BENTON, KY – January 14, 2008 –FLW Outdoors, home of FLW Fantasy Fishing (www.FantasyFishing.com), and the largest cash payout in fantasy sports history, announced today that the 2008 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series will feature six events advancing teams to a no-entry-fee championship that will be held Nov. 14-15 in Biloxi, Miss. Each qualifying tournament, four of which will be held in conjunction with Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour events, will feature a guaranteed top payout of $15,000, and the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship will also feature a top payout of $15,000.
The top five teams from each tournament and the top 20 teams (who are not already qualified) from the year-end points standings will advance to the two-day championship. Teams finishing the season ranked in the top 20 will also receive priority entry into the 2009 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour.
The top award in each qualifier includes $6,000 plus $9,000 in Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Seaswirl, Wellcraft, Yamaha and Evinrude contingency bonuses. The top award in the FLW Kingfish Series Championship also includes $6,000 plus $9,000 in boat and engine contingency bonuses. All 50 qualifiers will compete both days of the championship, and the heaviest cumulative weight will determine the winner.
Competition will kick off May 17 in Sarasota, Fla., followed by tournaments June 28 in Ft. Pierce, Fla..; July 26 in Beaufort, S.C.; Aug. 16 in Venice, La.; Sept. 13 in Orange Beach, Ala.; and Oct. 18 in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. The Ft. Pierce and Beaufort events will be stand alone FLW Kingfish Series tournaments. The other four tournaments, and the FLW Kingfish Series Championship, will be held in conjunction with FLW Kingfish Tour events held at the same venues.
“In 2008, FLW Kingfish Series anglers in four of the qualifiers will share the same national spotlight as competitors in the FLW Kingfish Tour,” said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. “We will have two separate and distinct tournaments running simultaneously with separate fields and separate payouts. Teams in both events, however, will enjoy increased media exposure by virtue of having two high-profile tournaments held at the same time.”
Fields for 2008 will be capped at 50 boats per tournament, and entry fees remain unchanged at $500 per team for each event. Entries may be made online at FLWOutdoors.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. Entry dates will be released soon.
Tournament pros aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing, FLW Outdoors will be awarding the largest fantasy sports payout in history. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
2008 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Schedule
May 17 Sarasota, Fla.
June 28 Ft. Pierce, Fla.*
July 26 Beaufort, S.C.*
Aug. 16 Venice, La.
Sept. 13 Orange Beach, Ala.
Oct. 18 Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship
Nov. 14-15 Biloxi, Miss.
* Stand alone FLW Kingfish Series events, all others held in conjunction with FLW Kingfish Tour events.
