About the Society
Today the society boasts a large number of members, who all play regularly each week in a tournament style fashion for the prize money on offer. Player skill levels range from complete beginners to experienced poker players, giving the society a broad range of competitors.
Regular meetings for the society occur each week when term is in session in Rutherford college on the University of Kent, Canterbury campus - at 7.45pm. Occasionally throughout the course of the year large tournaments and other events are organised, and usually take place at the weekend. Why not visit our image gallery to get a better idea of what it is like to be part of the Kent Poker Society
History
The Kent Poker Society was first founded in 2005 by Carl Toomey, a student studying at the University of Kent. Carl had a passion for the game of poker, and wanted a means to share this passion with like minded people, thus the society was born. Initially only a small number of people joined the society, but as news of it's birth reached the ears of the student body, the society grew and grew.
As the society grew, it was evident that Carl would need some help managing it, so two of the regular members; Ishpal and Manish offered to help. After offering their services to the society for an entire year, Ishpal and Manish decided that they needed to concentrate on the other aspects of university life more, and so stepped down from the leadership positions they had in the society. Mike Hyam came to rescue and decided to take up the responsibility of managing the society along side Carl, and eventually he became joint president. On a personal note, Carl says that: "he has been great helping with the society, and I owe him big!".
As the next year of the society roled on more and more members joined, and interest around the society grew. This growing interest showed the imergence of other members, who wanted to help out and give something back to the society. Dan Walke, Matt Fairbrass, Lewis Champion, Stuart Browning and Sebastian Spicher, are just a few to be named, who have enabled the society to become the well run, enjoyable place it is today.
As of September 2008, Matt Fairbrass was elected as the new president to follow Carls succession after his graduation. Mike Hyam has also had to say goodbye as he too graduated at the end of the university year in June 2008. Matt has extended his gratitude to Carl and the other members of the society by saying: "I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity to continue the success of the Kent Poker Society. As acting president I can only hope that I too will do as good as Carl and Mike have done. The society will be given a new lease of life, transforming it from a simple entertainment entity into a community where by the members can communicate both on and off the table". Matt is currently on an industry placement as part of his degree, there for operations of the society will be conducted by the vice-president; Simon Higgins, along with the assistance of the other society officers, whilst Matt maintains the administration and website for the society.