PokerStars Announces New UK and Ireland Poker TourPokerStars Launches UK and Ireland Poker Tour; New Show Airs Tonightby Rebecca McAdam | Published: Nov 02, 2009 | |
 
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There is so much going on at the moment at PokerStars.com. The site has today announced the launch of its new UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT). This tour will be held in regional locations in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, and is aimed at both amateur and professional players with a range of buy-ins from £500 + £50 to £1,000+ £100 for UK-based tournaments and €1,000 + €100 and €2,000 for Irish events.
If the title and prize money is not enough incentive to play, perhaps a buy-in for the European Poker Tour London main event next year is, as the EPT London will also be the UKIPT Championship event.
The first UKIPT event will take place in Galway, Ireland from Dec. 11-14 at the Radisson Hotel, as part of the Irish Poker Championships which PokerStars has taken over this year from PartyPoker.
The first UK-based stop will be in Manchester at the Grosvenor G Casino on Feb. 11.
The UKIPT will have its own points leader board where players can track their progress, and the top players at the the end of the season will be rewarded with a host of exciting prizes.
Familiar names such as former England footballer Teddy Sheringham and many Team PokerStars PROs will be in attendance as well as other celebrities and poker stars which have yet to be announced.
Daily satellites are running now at the site for as little as $0.25 or 250 frequent player points.
Also don’t forget that tonight sees the first show of the PokerStars Bounty Stars of Poker. The show transports amateur online qualifiers to a seat at the televised felt where they will battle it out to get to the next stage where they will face Team PokerStars Pros such as Peter Eastgate, Victoria Coren, and Marcel Luske or sports celebrities such as ex-England test cricketer Phil Tufnell, England rugby star Mike Tindall, or Welsh footballer Gary Speed.
They will be fighting for a £5,000 top prize but won’t know who they have to beat until they take their seat. There will be three “bounty” heads-up play offs.
Victoria 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 on. And while I hope they enjoy the experience I’ve got no intention of taking it easy on them.”
The show kicks off tonight at 10 p.m. on Sky Sports 2.
Finally in other PokerStars news, the winner of a recent live PokerStars main event, the new Baltic Festival held in Tallinn, Estonia, was Thomas Partridge after he beat a 307-strong field.
Partridge, a 24-year-old player from Devon, faced his friend James Keys heads up and won €76,750 when his king-high flush beat Keys’ two pair in the ultimate hand. Keys earned €48,505 for his runner-up finish.
Partridge also goes home with a bonus package put up by PokerStars.com to the PCA in the Bahamas.
The Brit humbly said post-win, "I don’t want to look too happy because my friend lost.”