The year 2011 will be spared nobody in the poker world... not even 'live' players on the local scene!A dispute between Gestion Poker Tour (company operating the League's tournaments de Poker du Québec) and EspaceJeux (game room online operated by Loto-Québec) broke the month last, and new developments assombrient once more the image of poker in Quebec.
The days of the AJTPQ and the creation of the LTPQ
In 2006, André Boyer and Pierre Martel (leaders of Gestion Poker Tour) based AJTPQ (Association of players of tournament de Poker du Québec). First considered a NPO, this association lasted that one time and the members were never summoned to meetings concerning the management of the association, despite the contribution of $ 25 which was asked to be a member. Then, in 2007, the same leaders created, this time, the LTPQ in 2007. The purpose of this League was to offer free poker tournaments in bars in Quebec. Quickly, the League was able to attract more than 40,000 members and to join more than 200 bars of the large province of Quebec.
Would management be management PasDeCoeur Media PoCoeur Media?
During time, in May 2008, management PoCoeur Media (led by André Boyer and Pierre Martel, in addition to Dominic Fugère) launched the magazine Royal Poker. The Quebec poker enthusiasts had the opportunity to pay a supplement to the LTPQ to have at the same time a Royal Poker Magazine subscription. The players have finally received that 3 of the 4 numbers promised; then, in 2009, they were again offered to the subscription to this review... that finally will have never seen the day! Unfortunately for subscribers, they were not able to get a refund. The team worked for the development of the magazine has also been a victim of André Boyer and his team: in fact, many people have simply not paid for their work. Management PoCoeur Media will have lost a default judgment in court, to finally take his... empty bank account. Sources also indicate that the CardPlayer magazine, which was in partnership with Royal Poker Magazine, have also not been paid for the purchase of rights for their articles.
Pierre Martel and CyberSquatting
Between 2008 and 2010, many players have also been victims of cybersquatting on the part of Pierre Martel: Philippe 'philledingue' Boucher, Christopher 'd0r1t0s' McClung, Véronique 'Cookie' Menard, Jean-Philippe 'cpp' Marjorie, Antoine 'Tiltman' Bérubé, Erik Cajelais, Laurence 'Sharon' Grondin have all seen Pierre Martel buy the domain for these players. Informed of this situation by the leaders of PokerCollectif, the LTPQ has systematically erased the LTPQ facebook page posts regarding this situation... just as claims for accession to the magazine.
80 finalists are depriving their price
Then, between October 2009 and March 2010, not less than 80 packages worth $ 2000 each were offered to the players. These packages included admission to a $1000 tournament at the world series of poker in Las Vegas, and $ 1000 for the aircraft and the hotel. The finalists were first scheduled to meet at the Casino de Montréal in November 2010 for an ultimate tournament where they would announce the 80 winners. Unfortunately, this grand final was awarded to the Casino du Lac Lemay in March 2011. At the same time, a partnership between the LTPQ and EspaceJeux were announced.
The things themselves are then quickly squandered. A few days before that the 80 winners had to go to Las Vegas, André Boyer announced via a video shot in a Las Vegas hotel and put online on the VIMEO site, that the League was no longer able to honour its commitments. The reason? EspaceJeux would be in default of payment.
Amazed... EspaceJeux and risposte to false accusations of the LTPQ
The same day, EspaceJeux announced their surprise, saying that they had indeed fulfilled their commitment and that they were not in default of payment. They announced at the time that they would now end their partnership with the LTPQ. Video of André Boyer was subsequently removed a few days later. A complaint was then filed by EspaceJeux against the LTPQ July 6. Then, on July 13, the LTPQ announced that the grand prix for the final of the Circuit Hold'Em from July 16 going on from $ 45,000 to $ 52,500... to finally learn us by a communiqué the next day the LTPQ ceased its activities immediately and until further notice. The final of July 16 was therefore cancelled. Release was subsequently amended on the site of the LTPQ, announcing rather than the final Circuit Hold'Em would be delivered to September 3.
Gains for non-existent tournament!
In was not more to raise the grumbling of players who had been strong patients so far. After all, several finalists had qualified via satellites at $ 15 and were now with, as one price, access to a tournament... that no longer existed! Also, all qualified players between April 2010 and July 2011 were also their qualification lose any value: indeed, the final expected on plans for Florida in October 2011 were therefore cancelled until further notice. Thus, the finalists since October 2009 will have only received a small fraction of all promised prizes (the majority receiving nothing!).
The pulse of the players
Many players simply do not believe the version of the LTPQ: after all, they have qualified well before March 2011 and its packages money had financed from already very long. Some rumours also indicate the LTPQ would have lost money from the players on the stock exchange. One thing is certain, for most players, the arguments of the LTPQ do not take the road: the partnership with EspaceJeux has absolutely nothing to do with their winnings. Recent losses of André Boyer in the tournaments major (it would have lost $ 150,000 according to Sharkscope, a site that accounts for gains/losses of the players over the past two years) also have nothing to reassure players: many believe that their money has simply served to André Boyer and Pierre Martel to make "fat life" in Las Vegas.
In short, things are going from bad to worse for Gestion Poker Tour and its leaders. The situation is less alarming: If funds for 2009-10 are missing, many conclude that those of 2011 have probably also disappeared. The total amount in the 6 figures: an amount for the least significant.
You can comment on this news by clicking the following link: the LTPQ by Pierre Martel and André Boyer fraud.
