The Global Poker Index ink a deal with the Swiss watchmaker Roger Dubuis that will see them award the continental Player’s of the Year with unique and customized timepieces.
If Alexander Dreyfus is going achieve his vision to ‘sportify’ poker, then he is going to have to attract the attention of non-gambling sponsors. It’s already begun. This week the Global Poker Index (GPI) have announced a deal with the Swiss watchmaker, Roger Dubuis, and you can’t help but feel it won’t be the last.
The fine watchmakers will create unique and customized La Monégasque timepieces for the winners of the GPI Player of the Year Awards, in America, Europe, and Asia.
Talking about the deal, Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Roger Dubuis, explained: “The partnership with GPI will enable us to share our common value for mastering timing, our quest for ultimate precision and our aim for top performance with a global audience. We look forward to support GPI and its ambitions to develop Poker as a sport.”
Roger Dubuis is 60% owned by the luxury goods holding company, Compagnie Financière Richemont SA.
Whilst poker might be finding it difficult to attract non-gambling sponsors, it seems to have hit a rich seam in the luxury watch industry. The World Poker Tour (WPT) awarded their World Champion, Keven Stammen, with a Hublot King Power Unico Chronograph watch, after his season ending victory at The Borgata this summer, and the European Poker Tour (EPT) have a partnership with the Swiss watchmakers Slyde.
“It is a privilege to find a partner from the exclusive Fine Watchmaking industry that actually understands the true potential of Poker as a sport and commits in helping us build the legitimacy of our industry by supporting our annual Poker Awards. We aim to Sportify Poker together.” Said the GPI Chief Alexander Dreyfus.
Daniel Colman is currently leading the 2014 Player of the Year race for the Americans, Davidi Kitai is doing likewise for Europe, and Jeffrey Rossiter for the Asian Pacific section.
