PartyPoker Enters Sponsored Players Wars, Signs Three Top Pros

After staying out of the battle for sponsoring players for the entirety of their existence, PartyPoker has entered into the fray by signing three players to begin a team of sponsored players. These players come from their online ranks and have shown outstanding skills on the online poker site and in international competition.

For several years, PartyPoker featured only one sponsored pro on its rolls: PartyPoker ambassador and World Poker Tour commentator Mike Sexton. Recently, however, Party decided to extend sponsorships to players based on performance at its online poker room. PartyPoker looks at their VIPs, player loyalty to the site and historic links to PartyPoker in determining the criteria for addition to what they are calling a “grassroots” team. The three additions made this week not only are outstanding players in their own right but also represent the international aspect of poker.

Earlier this week, PartyPoker tabbed English poker professional Ian Frazer to join Sexton on the PartyPoker team. Frazer is a building contractor from London who has compiled a strong list of success on the felt. Nicknamed “The Raiser”, Ian has captured three major European titles at the 2005 888.com Pacific Poker Open, the 2006 PartyPoker European Open and the 2006 Goalpoker.com Champions League of Poker. In total, he has amassed over $1.3 million in tournament earnings and has money finishes in the three major tours (the WSOP, the WPT and the EPT) that are in existence.

Yesterday, PartyPoker announced the addition of two more members to Team PartyPoker. Brazil’s Felipe Ramos – who had a final table appearance at this year’s World Series of Poker – and France’s Remy Biechel have accepted the sponsorship that PartyPoker has offered and will represent the company in tournaments around the world. Both Ramos and Biechel are PartyPoker players whose poker accomplishments merit their newfound sponsorship deals.

Ramos is an aggressive young professional poker player from Sao Paulo, Brazil and is a popular and influential figure on the Latin American poker circuit. A top VIP at PartyPoker.com, he started playing professionally in January 2008 and has earned over $700,000 since that time. Last week he finished in sixth place in the $5,000 PLO (Event 35) at the World Series of Poker. Along with this finish, Ramos has been a Brazilian Series of Poker champion and contributes strategy advice to many poker magazines. He plays at PartyPoker under the names ‘mojave14’ and ‘FelipeMojave’ and, in addition to playing in live events for PartyPoker, will also be writing his own blog for the site and help nurture fellow players with tutorials.

Biechel is a very popular poker player on the French circuit and a Palladium Lounge member at PartyPoker. He currently has over $840,000 in lifetime live tournament winnings and has cashed significantly in two big international side events. He won the €5000 side event at this year’s EPT Monte Carlo, taking home €280,000, and secured second place in a side event at the 2008 WPT Festa Al Lago for $163,000. Along with playing, Biechel is also coaching French World Cup winning ex-footballer Frank Lebeouf, who will represent PartyPoker in next week’s WSOP charity event “Ante Up For Africa.”

With the addition of Ramos and Biechel, Team PartyPoker now stands at four players and more will be added in the future, according to PartyPoker executives. A PartyPoker spokesman stated, “We’re delighted to welcome Felipe and Remy to the team. Like Ian Frazer, they both have history as loyal customers and have increased their play since the re-launch of the new software and VIP programs.”

Related Online Poker News:

Wild Cherry 200% Bonus worth up to $1200 with No Max Cashout!

Fast play, fast payouts and unrivalled customer support.

Poker jargon:

MAIN POT - The main pot, as related to one or more side pots, when there are one or more all-in player(s). The main pot is the one in which all active players participate.
SPREAD LIMIT - A variation on fixed limit wherein the minimum and maximum bets are different. A 1-4-8 game allows bets from 1 to 4 in the early rounds and 1-8 in the last round. A 1-4-8-16 game allows bets from 1 to 4 in the early rounds, 1 to 8 in the next-to-last round, and 1 to 16 in the last round.
PASS - Opposite of bet. To check, if checked to. To fold, if bet to.
LEAK - To show one's hole cards (often unknowingly).
RIDER BACK (TM) - A brand of playing cards that feature a bicycle rider on the back of the cards. Often used in home games. Compare: BEE No. 92.
STEAM - Playing wildly, calling and raising a lot, because one is upset. Compare: ON TILT.

♥ Bookmark Us! ♠

Poker Information