PokerStars.com Launches Moneymaker Millionaire Tournament

25 July 2006

When 27 year-old Tennessee Accountant Chris Moneymaker turned a $39 online satellite tournament win on http://www.pokerstars.com/ into a $2.5 million windfall at the World Series of Poker, people around the world asked "Why not me?"

Today PokerStars.com is launching the Moneymaker Millionaire, the biggest ever, free to enter tournament to make that very dream come true. Starting Monday, July 24 at 19.00h GMT, PokerStars.com is giving players from around the world the chance to compete for a $2.5m prize pool -- including a brand new Aston Martin DB9 Volante and a trip to the exotic Bahamas to play down to one winner and a $1 million first prize at the main event. Pokerstars.com is the world's largest poker tournament website with over 5 million registered users.

Following in the footsteps of 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Champion, Chris Moneymaker, has never been easier and first time entry is absolutely free. Acknowledged as one of the major reasons behind the massive rise in popularity of online poker, Moneymaker's real life success story has been a source of inspiration to thousands of novice and semi-professional players worldwide. Having gained virtually all of his poker experience online at PokerStars.com, Chris astounded a field of over 800 skilled players by winning a staggering $2.5 million -- elevating the Moneymaker name to celebrity status overnight.

"PokerStars.com gave me the experience I needed to become a champion," said Moneymaker. "Now everyone, regardless of their poker experience, has the chance to win part of a gigantic prize pool of $2.5 million -- the same amount I won in the World Series of Poker."

Over the next five months, PokerStars.com will demonstrate that every poker player can become a "Moneymaker." A series of daily, weekly and monthly online tournaments will be run from July through December, with times that accommodate players from all over the world. First time entry is free for new and existing customers, with subsequent entry costs based on 10 Frequent Player Points (FPP). Visit http://www.pokerstars.com/ for further details on the Moneymaker Millionaire Tournament and the FPP points system.

Overall, 27 finalists, will receive roundtrip airfare and accommodations for two to the Bahamas for one week at the luxurious Atlantis Island Resort. This idyllic setting will play host to the decisive final tables of the Moneymaker Millionaire tournament. Chris Moneymaker will be there to offer the finalists his support, best tips and insights into the game. Finalists will compete for a first place prize of $1 million in cash and prizes including the Aston Martin DB9 Volante, with a further $1m in cash payments awarded amongst the remaining finalists and over $500,000 being distributed to online players who didn't make it to the Bahamas. For more information, visit http://www.pokerstars.com/ .

The Moneymaker Millionaire tournament will be launched with a multi-million dollar advertising campaign featuring Chris Moneymaker as you've never seen him before. These advertisements bring Chris's amazing story to life in a humorous and charming way.

About PokerStars.com

PokerStars (http://www.pokerstars.com/) 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 $5 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.

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."