This is a guest contribution by Matthias Ciappara a Gamification and Player Engagement Specialist and Consultant of XperiencePlay. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you.

Like the Rolling Stones (except for Keith) we have a fixed amount of time. Unlike the ageing Rock Gods we don’t have unlimited money to play with, so what’s the best use of our time and money?

With increasing acquisition costs and player retention feeling like a leaky bucket, does gaming offer enough satisfaction to compete in today’s market, to drive better growth and profitability?

How can we, as an industry, create a compelling experience that provides players with enough value to play our content? How do we compete against blockbuster films premiering on Netflix or the next generation of console games that offer their own cinematic masterpieces?

An exciting set of fixtures played out in the 3rd round of the F.A. Cup, with shocks, surprises and ‘cupsets’ galore. Some big sides, such as Premier League West Bromwich Albion, went out to lower league opposition, in their case, Blackpool. Other big sides progressed with ease, such as Leicester City, who thrashed Stoke City 4-0.

While Manchester United won 1-0 at home to Watford and Liverpool triumphed 4-1 at a severely depleted Aston Villa, other games were tighter, with Everton and Burnley only escaping the 3rd Round with extra time victories earned through blood, sweat and tears against Rotherham and Milton Keynes Dons respectively.

Let’s look at an all-Premier League tie and a minnow attempting a giant-killing and see which way each tie went.

Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United

With a new national lockdown in the United Kingdom meaning that people in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must only leave their homes for vital reasons for the foreseeable future, millions of footballers who aspire to one day become professional are in lockdown.

To find out what youngsters can do to avoid the pitfalls of being locked in, we spoke to The Secret Coach. The Secret Coach is a professional football coach in English football… who will remain anonymous. The Secret Coach has worked with some of the biggest names in the game, been through the coaching badge courses and is currently part of the coaching team at an English league side… and that’s all we’re telling you. As ever, this week, The Secret Coach pulls no punches! 

This week, we’re focused on the youth of today who might become the footballers of tomorrow and what they can do to maintain their levels during a period where many are finding it hard.

Where would The Secret Coach suggest a young player who plays for their local team starts with their at-home work if they’re not going to see a football field in the next 12 weeks, as is likely? 

From the moment you exchange your hard-earned for a tournament ticket, you’re ‘in it to win it.’ But while you could well go into a cash game expecting to win money, virtually no-one goes into a multi-table tournament with thousands of entries expecting to be the one player left with all the chips at the end, posing for photos and collecting the trophy. There are too many factors that can influence your end result.

Words of wisdom, however, can carry with you during your play at the tournament tables, and we’ve compiled seven great quotes for you to keep in mind as you take on your next poker tournament.

1. “Money isn’t everything… unless you’re playing a rebuy tournament.”

It’s not known exactly who said this, but it was definitely a poker player. In modern times, rebuys in tournaments have become something of a hot topic. Should they be allowed, should they be outlawed? Either way, while they’re still in the game, they’re vital to many players chances in events that allow them. 

The latest big winner in the GGPoker World Series of Poker Circuit series is Swedish poker sensation, Niklas Astedt. Taking down the $10,000-entry Heads-Up event, Astedt claimed the top prize of $348,250 by beating Mirza Muhovic in the final duel.

Winning his first-ever WSOP Circuit Ring, Astedt put on a top performance and closed it out in style. The tournament, which had 94 entries and fell just short of its $1 million guarantee, saw some terrific players run deep, with players such as Wiktor Malinowski, George Wolff and Juan Pardo all making the quarter-finals.

Astedt’s win is perhaps all the more remarkable for the sheer calibre of player he beat along the way. With Luke Reeves, Guillaume Nolet and Timothy Adams all going down to the Swede, Astedt enjoyed a semi-final victory against Malaysia’s Cooper Li set up a final showdown with Muhovic.

In the semi-final in particular, Astedt had to pull out every trick in the book, with the match-up lasting 75 minutes. Astedt got off to a good start, but Li took down a bit pot with a straight and stole the lead. Li’s stack was hit, however, when Astedt hit a wheel straight to put himself 3:1 up in terms of stacks.