Leading online skill gaming provider GameAccount, and UK terrestrial television and media station Channel Five, have joined forces to launch Five Play and Win, a dedicated skill gaming portal which will be accessible at playandwin.five.tv and www.five.tv

The unique partnership marks the first time a leading commercial terrestrial television channel has chosen to expand its platform by integrating with a full product network of person-to-person (P2P) skill-based games. The collaboration will see GameAccount powering the skill gaming area on the Five portal, offering a full suite of non-download classic multiplayer and ‘heads-up’ games such as Gin Rummy, unique P2P variants of other games such as Mah Jong, 8-ball Pool and a variety of popular Solitaire formats.

Laura Bowes, Commercial Development Manager at Five commented: “Skill Gaming is a new frontier for Five. We are aiming to tie in our broadcast capacity with our skill games offering in order to open up new revenue channels and further narrow the gap between online and TV.”

Launched in 1997, Five currently boasts around 50 million UK viewers across all platforms.

The announcement also continues GameAccount’s recent emergence in the television arena, having implemented services for Skybet, a division of British Sky Broadcasting Limited (BSkyB), as well as an advertising agreement and dedicated site with Mintplay.com.

How to ... Play poker with the big boys

Don't deny it. You're tempted. Everywhere you look there is an article about Positively Fifth Street, the story of James McManus going to cover the World Series of Poker for a magazine and playing instead, finishing fifth and winning $247,000 against the world's top pros. You think: "I could do that."

Before you hop that plane to Vegas, you better be ready. Be like Mac--read plenty of poker primers by pros David Sklansky and TJ Cloutier and practice on computer programs for countless hours. Then, when you're going head-tohead with these pros, be ready to face intimidation. The pros will push you to bet over your head or overplay your cards. Don't do it. "If the pros see you as a conservative rock who only plays pots with strong cards, they'll give you more respect than you often get in a friendly home game," McManus says. Then, when you raise them, they'll actually fold.

And don't forget poker requires lots of luck. McManus brought a half-dozen

lucky hats and kept pictures of his wife and kids in his shirt pocket or on the table. It worked for him.

From the lab to the net--French connection

If springtime in Paris sets you daydreaming about Roland Garros instead of romance, make a date with Babolat. U.S. tennis pro Andy Roddick loves Babolat's Pure Drive racket. So, when the French company came out with the VS NCT Drive (unstrung $209) and VS NCT Control ($199) aimed at us normal folks, Fanscape checked it out.

NCT stands for Nano Carbon Technology--the rackets were built with carbon tubes using nanotechnology, which is the spaceage manipulation of materials on an atomic level. Though it's strange--actually incomprehensible--that NASA scientists spend time moving molecules to improve Fanscape's forehand, the racket certainly works wonders, especially when combined with the old-fashioned natural gut strings that made Babolat famous.

With these light but well-balanced rackets, the ball stays on the strings longer, giving extra control and more spin, yet it still jumps off with zing. Getting the power of a stiff racket without the awkward can't-feel-the-ball effect apparently comes not just from nanotubes but also from Babolat's Dual Woofer shock absorbing system. Sometimes it's better not to ask.

Sultan of swap: rare Bambino jersey up for bids

There are only six known Babe Ruth Yankees uniforms, and Lelands.com is auctioning off a flannel, pinstriped one with "G.H. Ruth" stitched beneath the collar. Bids are being accepted online and by telephone until May 30; Lelands.com president Michael Heffner says the winner may have to shell out $500,000. You can get a genuine, live major league rookie for less than that.

E-mail comments or suggestions to fanscape@sportingnews.com.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group