Stanley Ho crowns baccarat Emperor

SJM crowned its “Emperor” of baccarat on Sunday, with Stanley Ho handing over a check for HK$15 million to the winner of its annual tournament at the Grand Lisboa.

The 3rd SJM International Real Players Baccarat Tournament had prizemoney of over HK$20 million. The top qualifier in each preliminary round received HK$100,000. Winners in rounds 4 to 9 each received HK$200,000. The third place winner got HK$1 million, the second place winner HK$2 million and the lucky overall winner received a cheque for HK$15 million.

“With this tournament, we have given a new significance to the game of baccarat by giving pleasure to all who have been involved in the playing of the game, and by creating funds that can give help and happiness to deserving people in Macau society,” Ho said afterwards. “This has always been my aim and the desire of SJM – to build a harmonious society and to extend help and happiness to every family in Macau, as the Chinese name of the game ‘百家樂’ implies, ‘The one hundred families, that is everyone is happy.’ “

SJM also announced that it will be donating the “winnings” from the Celebrities Charity Baccarat Tournament held last month to three local Macau charities. They are Caritas de Macau, Macau Social Services Centre and Special Olympics Macau. Each will receive HK$100,000.