Alan Betson
Posted on March 28, 2008
Filed Under Top Poker Players
If there is anything Alan Betson is renowned besides the poker skills, then it is surely his wits. Padraig Parkinson, the writer for the Europe’s Card Player Magazine, has said that Alan Betson “has probably mentioned five of 10 funniest things that I’ve ever heard of at the poker table.” In a Card Player article, Parkinson recounts the incident where Alan Betson matched his wits with some taxi driver in the Las Vegas… the game which ended in very close draw.
Popularity of Betson’s anecdotes is proved by the amount of demand they are in. Remarkably, Alan Betson is even known for being the funniest even when things are in a bleaking state, particular at poker table.
Gray Scott, fourth in the WSOP (World Series of Poker) Main Event in the year 2002, has told in one interview with Dave Lloyd of Sportinglife that if he has to host a liveliest poker game ever known to man, then he would invite Betson for one-liners. He would even invite “Kevin O’Connell to purchase the drink, Duthie John to offer the TV coverage, Sexton Mike as American, Vinson for cockney humor, the Devilfish to throw this party but he is not permitted to take a guitar, and May Jesse to write this all down!”
While his wit turns him into a smashing entertainer, the poker skills make Betson the vicious opponent. In the year 2001, this Irish-born Betson gained the title of “The champion of the European Texas Hold’em for the year 2001″ by smashing a championship event at EFOP (Euro Finals of Poker) at Aviation Club in the Paris. He was even awarded a grand prize of $140,000.
Recently, in the November 2005, Alan Betson was placed second in the No-Limit Hold’em €800 event at Holland Casino in the Amsterdam. Betson happened to beat the other 840 players at this event, but was defeated at top spot by a Lebanese talent Khodr Abdul. It seemed like the win for Alan Betson at first: first he had Khodr with J8 vs KJ, but an eight in the show has turned him down. Nonetheless, this finish gave a big money for Alan Betson, which he took €71,680 home.
Earlier, in the March 2005, Alan Betson placed second also in the No Limit Hold’em €2,000 event of Irish Open. This affair was hosted in the Citywest Hotel, Dublin. That was an yet another win, as Betson won with €71,500.
Id doesn’t matter what kind of a poker event, Alan Betson always will be the man of that hour: a smart guy with quips, and player to watch.
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