In a move certain to shake things up a bit in the poker world, 888poker have announced that they’ve obtained exclusive sponsorship rights to the prestigious European Poker Tour and MILLIONS tournament poker series. Already longtime sponsors of the World Series of Poker, WSOP Europe, Super High Roller Bowl, Poker Masters, and U.S. Poker Open, this move solidifies 888poker’s stance as the world’s premier sponsor of live poker events.
As part of the comprehensive deal, which reportedly has been in the works for months, an €888 buy-in rake-free event will be added to each upcoming MILLIONS and EPT tournament festival. A couple additional details of the deal are also sure to be well-received by players:
- All events on schedule at the aforementioned festivals will now feature 8-handed play from Day 1.
- An 88-second shot clock will also be utilized, with players receiving 8 time bank extensions apiece.
“Our strategy has long been to get our name and branding out there at the largest poker events being held around the globe, so it only makes sense to extend our reach into also sponsoring the flagship series of our main competitors as well.” said Zion Dorony, VP of Sponsorships and Live Festivals at 888poker.
Full details of the agreement will be revealed in a joint press conference to be live streamed today on www.twitch.tv/poker at 8 pm Pacific Time. The stream will be hosted on the channels of all PokerStars and partypoker Team Pros, as well as 888poker ambassadors.
Live commentary on the Twitch Poker stream will be brought to you from the PokerGO studios in Las Vegas by Poker Central’s Uncle Ron.
Forward-Looking Statements
When pressed about future plans for the 888poker, Dorony was somewhat tight-lipped, choosing to play his cards close to the vest, but he did let loose this interesting tidbit: “Ever since I’ve gotten this position, my goal has been for our brand to be known as the #1 sponsor of anything and everything poker-related. My team and I really want to win a Global Poker Award, so it’s possible we’ll look into also taking over sponsorship of that event from PokerStars.”