Premier League to return

PartyPoker is pleased to announce that the next PartyPoker.com Premier League will take place in London from the 24th – 30th November 2008. PartyPoker.com Premier League Poker III sees the buy-in elevated to $75,000 and the added money raised to $350,000, making a total prize pool of $1.25 million. The next event wasn’t due to take place until 2009 but the demands of international broadcasters for coverage of the event has brought it forward!

The series, developed by Matchroom Sport, features 12 of the world’s best players playing in a unique league format. All 12 players will play six times in the preliminary stages. The leading four players will then progress to the final table with the next four battling it out in heads-up matches for the final two seats. The first player to be announced is Premier League II winner, Ireland’s Andy Black, who is automatically invited back as the defending champion.

Black was on his usual quirky form when asked if he was looking forward to defending his title. “There will be no more ‘Mr Nice Buddhist’ this year. The attitude and spirit I will be bringing to the tournament can be summed up by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Asked as Conan the Barbarian what was most important in life he said it was: ‘to crush your enemies and hear the lamentation of their women,’ said Black.

Black has earned millions of dollars over the years on the circuit but had a reputation as a choker bar none. His most notable cash was for $1.75 million for 5th place in the WSOP Main Event in 2005 after qualifying online at PartyPoker.com. There, Black went in as the favourite to win with the chip lead only to bust sooner than expected. At the 2007 WSOP Main Event and 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event he was the chip leader after day one only to fall away. He had similar experiences at the EPT Dublin in 2005, the 2006 Tournament of Champions at the WSOP, not to forget the 2007 Aussie Millions where he eventually finished third after dominating again.

Black quit poker between 1998-2003 and started practicing Buddhist techniques of meditation and working with the mind which he credits with improving his game. Until Premier League Poker II, however, it hadn’t given him a first place! “The black death is over, I killed them all,” joked Andy when he won. “I tried to blow-up but it didn’t quite work!”

The full line-up will be announced in the weeks ahead. Eleven more names will be revealed…

Eddie Hearn, Head of Online Gaming at Matchroom Sport said: “The Premier League is now established internationally as poker’s number one TV show. The worldwide ratings and distribution have exceeded all expectations and the demand is such that we have decided to hold another Premier League event this year. We are delighted to welcome last year’s champion Andy Black back to the League and we will now sit down and hand pick the remainder of the chosen 12. There isn’t a poker player on the planet that doesn’t want to be part of this event.”

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “Keep your eyes open for more news. It’s a case of one down, eleven to go, this line-up will be the strongest yet. With the buy-in and added money it is a case of a raise for Premier League Poker II and a re-raise for Premier League Poker III.”

“Premier League Poker featured a fantastic format filled with skill, twists and turns, great players and made for electric television.” Phil Hellmuth

“This is a totally different concept and makes great television, it’s like a poker Big Brother. It sets a new bar for televised poker.” Dave “The Devilfish” Ulliott

“The Premier League is the best poker event I have ever played in. A real breakthrough for poker.” Tony G