This article first appeared in the May/Jun 2014 issue of World Gaming magazine. Despite its rare natural beauty, a people renowned for their sunny disposition and an annual festival commonly referred to as the greatest show on earth, it’s been...
Author - Ben Blaschke
WGM’s tip for 20 April: Everton
Everton suffered a huge setback midweek in their quest for a Champions League spot next season when they lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace but we’re certain they’ll be fired up for tonight’s clash with Manchester United and former manager...
Poker Legends: Chris Moneymaker
He won’t go down in history as one of the greats of the game, but few people have played such a significant role in poker’s rise over the past decade as Chris Moneymaker. In fact, it was Moneymaker more than anyone else who kick-started...
WGM’s tip for 19 April: Fremantle Dockers
We were surprised to find the Dockers still paying a handy $1.63 tonight. This was supposed to be a clash of the AFL heavyweights but the Sydney Swans have been simply awful so far in 2014 while the Dockers look to be building to something pretty...
WGM’s tip for 18 April: Rafael Nadal
The Monte Carlo Masters are well underway but you can still get a decent price on Rafael Nadal to go all the way in one of his favorite tournaments. To be fair, it’s likely only Novak Djokovic stands between Nadal and victory this week –...
WGM’s tip for 17 April: Richmond Tigers
We’re off to Australia for the AFL as the Richmond Tigers head north to Brisbane in a must-win game for both clubs. It’s been a highly underwhelming start to the season for these two sides with Brisbane sitting last without a win and...
WGM’s weekend preview
Shanghai becomes the focus of the Formula 1 world this weekend as the teams arrive for the Chinese Grand Prix. This year represents the 11th running of the Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit and could well be one of the most exciting...
WGM’s tip for 16 April: Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls travel to Charlotte for a huge match-up in the East on the eve of the NBA Finals. Both sides have been in fine form of late with the Bulls in a battle for third sport in the East while the Bobcats are just a few spots behind...
WGM’s tip for 15 April: Arsenal
It’s been a tough month for Arsenal who have seen their EPL chances disappear with a handful of thrashings against their main rivals as well as their Champions League campaign come to an abrupt end. At least they have an FA Cup final to play...
Junhui’s date with destiny
This week sees the start of the biggest annual event on the snooker calendar as the Snooker World Championships get underway at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. The final event of the season, which runs from May through to the following...
WGM’s weekend wrap
It was certainly an eventful weekend in the world of sport and what better place to start than Augusta where Bubba Watson produced a brilliant final round to secure his second green Jacket in three years. The 2012 Masters champion shot a final round...
WGM’s tip for 14 April: Melbourne Storm
We’re off to Australia and the NRL for today’s tip as the Melbourne Storm host St George Illawarra in a crucial clash so early in the season. Both clubs started the year on fire with three wins in a row before dropping their past two, so...
WGM’s tip for 13 April: Liverpool
It’s the biggest game of the season in the EPL as ladder leaders Liverpool host fellow big guns Manchester City in a clash that could well decide this year’s title. It will be interesting to see how the Reds cope with the pressure of...
WGM’s tip for 12 April: Everton
While cross-town rivals Liverpool fight it out for the EPL title, Everton find themselves on the brink of something special too with last week’s superb win over Arsenal putting them within sight of a Champions League spot next season. Although...
WGM’s tip for 11 April: Miami Heat
It’s a clash of the NBA big guns as Indiana travel to Miami looking to steal back top spot in the East. To be honest, it’s hard to know what to make of these two sides at the moment given their poor recent form. Both are last start...
WGM’s weekend preview
It’s all about the US Masters this week as the first major of 2014 gets underway at Augusta. The absence of Tiger Woods through injury makes for an interesting dynamic with much of the focus on defending champion Adam Scott. Fellow Aussie...
APPT Manila leg announced
The highly popular Asia Pacific Poker Tour has just announced a new leg of the current season with APPT Manila to be held from 2 to 7 July 2014. Returning for Season 8 after a four-year hiatus, APPT Manila holds a special place in the history books...
WGM’s tip for 10 April: Matt Kuchar
It’s Masters time and all across Asia, golf fans will be setting their alarms for some early starts in order to watch the most prestigious of the four majors. The Masters and its famous Augusta course are the stuff of legend and many a famous...
WGM’s tip for 9 April: Barcelona
It’s an all-Spain blockbuster as surprise La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid host their nearest domestic title rivals Barcelona. Two cracking goals in the first leg saw honors split 1-1 so Atletico hold the edge, but Barca appear to be finding...
WGM’s tip for 8 April: Chelsea
Chelsea have it all to do in the return leg of their Champions League quarter final, having conceded two late goals in Paris last week to trail 3-1 in the tie. Paris St Germain is a dangerous side with the likes of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimović...
WGM’s weekend wrap
China’s snooker hero Ding Junhui capped a remarkable season by winning the China Open in Beijing last night – beating defending champion and world number one Neil Robertson 10-5 in the final. Having previously won this event in 2005, Junhui...
The worst decisions of all time
In the end they got away with the three points but Liverpool’s 2-1 win over West Ham last night to regain top spot on the ladder certainly had its fair share of controversy – none moreso than the decision by referee Anthony Taylor to award...
Not dragging his Chane
Poker tournaments are fickle beasts. To win one you need a lot of factors to come together – from skill, good play and good timing to the occasional slice of good fortune – so it’s important that you take every opportunity you get to win a...
WGM’s tip for 7 April: North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland has underachieved as much as ever so far this season with their supremely talented squad having won just one of their opening four games. However, they will surely fix that record somewhat tonight against a Newcastle Knights side...
Poker Legends: Johnny Moss
When it comes to poker – and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in particular – no one holds as important a place in the history books as the great Johnny Moss. Back in the days before tournament poker had ever dug its claws into the American...
WGM’s tip for 6 April: Sebastian Vettel
The Formula 1 season heads to Bahrain and it’s hard to go past the Mercedes team given their form over the opening two races of the year. But reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel looks to be great value at almost $2.00 for a podium finish...
WGM’s tip for 5 April: Atletico Madrid
Could we be on the verge of a rare upset in the Spanish Primera Division? With seven games remaining in the season, Atletico Madrid find themselves ahead of giants Barcelona and Real Madrid and with a real chance of capturing the title for the first...
WGM’s tip for 4 April: Fremantle Dockers
It’s a Friday night blockbuster in the AFL as Hawthorn and Fremantle clash in a match-up many believe is a preview of the 2014 grand final. The fact that this game is being played in Melbourne gives the Hawks a significant edge but we like the...
WGM’s weekend preview
The 2014 T20 World Cup comes to a conclusion this weekend with Sunday’s final to be contested by the winner of tomorrow’s first semi-final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies and the winner of Friday’s second semi-final between...
APPT Macau and MPC schedules released
The schedules for the upcoming Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Macau and the Macau Poker Cup (MPC) have been released with both series featuring more events than ever before. APPT Macau will run for 12 days from 12 to 25 May and features 12 Asia...