How cool is this, Russ Hamliton called me today to go over all my questions personally.
What else can you tell us at this time?
1) When will the online tournaments begin?
Russ: Scheduled to start in September (barring any problems.)
A) What will the entry be for the online qualifiers?
Russ: TBA (within the a month)
B) Will they be guaranteed prize money or based off of the players who attend?
Russ: Based off number of players.
C) I read UBT is planning on hosting online "FREEROLL" tournaments for a month? If so when or is this false information?
Russ: False
D) I read that the online "FREEROLL" tournaments would offer $10,000 per day in prize money, is this correct or false information?
Rick: SEE (C)
2) When and where will the land-based qualifiers be?
Russ: There will be scheduled events around the country, the locations, dates, and times will be annouced soon.
A) What will the entry be for these qualifiers?
Russ: TBA
B) Will they be guaranteed prize money or based off of the players who attend?
Russ: Based off the number of players.
3) From Joep's post yesterday ($2,500 X 400 = $1,000,000) I assume the prize money will all be based on the number of entries and the return will be 100% for Aruba. Is this correct?
Russ: Yes, 100% return of all entry fee's.
A) Will any of the UBT events have a guaranteed prize starting out and as more players sign up the prize pool goes up?
Russ: No, all prize money will be based on number of entries for that event.
B) Will any money be taken out for expenses? As long as we know before hand I have no problem with it. I just don't want another LVH last minute changes.
Russ: No, but each casino will charge a fee to cover dealers expense and or banquets.
RICK: I have no problem with this as long as the players are told prior to the event).
4) Since more players than last years 63 per tournament are allowed to play in this years UBT events will there be a re-buy option for players?
Russ: No re-buys.
A) If so will it be another $2,500 or less?
Rick: Already answered above.
5) Will "Wild Cards" be added (If needed) to level out the tables?
Russ: No.
6) Where is the Aruba tournament being held and what are the dates?
Russ: The Radisson in Aruba.
Rick: Russ gave me the dates, but I didn't write them down, sorry.
A) I assume the UBT will be held at or close by where the poker tournament is being held. Will we have a certain hotel close to the tournament we need to stay at.
Russ: Yes, the most of the big UBT events will piggyback a major poker tournament.
B) Is there any UBT discounts for the hotel?
Rick: I forgot to ask Russ about this.
7) Last night on the radio show Joep and Kenny mentioned that several tournaments are scheduled for the up coming year, (like around 16-18 tournaments). Can you tell us when and where those tournaments are going to take place?
Russ: Yes, UBT will be have several tournaments including: Aruba and Paris, France.
8) Is there a set percentage for prize money in each of the tournaments?
Russ: No, the prizes will all be based on the number of entries for each event.
A) With possible 400 players will UBT payout more places or still just pay the final table?
RICK: We were covering so much, but I believe it is just the finalist that get paid, don't hold be to this.
9) Will an online or land base qualifier be part of "TEAM UBT" or will the team be made up of selected players?
Russ: No, the UBT team will be made up of selected players only.
10) Will all the scheduled UBT tournaments be filmed for CBS?
Russ: No, but several of them will be.
11) What type of release will the players have to sign to be on TV?
Russ: Yes, a release will need to be signed. Just a standard release form.
12) Will players draw for their seating and table assignments or will seating be pre-assigned?
Russ: The players table and seating assignments will be pre-assigned by computor random generator.
13) Are there any changes from last years UBT events for this years scheduled events? (Other than allowing more than 63 players per tournament).
Russ: Yes, there are a few minor changes like the minimun bets etc... They will all be listed soon.
I don't want to be spreading bad information online or anywhere else again so if you could answer these questions it would help all of us and all of us players would appreciate it.