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Asian Poker Tour Signs Asians to Sponsorship Deals

by , Sep 23, 2008 | 9:17 am

Comments (16)

Three of the top pros in the poker biz finally got sponsorship deals. J.C. Tran, Quinn Do, and Nam Le are all accomplished pros recently signed deals to promote the Asian Poker Tour. Yep, they’re Asian. Makes sense, right?

Here’s what gets my goat (no jokes about my goat, please). J.C., Nam, and Quinn have consistently proven their skills at the tables. Not only are they successful on the tournament circuit (Tran with nearly $7 million in winnings, Le with close to $5 million, and Do closing in on $2 million), but they are some of the most respectful gentlemen at the tables. They all carry themselves with a great deal of class and dignity, and they are known to be financially responsible, generous with friends, and kind to others. Who wouldn’t want any one of these guys representing their brand at poker tournaments all over the world?

Evidently, not PokerStars, Full Tilt, Doyles Room, Bodog, or any of the other major online poker sites. For the love of sponsorship deals, J.C. Tran even won the 2006 PokerStars WCOOP main event! Granted, I am not privy to behind-the-scenes information with these guys, and I cannot swear that they have not been offered deals. However, J.C. Tran has gone on the record to say that it is odd that Asian women get inked by online poker sites – Liz Lieu, Evelyn Ng, JJ Liu, to name a few – but Asian men quite often get left out of the mix.

Whether or not there is outright prejudice affecting these decisions is pure speculation. And it is satisfying to know that J.C., Nam, and Quinn have secured deals through the Asian Poker Tour, especially with the predicted growth of poker in the Asian markets. So, to the online sites who haven’t signed these guys, what’s the problem? And to the guys themselves, congrats, safe travels to the next APT stop in Seoul, and much success to you in the future.


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16 Comments to “Asian Poker Tour Signs Asians to Sponsorship Deals”


  1. Kevin Mathers     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:45am

    Speaking of JJ Liu, a certain poker agent broke the news that she got dropped by Full Tilt Poker for playing at an APPT event wearing Pokerstars logo wear.


  2. California Jen     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:49am

    Yeah, ummm, I was told that information was not for publication. Trying to confirm with Full Tilt Poker.


  3. DanM     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:51am

    ***a certain poker agent broke the news***

    Link?


  4. Kevin Mathers     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:54am

    http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29/news-views-gossip/ftp-drops-pro-jj-liu-303844/


  5. DanM     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:54am

    Speaking of poker agents … Poker Royalty just signed David Chiu.

    This just in:

    Chinese Poker Legend David Chiu Inks Exclusive Representation Deal with Poker Royalty
     
    Poker Royalty Adds David Chiu to its Catalogue of Poker Celebrities
     
     
    Las Vegas, NV (September 19, 2008) – Poker Royalty , HYPERLINK “http://www.pokerroyalty.com/” \o “http://www.pokerroyalty.com/” \t “_blank” http://www.pokerroyalty.com, the largest poker representation company world-wide, announces that China-born champion poker player David Chiu has been added to its roster for representation. Poker Royalty will manage and represent Chiu across all major platforms, including; main-stream media, sponsorship, licensing, commercial endorsements and appearances. David Chiu joins a prestigious list of poker icons that include Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Patrik Antonious and Erick Lindgren.
     
    Brian Balsbaugh, CEO Poker Royalty, said, “Signing David Chiu for exclusive representation is a huge coup for our company.  We are going to invest a lot of resources into raising David’s profile in China and look forward to monetizing his growing celebrity as the best Chinese poker player in the world.  David’s future is very bright and we are happy to be on his team.”
     
    Chiu, the most successful Chinese poker player world-wide, burst onto the poker scene in 1996 and has amassed more than $6,000,000 in live tournament winnings. Born in China, Chiu has won 4 World Series of Poker bracelets along with the 2008 World Poker Tour Championship title. A poker tournament specialist, Chiu is known for his extraordinary ability to read opposing players. He attributes his ability to read his opponents and concentration abilities to a swimming accident that left him partially deaf in both ears.  Chiu is fluent in multiple languages including; Mandarin and Cantonese. 
     
    Career Highlights:

    4 World Series of Poker bracelets (1996, 1998, 2000, 2005)

    $6,043,079 in career winnings

    Winner of the 2008 World Poker Tour Championship

    44 World Series of Poker cashes

    “I am pleased to be represented by Poker Royalty”, stated Chiu, “They have an outstanding reputation within the poker industry and have unparalleled industry contacts. I look forward to working with them in the future.”


  6. DanM     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:05am

    Thanks for the link, Kev …

    So man, O—-T– really has it in for JJ Liu, no? Pretty much ever since she got pregnant, hmm … The Tse-man really cracks me up.

    Will have to ask him next time I see him if his refusal to spell out Full Tilt is in reverence (like Jews with Y-hweh) or protest. It’s gotta be the former, I think, because otherwise would suggest he’s capable of holding quite the grudge.


  7. Kevin Mathers     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:06am

    I’m sure he’ll make an appearance shortly. The thread is full of goodness.


  8. Kevin Mathers     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:09am

    Also worth noting, he didn’t put JJ’s name in the thread title, that got added later after he played 20 questions.


  9. DanM     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:22am

    I know, it was pretty funny seeing people guess (incorrectly) about whom he was referring to.


  10. California Jen     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:26am

    Only able to get through ten pages of the 2+2 thread before ADD kicked in.

    Also very frustrating to get information off-the-record, then come to find out it’s been posted by that very source in the most public poker forum. And to see it done in such a cryptic way adds to the frustration.

    Argh.


  11. DanM     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:38am

    Good morning, Jen. How are you doing today. 🙂

    Don’t be a 2+2 hater … if it wasn’t for them, we’d have nothing to filter through.

    Which OTR are you talking about … JJ Liu or David Chiu?


  12. Kevin Mathers     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:40am

    Considering one of those was done without revealing a name plus obscuring the site in question, is it really that hard to figure out?


  13. DanM     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:48am

    Yeah, I’m all clear now. Jen’s comments got caught up in our spam filter, and I got a little confused about the order. All clear now.


  14. Kevin Mathers     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:51am

    Pokerati has a spam filter? Who knew?


  15. California Jen     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:57am

    The OTR I was referring to was JJ.

    I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with 2+2; I just don’t have the patience to read through 24 pages of threads when most of them consist of comments like “F*** y***self.”


  16. Kevin Mathers     says:
    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:04am

    You could just ignore all those posts and read Oliver’s posts in the thread….