PokerStars Weekly Roundup
Time to reload for the New Year
It's a pretty good way to see in the New Year - a 25 per cent "New Year Reload" for PokerStars (http://www.pokerstars.com) players; a little extra firepower at the start of 2010. It's not just a reload bonus but a re-useable one, allowing two further deposits within 60 days of the first made between January 1st and 10th. That means it's all available from today, up to $150 or €100, the first time incidentally that an offer like this has been made in Euros on PokerStars. To take advantage of the offer players should use the promotional code "2010" - fairly easy to remember. For more details check out Pokerstars.com.
Tournament world records shattered
Whenever PokerStars (http://www.pokerstars.com ) targets a new world record it's never long in coming. Last week PokerStars planned its biggest tournament ever, aimed at beating the previous record of 65,000 players in a single tournament. Well they did just that last Sunday (http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/the-world-record-ceiling-has-been-raised-062635.html ), smashing the record and setting a new high of 149,196 players in a single tournament, more than double the previous best. To put that in perspective that's Wembley stadium filled with another 60,000 waiting outside; or a tournament 23 times bigger than the World Series main event won this year by Team PokerStars Pro Joe Cada (http://www.pokerstars.com/team-pokerstars/joe-cada/). Of those 149,196 players, each of whom paid $1 to buy in, 30,000 recorded cash finishes taking a share of the prize pool to which PokerStars added $150,804. There were winners from Jordan to Jamaica, Lichtenstein to Christmas Island, but it was German player oskar69 who took first place, winning $50,000. During this record breaking tournament, PokerStars also smashed another world record - they recorded 463,008 players online simultaneously on Sunday, 27th of Dec during the world record breaking tournament.
Happy PCA everyone
Kids count the days until Christmas; poker players do the same for the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (http://www.caribbeanpokeradventure.com/). Well the stockings may be gone but this week marks PCA Eve. This weekend players bound for Paradise Island in the Bahamas, to take part in the 50-event poker festival, will be checking their passports, flights and reservations ahead of a winter trip into the sunshine. The PCA (http://www.caribbeanpokeradventure.com/) is finally upon us, underway on Tuesday 5th January when the $10,000 buy-in main event begins. That marks the start of ten days packed full of poker, including a $25,000 buy in high roller event and the World Cup of Poker (http://www.pokerstars.com/wcp/). It should be the best PCA ever, with more events and more prize money as well as the same sun and sand. Not a reindeer or Christmas tree in sight. For details, news and results as the festival begins check out the PCA website (http://www.caribbeanpokeradventure.com/).
Party time at the PCA
As if 50 events wasn't enough PokerStars (http://www.pokerstars.com) is also providing some outdoor entertainment at the PCA (http://www.caribbeanpokeradventure.com/), throwing a huge party on the 9th January, midway through the festival, set to match that of the World Series in Las Vegas last summer. R&B star Kelly Rowlands (http://kellyrowland.com/) will be performing at the party making it a night to remember (http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/pca-preps-for-parties-kelly-rowland-062673.html ), with entry reserved exclusively for PokerStars players - more than 900 so far - and their guests. To be held at the magnificent Paradise Harbour it all starts at 9pm and shuttle buses will run all night from the Atlantis Resorts Coral and Royal Towers ensuring nobody misses out. Entry is guaranteed with a wristband available at the PokerStars welcome desk in the conference centre. Be sure to pick yours up. It's a night nobody will want to miss.
PokerStars Online Pros unleashed
Team PokerStars Pro (http://www.pokerstars.com/team-pokerstars/) has long dominated the live game and now PokerStars has unleashed a new branch to its player stable, with Team Online (http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/pokerstars-announces-team-pokerstars-onl-062598.html ). After a two month search for online poker talent, one that involved applications from 2,000 players, PokerStars has selected 23 players, 20 men and three women, to form Team PokerStars Online. Picked from countries all over the world 18 countries are represented by players specialising in all games and stakes. Among the more recognisable ones are EPT regular Anders "Donald" Berg and Steve "stevesbets" Jacobs, notable for beating Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier (http://www.pokerstars.com/team-pokerstars/bertrand-grospellier/) to the WCOOP $25,000 heads-up bracelet in 2008. When you log into PokerStars they'll never be far away and that's just a start. They'll be more players added throughout 2010.
Newest stop on the EPT confirmed
After the launch of the European Poker Tour's (http://www.ept.com) season six calendar only one question remained unanswered - just where would the German event take place? Would the EPT return to Dortmund or head to pastures new? Now PokerStars have answered that by announcing that the tour will head to Berlin for the first time (http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/ept-announces-new-stop-in-berlin-062601.html), the German capital, in March 2010. It will be the biggest event ever held in Germany, with up to 1,000 expected in the historic city where a brand new facility will host the tournament on the prestigious Marlene-Dietrich-Platz at Potsdamer Platz - a two story glass palace. Yes, you read that right. As well as Germany's contingent of Team PokerStars Pros (http://www.pokerstars.com/team-pokerstars/), complete with German tennis legend and PokerStars SportStar Boris Becker (http://www.pokerstars.com/team-pokerstars/boris-becker/), players from all over the world will descend on Germany. What's more PokerStars guarantee that the EPT Berlin winner will win at least €1 million. For more information on Berlin and all other stops on this year's EPT, go to www.ept.com .
