chad's home, PokerStars and the entire PokerStars staff. "
To date, more than $150,000 has been raised in Chad’s memory for cancer research.
For further information, please contact: press@pokerstars.com
More information on Chad and the charity can be requested by emailing info@downtownchadbrown.org or visiting http://downtownchadbrown.org/ and www.tjmartell.org.
About PokerStars
PokerStars operates the world’s most popular online poker sites, serving the global poker community. Since it launched in 2001, PokerStars has become the first choice of players all over the world, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else and with the best security online. More than 130 billion hands have been dealt on PokerStars, which is more than any other site.
PokerStars.com and PokerStars.eu operate globally under licenses from the Isle of Man and Malta governments, respectively. PokerStars also holds separate government licenses in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
PokerStars is the key brand of Rational Group, which operates gaming-related businesses and brands, including PokerStars, Full Tilt and the European Poker Tour. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Rational Group companies in the UK and Isle of Man won recognition as one of the best workplaces in the UK being awarded a top 25 position by the Great Place to Work Institute’s Best Workplaces – Large category rankings. Rational Group entities in Costa Rica and Dublin also achieved the same accolade in their respective local rankings in 2014. PokerStars is owned by Amaya Inc. (Nasdaq: AYA; TSX: AYA).
About the T.J. Martell foundation
The T.J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation, headquartered in New York, is a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in 1975 by music industry executive Tony Martell and his colleagues in loving memory of his son T.J., who died of leukemia. The Foundation has provided more than $270 million dollars for research that supports top hospitals in the United States. For more information click on the T.J. Martell Foundation go to www.tjmartell.org
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About Resorts Casino Hotel
Resorts Casino Hotel brought gaming to Atlantic City in 1978. Resorts is at the top of its game today, offering world-class casino action in a relaxed environment that keeps the focus on fun. Resorts Casino Hotel made history as the first American casino outside of Nevada and celebrated its 35th anniversary in May 2013 with a new milestone: the opening of a $35-million Margaritaville casino and entertainment complex that includes, among other attractions, the only year-round beach bar on the Atlantic City sand.
Mohegan Gaming Advisors assumed management of Resorts Casino Hotel in autumn 2012 – a move that has set the stage for its return as the most exciting gaming destination in Atlantic City. Boasting a prime location spanning 11 acres at the northern end of the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk, the resort features 942 guest rooms and suites in two hotel towers, a 80,000 square-foot casino, two theaters, six restaurants, two VIP slot and table player lounges, a casino bar, indoor-outdoor swimming pool, health club and spa, salon, and retail shops. Its 64,000 square feet of technologically advanced meeting space includes 24 meeting and function rooms, most featuring natural light and ocean views, and a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. For more information, visit our website or call 1.800.334.6378. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram and view us on YouTube.