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This Issue includes:

• Finally, competition in online blackjack tournaments!
• And, an imminent announcement for the UBT
• A World Series of Blackjack reminder
• New DVD at the BlackjackInfo store

Finally, competition in online blackjack tournaments!

For two years now, Global Player has had a monopoly on true multi-player style online blackjack tournaments. And, they've provided a great platform for the game, as their many loyal players will attest. But every market needs competition to thrive, and this market is about to get it on several fronts.

Just in the last few weeks, we've seen a new venue for online blackjack tournaments launch, at Blackjack21.com. This site offers ONLY traditional style online blackjack tournaments. You can play for free or for real money.

Competition always favors the consumer, and this is no different...

Blackjack21.com has announced a Grand Opening Special Tournament with a $1000 prize pool and no entry fee. To qualify, you need to play at least 5 real money tournaments at the site. (Tournaments start at $11 for a heads-up 2 player 10 hand challenge where the winner gets $20 and the site keeps the other $2.) Once you have played 5 real events, you get one free real money event, and an entry into the Grand Opening Special Tournament. But, time is of the essence, as the Special Tournament is slated for this Thursday July 13th, with registration at 5 PM Pacific (8 PM Eastern) and play at 6 PM Pacific (9 PM Eastern). Go register for an account now at Blackjack21.com.

Not to be outdone, Global Player has responded in kind, with two outstanding tournaments next week. First up is a total freeroll event with an $1100 prize pool. No strings, no fees, just a free shot at winning the $400 first prize. That freeroll is scheduled for Thursday July 20th at 6 PM Eastern. It is limited to 125 players and registration is available already. The bad news is that as of right now, there are only 20 spots left for this freebie, so you have to hurry!

Then, on Sunday July 23rd, Global Player is holding a $6000 Guaranteed Prize Pool event that should offer a nice overlay. Also limited to 125 players, this event has a $40 entry fee and rebuys are available at $20. The prize pool will be 100% of the entry fees, with a minimum guarantee of $6000 overall. The first place prize is guaranteed to be at least $2700. This event begins at 3 PM Eastern.

In future weeks, you can expect to see even more competition, as I'm aware of at least three other properties that will be launching online blackjack tournament products.

And, an imminent announcement for the UBT

In my last newsletter, I mentioned that the Ultimate Blackjack Tour will be airing on CBS on Saturday afternoons this fall, starting Saturday September 16th. There's more news coming this week from UBT, as the entire upcoming season tour is scheduled to be announced on Thursday July 13th. (Just to be clear, the shows that will premiere this fall on CBS are already completed. The tour stops being announced this week are for the second season which CBS has already committed to airing as well.)

According to Kenny Einiger, the long-awaited details of upcoming UBT events will be announced on his radio show Thursday night. The show is on KLAV 1230 AM in Las Vegas, but anyone can listen in via the Internet. Their show airs on Thursdays at 6 PM Pacific (9 PM Eastern). (Editor's Note: This show is no longer on the air.)

I know the first tour stop is scheduled for Aruba in late September. The main event at each stop is said to have a $2500 entry fee, so many players will be hoping to win a seat in a satellite, either online or land-based. Hopefully all the details will be forthcoming on Thursday night. I expect to hear that there will be tour stops at various places in the US.

As soon as the details are firm, I'll be booking my trip to Aruba. I can't get enough of this stuff! Stay tuned to future newsletters to see how you can participate on the Ultimate Blackjack Tour.

A World Series of Blackjack reminder

My first round appearance in the third season of World Series of Blackjack premiered on Monday this week. If you missed it, the show will be rebroadcast this Friday night at 9 PM Eastern on GSN (formerly Game Show Network). On satellite, that's DirecTV channel 309 or DishNetwork channel 116. Check your local cable listings for GSN or GAME.

If you catch the show, that's me in seat one, Ken Smith.

As usual, each episode is discussed after it airs at our sister site BlackjackTournaments.com. I've already posted a schedule for the entire series there: Schedule of Episodes for World Series of Blackjack III.

New DVD at the BlackjackInfo store

Another month, another new DVD product at the BlackjackInfo store. As an alternative to the popular MIT Team DVD "60 Minutes to Winning Blackjack", we've added a new card-counting instruction video DVD called Blackjack For Winners. It sells for $29.95 and includes 2 DVDs of information. Well worth it. Read more at the store.

That's it for now. Best of luck, online and off! -Ken-