Fred Grants Lee a Shot at the Big Time

MANCHESTER, England, August 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Bookie Fred Done is backing the card-playing skills of one of his employees who is aiming to hit the big time in two televised poker tournaments over the coming weeks.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100824/405131 )

Software tester Lee Atherton, who works at Betfred's head office in Warrington, is being sponsored by Fred to play in the WPT London Poker Classic starting on August 31, and the World Open, also in the capital beginning on September 6.

Fred is providing the buy-ins, which amount to nearly GBP12,000, for the two events as Lee takes on some of the world's greatest poker players in front of the Sky Sports and Channel Five cameras.

"This is an incredible opportunity," said Lee, 37, who began playing poker seven years ago and includes the prestigious Poker 6 among his list of victories.

"It epitomises what a unique character Fred is and his uncanny ability to break the mould in gambling circles. He has delivered me a real shot at the big time and I intend to do everything I can to justify his faith in me."

While many of his fellow competitors - including WPT London Poker Classic rival Phil Ivey - have been playing the game for many years, Lee's introduction only came when he tuned in to the Poker Million to follow the fortunes of a bet he had placed.

"I didn't know much about poker at the time, but I was a big fan of snooker player Jimmy White and I backed him to win the Poker Million," explained Lee. "I was glued to the TV as I watched Jimmy win and that's how I got into poker."

Besides the possibility of going head to head with Phil Ivey, Lee finds himself in a strong heat of the World Open with his opponents being, at the time of writing, James Akenhead, Neil Channing, Ian Frazer, Sam Trickett, Marty Smyth, Jean-Robert Bellande and Peter Jetten.

"It will be a fantastic experience to pit my wits against some of the world's best poker players," added Lee. "I have a chance as well. They know nothing about me but I know all about them."

Fred is confident Lee can make a major impact in the 400-strong field for the WPT London Poker Classic, where GBP350,000 will go to the winner, and also at the World Open, in which 48 players will compete for a place on the final table of seven with a first prize of $200,000.

"I've seen talent in this kid and he's well worth the bet," said Fred, whose company Betfred is the world's biggest independent bookmaker. "He could be a star."

Note to Editors:

If you would like to interview Lee Atherton in the build-up to the WPT London Poker Classic or the World Open, please inform Jon Wilde via the contact details below.

SOURCE Betfred