Kevin
06-06-2006, 11:47 AM
<b>Five Billion and Counting!</b>
<b><a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/?source=UltimateCapper">PokerStars.com</a> Deals Five Billionth Hand to Lucky Winner in Germany
Over $1 Million in Prize Money Given Away as Part of Special Promotion</b>
LOS ANGELES, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- <a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/?source=UltimateCapper">PokerStars.com</a>, the world's largest
poker tournament website, dealt out its five billionth poker hand last
week. The winner of the lucky hand and a $57,500 cash prize was a
30-year-old grocery store manager from Germany. The cash prize was part of
a $1 million celebration giveaway on PokerStars.com and its companion
free-play site, PokerStars.net.
Manuela, who works at Aldi, a popular grocery chain in Europe, was
playing at PokerStars late one evening when the landmark hand took place.
At the time, more than 100,000 poker players were logged in from all over
the world. Manuela (known at PokerStars as "Marajade") was playing in a
friendly five and ten cent no-limit hold 'em game and was ecstatic to learn
she had won the key five billionth hand.
"When I heard about the (special promotion) at PokerStars, I just had
to log on and play," Manuela said afterward. "I had not calculated on
actually winning the prize. I just wanted to be part of the fun. Some of
the other players were playing at multiple tables to increase their chances
of winning. But, I just played at the one table, and I got lucky and won
it!"
"Here in Germany, it was two o'clock in the morning," she explained. "I
was on the verge of going to bed."
For the winner, the prize money came at an ideal time and will be used
for a special purpose. "I was born with an eye disease (that could cause
me) to eventually go blind," Manuela said. "I need to have an expensive eye
surgery. Thanks to PokerStars, I can now have the surgery without worrying
about the cost."
Manuela was introduced to online poker by her boyfriend, who was with
her at the time of the triumph. "I was unbelievable. I just screamed out
loud. My boyfriend came running into the room and asked it I was all right.
I could not say a word. I just pointed to the number on the screen --
'5,000,000,000.' He could not believe it either. I was so excited!"
Manuela's total prize came to $57,500, which included a bonus of $7,500
as a SilverStar VIP Club member, the rewards program for all active players
at the poker site. Many other PokerStars.com players also won prize money
-- including everyone playing at Manuela's table.
PokerStars.com dealt out its very first hand in September, 2001, and
has been dealing fast and furious poker each day since. To equal the number
of hands that PokerStars has dealt, a typical poker dealer (dealing by
hand) would have to deal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for over 16,000
years. In less than five years, the popular poker site has attracted more
than five million players from all over the world.
"Thanks so much to PokerStars," Manuela said. "I want to congratulate
all of the other winners. For me, it was a very good day."
For more information about PokerStars.com, please visit:
<a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/?source=UltimateCapper">PokerStars.com</a>
About PokerStars
<a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/?source=UltimateCapper">PokerStars.com</a> is the world's most innovative online
poker site. PokerStars was the first site to introduce features that became
industry standard such as sophisticated multi-table tournaments, integrated
game statistics, players' notes, personalized images, time bank for
tournaments and big bet ring games, satellite tournaments, multi-table sit
and go tournaments, and much more.
To date, PokerStars has dealt out over five billion hands and run more
than 25 million poker tournaments, awarding well over $4 billion in prize
money. PokerStars is the world's largest poker tournament room, with over 5
million registered player accounts. PokerStars' support team is truly
unique, as help and assistance is available around the clock from people
who know and understand the game of poker and the importance of impeccable
customer service.
The PokerStars.com site is also one of the most secure. PokerStars uses
industry-leading security software to ensure the integrity of the system,
including encryption, card shuffle randomness and preventative measures
against cheating and collusion. Money covering player's balances is held in
segregated accounts managed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, ensuring that
PokerStars can fulfill its obligations to players at all times.
In February 2006, PokerStars.com became the first poker website ever to
reach the 100,000 simultaneous player mark. That watershed achievement
marked the largest poker event in history. Every week, the PokerStars.com
"Sunday Million" is played, which the largest weekly tournament on the
planet with a $1 million guaranteed tournament prize pool. In May 2006, the
site became the first online poker site to deal over 5 billion hands of
poker.
PokerStars is an official member of the World Poker Tour, and the title
sponsor of the European Poker Tour (EPT) and the PokerStars Caribbean
Adventure. In the fall, PokerStars hosts the world's largest online
tournament, the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). PokerStars also
sponsors major events around the globe, such as the World Cup of Poker and
other exciting tournaments.
During the last three years, PokerStars.com sent more players to the
World Series of Poker (WSOP) than any other source or website. A whopping
1,116 entrants (19 percent of the field) qualified to play in the 2005 WSOP
via PokerStars satellites. PokerStars is the site where the 2003 and 2004
World Series of Poker champions won their entries into the WSOP. The
reigning world poker champion, Joe Hachem, has also been an active player
at PokerStars since 2001. He joined Moneymaker and Raymer as official
representatives of PokerStars.com, thus fortifying the company trademark,
"Where Poker Players Become World Champions."
<b><a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/?source=UltimateCapper">PokerStars.com</a> Deals Five Billionth Hand to Lucky Winner in Germany
Over $1 Million in Prize Money Given Away as Part of Special Promotion</b>
LOS ANGELES, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- <a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/?source=UltimateCapper">PokerStars.com</a>, the world's largest
poker tournament website, dealt out its five billionth poker hand last
week. The winner of the lucky hand and a $57,500 cash prize was a
30-year-old grocery store manager from Germany. The cash prize was part of
a $1 million celebration giveaway on PokerStars.com and its companion
free-play site, PokerStars.net.
Manuela, who works at Aldi, a popular grocery chain in Europe, was
playing at PokerStars late one evening when the landmark hand took place.
At the time, more than 100,000 poker players were logged in from all over
the world. Manuela (known at PokerStars as "Marajade") was playing in a
friendly five and ten cent no-limit hold 'em game and was ecstatic to learn
she had won the key five billionth hand.
"When I heard about the (special promotion) at PokerStars, I just had
to log on and play," Manuela said afterward. "I had not calculated on
actually winning the prize. I just wanted to be part of the fun. Some of
the other players were playing at multiple tables to increase their chances
of winning. But, I just played at the one table, and I got lucky and won
it!"
"Here in Germany, it was two o'clock in the morning," she explained. "I
was on the verge of going to bed."
For the winner, the prize money came at an ideal time and will be used
for a special purpose. "I was born with an eye disease (that could cause
me) to eventually go blind," Manuela said. "I need to have an expensive eye
surgery. Thanks to PokerStars, I can now have the surgery without worrying
about the cost."
Manuela was introduced to online poker by her boyfriend, who was with
her at the time of the triumph. "I was unbelievable. I just screamed out
loud. My boyfriend came running into the room and asked it I was all right.
I could not say a word. I just pointed to the number on the screen --
'5,000,000,000.' He could not believe it either. I was so excited!"
Manuela's total prize came to $57,500, which included a bonus of $7,500
as a SilverStar VIP Club member, the rewards program for all active players
at the poker site. Many other PokerStars.com players also won prize money
-- including everyone playing at Manuela's table.
PokerStars.com dealt out its very first hand in September, 2001, and
has been dealing fast and furious poker each day since. To equal the number
of hands that PokerStars has dealt, a typical poker dealer (dealing by
hand) would have to deal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for over 16,000
years. In less than five years, the popular poker site has attracted more
than five million players from all over the world.
"Thanks so much to PokerStars," Manuela said. "I want to congratulate
all of the other winners. For me, it was a very good day."
For more information about PokerStars.com, please visit:
<a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/?source=UltimateCapper">PokerStars.com</a>
About PokerStars
<a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/?source=UltimateCapper">PokerStars.com</a> is the world's most innovative online
poker site. PokerStars was the first site to introduce features that became
industry standard such as sophisticated multi-table tournaments, integrated
game statistics, players' notes, personalized images, time bank for
tournaments and big bet ring games, satellite tournaments, multi-table sit
and go tournaments, and much more.
To date, PokerStars has dealt out over five billion hands and run more
than 25 million poker tournaments, awarding well over $4 billion in prize
money. PokerStars is the world's largest poker tournament room, with over 5
million registered player accounts. PokerStars' support team is truly
unique, as help and assistance is available around the clock from people
who know and understand the game of poker and the importance of impeccable
customer service.
The PokerStars.com site is also one of the most secure. PokerStars uses
industry-leading security software to ensure the integrity of the system,
including encryption, card shuffle randomness and preventative measures
against cheating and collusion. Money covering player's balances is held in
segregated accounts managed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, ensuring that
PokerStars can fulfill its obligations to players at all times.
In February 2006, PokerStars.com became the first poker website ever to
reach the 100,000 simultaneous player mark. That watershed achievement
marked the largest poker event in history. Every week, the PokerStars.com
"Sunday Million" is played, which the largest weekly tournament on the
planet with a $1 million guaranteed tournament prize pool. In May 2006, the
site became the first online poker site to deal over 5 billion hands of
poker.
PokerStars is an official member of the World Poker Tour, and the title
sponsor of the European Poker Tour (EPT) and the PokerStars Caribbean
Adventure. In the fall, PokerStars hosts the world's largest online
tournament, the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). PokerStars also
sponsors major events around the globe, such as the World Cup of Poker and
other exciting tournaments.
During the last three years, PokerStars.com sent more players to the
World Series of Poker (WSOP) than any other source or website. A whopping
1,116 entrants (19 percent of the field) qualified to play in the 2005 WSOP
via PokerStars satellites. PokerStars is the site where the 2003 and 2004
World Series of Poker champions won their entries into the WSOP. The
reigning world poker champion, Joe Hachem, has also been an active player
at PokerStars since 2001. He joined Moneymaker and Raymer as official
representatives of PokerStars.com, thus fortifying the company trademark,
"Where Poker Players Become World Champions."