NEW YORK, June 6, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Chad Flood, 20, a junior from the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities, is the 2nd Annual College Poker Championship(tm) Winner (www.collegepokerchampionship.com). Flood outplayed 25,000 students from 55 countries--more than ten times the number of participants in the 2004 World Series of Poker--for the title and a $41,000 academic scholarship. A $1,000 donation to the American Diabetes Association will also be made in his name.
Flood, an economics major with a 3.0 GPA, placed in the top 100 in the 2004 College Poker Championship (CPC). He returned in 2005 with the goal of placing in the top ten, but with an additional year of poker preparation and conditioning, Flood has now established himself as the World's Best College Poker Player. He is determined to defend his title in 2006.
"I will definitely play in the College Poker Championship again next year," said Flood. "The CPC is a lot of fun and as I've found, an excellent way for students to earn scholarships in non-traditional sporting events."
Lou Krieger, author of Poker for Dummies and volunteer host of the CPC, was impressed by the skill level and strategy of the students in the tournament. "The top finishers played extremely well," said Krieger. "They were able to quickly determine their positions and make sound decisions based on a solid understanding of the game."
The Top-Ten finishers in the 2005 College Poker Championship (Rank, Name, School, $1,000 Charity Donation):
1. Chad Flood, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities,
American Diabetes Association
2. Patrick Coughlin, Purdue University, Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation International
3. Jordan Slabaugh, Ohio State University - Columbus, The First Tee
4. Andrew Van Gilder, California State University -
Northridge, Accounting Association, California State Northridge
5. Hunter Frey, Texas State University - San Marcos,
St. Jude Hospital
6. Will Culpepper, Texas State University - San Marcos,
American Heart Association
7. Bryan Steuer, University of Delaware, Tsunami Relief Organization
8 David Bell, Lane Community College, Boy Scouts of America
9 Gary Chan, Polytechnic University - New York, American Red Cross
10. Justin Lowery, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, Humane Society
Campus Rivalry Challenge
Throughout the competition, students also accrued points for their schools in the campus rivalry challenge. Pennsylvania State University topped the charts, gaining recognition as the world's most competitive poker campus and earning the title of 2005 College Poker Champion. The Top-Ten overall schools:
1. Pennsylvania State University 2. University of Florida 3. Florida State University 4. University of Wisconsin 5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 6. Purdue University 7. University of Illinois - Urbana 8. University of Texas 9. University of Central Florida 10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
CPC is a free online tournament available to all registered college and university students worldwide. The tournament provides an exciting and safe atmosphere for students to compete, win scholarships and learn practical life lessons from playing Texas Hold'em poker, the hottest game in the world.
The 3rd annual College Poker Championship will officially launch in September 2005 with more students, contests, and scholarship giveaways than ever before. Early-bird registration and weekly practice games are available now at www.collegepokerchampionship.com. Details about the full tournament structure, prize pool, dates and times will be announced shortly.
About College Poker Championship
The College Poker Championship(tm) www.collegepokerchampionship.com is open to registered college and university students worldwide to determine the College Poker Championship winner. Entry into the tournament is free of charge, with all events being played with tournament chips. No purchase is required. College Poker Championship(tm) supports students' educational endeavors with scholarships worth $135,000, donations to charities, and champions the use of poker as a strategic learning tool.