Blackpool Casino Fire, Irish Poker Classic Satellites + more

July 29 2009, Barry Carter

Blackpool Casino Fire

A landmark hotel and casino in Blackpool has been destroyed after a massive fire. The six storey Grand Hotel on Station Road went up in flames, taking with it the Paris Casino next door. Over 100 firefighters tackled the inferno vigilantly for 8 hours, but the building has completely been destroyed. Hundreds of people had to be escorted from the building, which is now expected to be demolished.

The neighbouring Paris Casino was the first to notice the blaze, when staff saw smoke seeping into their building, quick thinking managers led their customers to safety. The Paris Casino was one of the more old school casinos in the thriving Blackpool poker scene, that had only just began running poker tournaments again. It also was a popular venue for high rolling cash game players.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and Arson has not been ruled out, we'll bring you more on this story as it develops.

Qualifiers Underway for the Irish Poker Classic

The Irish Poker Classic takes place at the Macau Sporting Club, Cork, Ireland from August the 10th to 16th. The main event is a €1000+€100 buy-in, €100,000 guaranteed affair with a varied side event schedule. Now several big poker rooms have thrown their hat in the ring to offer online qualifiers to the festival.

Paddy Power Poker hosts two remaining satellites tonight Jul. 29 and Wed. Aug. 5 at 9.30 p.m. Entry is $100 + $10 with a rebuy and add-on and each satellite has one ticket guaranteed.

Ladbrokes holds its €80 +€8 satellite on Aug. 3 at 7.30 p.m. with one seat guaranteed to the Irish Classic Poker Festival.

Online qualifiers continue at Betfair Poker every Wednesday at 9 p.m. BST with one ticket guaranteed each week. Entry to the weekly final is $80 + $8 but players can qualify daily from as little as $2 + .20 in the daily feeders.

So far 70 people have registered and paid for the event and the organisers have capacity for up to 200. All players who register for the Irish Poker Classic will automatically be entered into the Free Million Dollar Game freeroll where the winner will go to London to play against 17 others for a $1 million first prize at the Betfair-sponsored World Series of Poker Europe.

£3000 Added at Stoke Circus

It is the 3rd anniversary of the Stoke Circus opening this Sunday and they are adding £3000 to their poker competition that night to celebrate. Their £150 freezeout will start at 3.00pm, has 10,000 chips and a 30 minute clock. Hats off to anyone who adds money to their prizepool, and in particular to Stoke Circus who regularly have added value promotions like this.

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