Russ Taylor Closes In On Poker Immortality
Rookie poker player Russ Taylor from Newcastle was in seventh heaven yesterday, having qualified to take on the 'Gods of Poker' in the £500,000 William Hill Grand Prix II tournament, one of the most prestigious events on the poker circuit.
Russ (40) won his direct seat to this exclusive tournament after beating 69 other players in the first land based qualifier at Aspers Casino, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on Tuesday night. He will now take on the 'Gods of Poker' - forty four of the leading poker professionals in the world, gathered together for this unique tournament which will be fimed for broadcast on Sky Sports TV and won last year by American Phil' The Unabomber Laak.
Local businessman Russ 'The Suit' Taylor, whose ever-smart appearance has earnt him his moniker, has only been playing poker for 2 years, mainly online and at Aspers Casino but this is undoubtably his biggest win so far. And although he is excited to soon be facing some of the biggest names in poker in the Grand Prix II, he doesn't think he will be fazed by his mighty opposition. "This is a great thrill, I'm on a roll at the moment, but I'll just go there and play my cards and do my best. I've never even been on TV before so it is a fantastic opportunity and many thanks to Aspers and William Hill."
The William Hill Grand Prix is unique from other televised poker tournament because it incorporates a 'blind' structure designed to bring out the true skill of poker instead of trying to fit with tight production schedules. Russ will be one of only twelve 'mere mortals' from land based and Online Poker qualifiers who will pit their wits against the forty four Gods of Poker in a poker room, within a luxury penthouse TV set and will experience how poker should truly be played. With the original Grand Prix showing on Sky Sports to what turned out to be the biggest TV audience for a UK tournament, viewers will be able to follow Russ's progress on in early 2007 as Sky Sports have again snapped up the rights to show this event.
A review of the qualifier at Aspers will be shown on William Hill's Poker programme (Poker 425) on Sky Channel 854 from Wednesday 6th September for a week, every night at 11pm.
