Alongside poker tournaments and training, there will be an exciting entertainment line-up on the main stage at Poker in the Park this weekend. Palm Beach's Richard Poyner, comedian Lucy Porter and extreme card manipulator Scott Thompson will appear on stage at Poker in the Park, Europe’s largest free poker festival this weekend.The Gamblogger will be there too!!! I'll be greeting folks at the Bluff Europe Suicide Kings Saloon so if you're in London please stop by and say hello.
Kicking off proceedings at 3pm on Friday, belting out favourite cover classics, will be the music of the Palm Beach’s very own Richard Poyner. Next up will be chess International Master Malcolm Pein, taking on multiple players at once, with members of the public invited to pit their wits against the great man.
Taking the stage at 4.30 will be The Swinging Little Big Band (www.littlebigband.co.uk) one of the UK’s most exciting live acts, who will be performing Rat Pack style jazz with a modern twist.
Following that will be a spot of celebrity “Indian Poker” before the Incredible Card Sharks take the stage. At 7pm Bigblindmedia will present a one hour masterclass in card manipulation. Hosted by award-winning sleight of hand magician Andi Gladwin (a globe trotting performer, publisher of over 20 books on close up magic and consultant and writer for numerous magic television shows), it promises to lift the veil on the secretive world of card sharps.
Andi will be joined onstage by Scott Thompson, one of the UK’s leading proponents of XCM (eXtreme Card Manipulation), for a display of playing-card gymnastics that will positively fry your eyeballs.
On Saturday 3rd, at 12pm, chess Grand Master Simon Williams will be playing spot of speed chess against the public, before comedian Lucy Porter takes the stage to present the British Poker Awards at 3pm. The ceremony will include a charity auction to raise money for Peace and Sport (www.peace-sport.org). Among the items to go under Lucy’s hammer will be Barcelona and Arsenal shirts signed by the teams. The public is encouraged to participate in the auction to raise money for this worthy cause.
Next up will be card ninja, Javier Jarquin, in whose hands a playing card becomes a lethal weapon and it has to be seen to be believed.
Rounding off proceedings, after another musical interlude from Poyner, will be the final table of the Poker in the Park 2011 poker final table, as well as the final table of the record-breaking Mahjong tournament (the biggest ever in the UK), followed by the crowning of the winners.
Poker in the Park Entertainment Schedule
Friday 2nd September
15:00 -- The Music of Richard Poyner
15:45 -- Chess Grand Master- Simultaneous Play Exhibition (attendees invited to play!)
16:30 -- The Swinging Little Big Band ACT 1
18:00 -- Indian Poker Pow Wow
19:00 -- Incredible Card Sharks- The Magic of Card Manipulation
20:00 -- The Swinging Little Big Band ACT 2
Saturday 3rd September 2011
12:00 -- Play a Chess Grand Master- Speed Chess Exhibition Match (attendees invited to play!)
13:30 -- Card Ninja Javier Jarquin’s Deadly Card Throwing
15:00 -- Lucy Porter presents The British Poker Awards and Charity Auction
16:30 -- The Music of Richard Poyner
17:30 -- Indian Poker Pow Wow
18:30 -- The Music of Richard Poyner
20:00 -- PIP and Mahjong Final Table
21:15 -- PIP and Mahjong Champion Award
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