First Major Corporate Sponsorship in Poker History. PrimaPoker Will Send More Players to More Tournaments in 2004


Prima Poker has set a new record with a one million dollar sponsorship of the world famous Hendon Mob on the Prima Poker Tour 2004. The Prima Poker sponsorship marks the largest corporate backing of professional poker players in the history of the sport. For the next year, "The Mob" will challenge the world's most skilled poker players as they compete in fourteen of the most prestigious poker festivals in the U.S. and six additional countries around the globe.

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"This is a very exciting time for The Hendon Mob and for the entire sport of poker. We feel privileged to be the first professional poker players with a major corporate sponsorship; especially from Prima Poker, which was our favorite online poker network even before this endorsement," said Barny Boatman of The Hendon Mob. "More than ever before, poker is getting top billing -- just like basketball, NASCAR or golf. We feel a bit like we're making our mark on history, and we intend to solidify that at the World Series of Poker in Vegas this year."

"Our partnership with The Hendon Mob benefits not just Prima Poker, but the sport as a whole. The synergy between online and offline poker has given the sport more exposure than ever before, bringing new audiences into play both online and in the terrestrial card rooms," said Tamar Yaniv of Prima Poker. "In fact, we are committed to sending more players to more tournaments in 2004."

The Prima Poker Tour 2004 sponsorship marks a new era for poker. As one of the most widely played sports in the country, more than 50 million Americans participate in games and regularly tune in to watch members of The Hendon Mob on FOX Sports Net's 'Late Night Poker.' Thousands of online enthusiasts, from beginner to expert, can now match wits against The Mob through the Prima Poker Network. The Mob members include:

* Barny Boatman, known by millions as "The Voice of Poker," he is the commentator for Late Night Poker on Fox Sports Net and is recognized around the poker circuit as a tricky, unreadable and daring opponent. Barny made it through three, record breaking consecutive World Series of Poker finals.

* Joe "The Elegance" Beevers paid for his BA in Finance by giving poker and blackjack lessons to his teachers and friends; a former investment banker. Joe is the current Irish Open champion.

* Ram "Crazy Horse" Vaswani is best known for his many different styles of play, he can be quick and aggressive or slow and methodical, his chameleon-like persona has lead him to numerous poker titles throughout Europe, including the former European champion.

* "Rocky" Ross Boatman is pure theater. Well-known for his eight years as playing the loveable "Kevin" in Britain's most successful TV drama series, his years in front of the camera have made him one of the world's most unreadable players. Rocky is the former British Open champion and the highest European money winner.

Prima Poker offers its online players the chance to ante-up with the
Hendon Mob at both Prima Poker Tour events and online. Winners from Prima Poker Network satellite competitions join The Hendon Mob for live tournaments throughout the Prima Poker Tour, various World Poker Tour events and exciting European and US tournaments. A few lucky winners will also earn a seat alongside The Mob at The World Series of Poker, the sport's most coveted event of the year.

Satellite winners from the Prima Poker network are given the royal
treatment; winners not only receive roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations for as long as they play in the tournament, but most importantly, they get expert tips and advice from The Hendon Mob throughout tournament play.

This year the Prima Poker Tour will take The Hendon Mob to Las Vegas, Paris, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Vienna and London. At the World Series of Poker in May, members of The Mob are odds-on favorites to win at least one of the desirable WSOP bracelets. With prize money for the main event topping $10,000,000 the World Series of Poker remains one of the premier events of the year.

Source: PR News Wire