It has been well reported that Michael Phelps, the highly decorated Olympian, likes poker. Phelps has stated that he would like to attend and play in a World Series of Poker event, though he says his game is “a little off right now”. With that statement, the Asian Poker Tour jumped into action. Michael Phelps is a hot commodity right now as he most recently won eight gold medals and broke several world records.

The APT read Phelps comments about poker and decided to send him an invite. The Asian Poker Tour in Macau, the second leg of the tournament, is set to begin on August 27th and continue until the 31st. $1.5 million US dollars is the guaranteed prize pool and the first place prize will be $500,000US dollars. This prize will be the largest ever in Asia.

Phelps has stated he would love to meet a few poker pros and several will be in attendance in Macau. Steve Sung, Nam Le, Kenny Tran, J.C. Tran, Todd Brunson and Doyle Brunson and just a few who will be playing in the event.

Jeff Mann of The Asian Poker Tour wrote the open letter to Michael Phelps and it reads:
Dear Michael,

First of all, congratulations on your eight gold medals and world record breaking feats – what a supreme sporting achievement and I hope superstardom treats you well. However, I write this open letter to you to say that I am in a position to add weight to the argument that you should be crowned history’s ultimate sportsman.

I noticed recently that you have told your local newspaper that you were a big fan of poker and look forward to playing again. By a strange twist of fate, I represent the Asian Poker Tour and we are running Asia’s largest ever guaranteed tournament NEXT WEEK in Macau. It starts on the 27th and runs until the 31st and guarantees a prize pool of $1,500,000 and a first prize of $500,000. This is the biggest prize pool ever offered in Asia! While you are already in China, why don’t you give it a go? It would be our pleasure to fly you in, organize your accommodation and buy-you in to the tournament!

Some have said you are a ‘human dolphin’ but we’re keen to know if history’s greatest swimmer is really a fish. You may have feet that can reach angles others cannot to give you the ultimate swimming technique but just you wait until you’ve got sharks like Vegas poker legend Doyle Brunson chasing you. We’ll see how fast you really are then when they smell blood - get some flippers on those size 14’s!

Don’t bring your goggles, bring a pair of sunglasses – dive in at the deep end and we would love it if you showed us your hand. You’ve almost certainly got more chance of making good money from our $1,500,000 prize pool than securing any commercial deals! Your homecoming to a delirious country can wait.

Go all-in Michael! We’ll even get some special one-on-one lessons for you from poker’s greatest players. If it makes you happier we’ll even bring in Mark Spitz too and you can play heads-up! Some have campaigned for poker to become an Olympic sport. The fact that you are a ‘human dolphin’ doesn’t mean you will necessary get a gold medal for Texas Hold’em!

In all seriousness, come join us, you may as well while you are there! We’ll definitely show you a good time and would be honored with your presence. Get the closing ceremony over and done with first though!

Best Wishes,

Jeff Mann

The Asian Poker Tour

It will be very interesting to see if Phelps will show up to play or just watch the event. Since he is in the area it would be a shame if he did not show up. We shall see in the coming week if Phelps tries his hand at the poker tournament.


- 2008-08-22