Brand-new cars, P1M staked in Metro Card poker tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Three brand new cars and P1 million will be up for grabs in the Metro Card Club’s Metro Triple Treat Freeroll poker tournament set Sept. 14-15 at the Metro Card Club in Metrowalk Complex in Ortigas, Pasig City.

Players who have accumulated at least 300 hours of playing cash game are qualified to see action in the biggest poker room in Asia, which ran the promo from June 1 to Aug. 31.

“This is one way of rewarding our loyal Metro Card Club members for keeping the no. 1 card room in the country,” said Metro Card Club president Nick Galan during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue Branch in Manila.

According Metro Card marketing manager Nina Castro, a total of 148 players have qualified for the freeroll with the champion to win a brand new Toyota Fortuner. The second placer will receive a Toyota Altis and the third finisher will get a Toyota Vios.

“The rest of the qualifiers will get a part of the P1-million cash,” said Castro.

Metro Card Club has been running promos for its ever-growing members, and Castro divulged that already ongoing is the “1 for all, all for 1” promo, wherein a player who can accumulate 100 hours of playing cash game from Sept. 1 to 30 will earn a ticket to the P1-million freeroll next month.

Meanwhile, Galan said that poker is now recognized as a mind sport by the International Olympic Committee and Metro Card Club is supporting efforts to create a national association in the country.

“Poker is now in the same league as chess, go and bridge and in 2012 there will be a tournament by the International Mind Sports Association at around the same time the London Olympics will be held,” said Galan, who mentioned retired Col. Wally Sombero, considered as the godfather of Philippine Poker, as among those pushing for the creation of such association.