A chance to play the pros

10/31/2009

November 2nd will see he advent of a new poker show on Sky Sports television in the UK, sponsored by the giant online poker provider PokerStars.com.

Branded 'Bounty Stars of Poker' and filmed by Emblaze Productions, the show takes amateur online qualifiers from PokerStars.com into a live TV environment where they will have to beat other members of the public to progress to the next stage of the show.

If successful, the online qualifier will then face either a Team PokerStars pro or a sporting celebrity for a GBP 5 000 cash prize. Players won't know who they will face until they take their seat at the table.

The sportsmen who will be standing between the amateur players and a cash windfall are ex-England test cricketer and former 'King of the Jungle' Phil Tufnell, England rugby star and talented poker player Mike Tindall, and Welsh football legend Gary Speed.

The Team PokerStars pros include Peter Eastgate, 2008 WSOP Champion; Victoria Coren, the first woman to win a European Poker Tour event and Marcel Luske, one of Europe's most feared and respected players.

Commenting on the new show, Coren said, "This is an excellent opportunity for previously unknown poker players to make a name for themselves and play against some of the best in the business.

"The PokerStars Bounty Stars of Poker will expose these guys to the unique pressures of playing in a live environment with thousands watching."

The first episode airs on Sky Sports 2 at 22h00 on Monday, 2nd November 2009.