PicksPal.com Crowns Its First-Ever Millionaire

Mountain View, CALIF, (PRWEB) November 2, 2005

PicksPal.com (http://www.pickspal.com), the only free, weekly game that provides sports fans with an opportunity to prove their superior sports IQ against their friends and the rest of the nation, announced today that PicksPal member Hugh Gaston of Dedham, Massachusetts, has become the game’s first millionaire. During the week ending Sunday, October 30th, Gaston expertly played his points on a mix of baseball, college football, hockey, and pro football to turn his 1,000 points in to 1,002,836.

Each week PicksPal members begin with 1,000 points, and have the chance to earn more points by picking real events based on real odds. The member at the end of the week with the most points wins. Since no money is wagered, PicksPal gives members the "rush of Vegas without the risk," and the opportunity to earn the most important prize to any sports fan - bragging rights. Since PicksPal’s launch in mid-September, no player has come close to topping the million-point threshold.

"In order to earn more than a million points, a PicksPal member must be a true student of all sports," said PicksPal.com CEO Tom Jessiman. "Hugh Gaston’s ability to make smart picks across a variety of sports proves his overall sports knowledge and sets him up as the standard-bearer for the PicksPal game. He’s now the guy to beat and other members will be gunning for his all-time mark."

The anatomy of Gaston’s turning 1,000 points into a million in one week:

Date: 10/24

Game: Jets/Falcons

Event: Warrick Dunn Total Yards

Pick: Over 98 yards

Points: 1,000

Won: 909

TOTAL: 1,909

Date: 10/25

Game: Chi/Houston

Event: Will FOX Show Nolan Ryan on Camera

Pick: Yes

Points: 1,909

Won: 11,454

TOTAL: 13,363

Date: 10/25

Game: Kings/Ducks

Event: Kings Win

Pick: Kings

Points: 13,363

Won: 6,853

TOTAL: 20,216

Date: 10/26

Game: Chi/Houston

Event: Will FOX Show Bud Selig on Camera

Pick: Yes

Points: 20,216

Won: 121,296

TOTAL: 141,512

Date: 10/27

Game: VATech/BC

Event: VA Tech Win

Pick: Yes

Points: 141,512

Won: 128,647

TOTAL: 270,159            

Date: 10/28        

Game: CSU/NMSU

Event: Will any RB rush for more than 90 Yards

Pick: Yes

Points: 270,159

Won: 391,731

TOTAL: 661,890

Date: 10/29    

Game: Texas/OK State

Event: Will game be tied after 1st quarter

Pick: No

Points: 681,890

Won: 264,756

TOTAL: 946,646

Date: 10/29

Game: Red Wings/Blackhawks

Event: Red Wings Win

Pick: Yes

Points: 160,000

Won: 76,190

TOTAL: 1,022,836

"I’ve been playing PicksPal since it started and have been trying week after week to get to one million," said Gaston, a 47-year-old Boston-area father of three. "I kept getting tripped up by fun PicksPal props that offer huge odds. This time, I just tried to pick smart and not get caught up in those ‘trick picks’."

"What’s most impressive about Gaston’s achievement is he risked his points on a great mix of long shots and then safer plays to get to the million," said PicksPal.com Director of Odds, Tony Karpinski.

About PicksPal.com

Based in Mountain View, California, and created by Internet sports pioneer, Tom Jessiman, PicksPal.com (http://www.pickspal.com) launched in September 2005. PicksPal received its initial funding from Canaan Partners and counts Canaan general partner Maha Ibrahim and online marketing expert and TicketsNow (http://www.ticketsnow.com) Chief Marketing Officer Kenneth Dotson as Board Members. PicksPal members compete in the weekly game, playing and earning points by picking real events based on real odds. PicksPal members have the opportunity to risk their points on any of their favorite sports, including pro and college football, pro and college basketball, baseball, golf, boxing, motor sports, horse racing and others. At the end of the week, the member accumulating the most points wins.

# # #