InterPoker Sets the Stage for the Ultimate 'Freeze-Out' Tournament
Reigning Champion
Juha Helppi Returns to His Home Turf, While Poker Pros Brave
the Subzero Temperatures in the Latest Extreme Poker Challenge
Inter
Poker.com to Kick Off Online Qualification Rounds Today, as Internet
Players Battle for a Chance at the Extreme Poker Title
LONDON, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Just months after winning the first
Extreme Poker Championship 30 feet underwater off the shores of St. Kitts in
the Caribbean, Finnish Poker Pro was given the option to select the venue for
the next Extreme event. Opting for "home field advantage," Juha is taking the
tournament to his backyard -- in the arctic ice fields of Finland at the
world's largest snow castle in Kemi on March 29. Deep in the bowels of the
massive ice edifice, three online qualifiers will take on poker pros Rob
Varkonyi,
Juha Helppi and Pete "The Beat" Giordano, as they shuffle up and
deal in one of the harshest climates the arctic has to offer.
"By opening up the tournament to Internet qualifiers, we are giving online
players a chance to make poker history, as well as the celebrity status of
achieving the title 'Extreme Poker Champion,'" said InterPoker spokesperson
Peter Marcus. "While Juha undoubtedly has the home field advantage in this
tournament, there is always the possibility that a competitive and talented US
professionals or one of our InterPoker online qualifiers will take the title
from Juha."
Constructed in December 2005, the Snow Castle is made up of approximately
60,000 cubic feet of snow and ice, and maintains a constant internal
temperature well below freezing. Enormous snow towers, intricate ice
sculptures and a spacious (and extremely chilled) dining hall are trademark
elements of the newly raised world landmark.
"The snow castle is very beautiful and very cold -- just like the city
where I grew up. I will be right at home in the castle, and aim to take
advantage of home field advantage in every way possible," said
Juha Helppi.
In addition to battling the frigid temperatures, players will encounter
new rules in the arctic tournament that will make play more challenging. For
example, when a player takes a major hit in his or her chip stack, they will
be given the option of buying back their chips in exchange for an article of
clothing, such as their coat or shirt. Players leave the competition when
they run out of chips (and all non-essential clothing), or are forced to leave
after succumbing to the cold. Medical personnel will be present at all times
to monitor the health of all participants.
"Poker is an endurance sport and we have just made it harder, no one can
doubt that playing poker in subzero temperatures, with very little light,
requires the utmost concentration, patience and mental stamina," said Peter
Marcus. "As our players overcome these obstacles and learn increased
discipline and concentration during Extreme play, there is little doubt that
you will see many more InterPoker satellite tournament qualifiers arriving at
extreme final tables in the near future."
Online tournaments to qualify for the tournament will be held on
http://www.interpoker.com at 11.00 AM EST (4 PM GMT) on Sunday, March 12th. The
three winners of Internet qualifying rounds will receive a complete Extreme
Poker prize package including airfare, hotel and meals for the trip to the
Arctic Kemi Snow Castle. The winner of the Kemi Finland event will not only
claim the title of "Extreme Poker Champion," they will also win an automatic
entry into the 2006 Final Extreme Underwater Poker Championship in St. Kitts.
For additional details on this event and other promotions, check out
Inter
Poker.com.
About InterPoker
Founded in 2002, InterPoker has quickly become one of the largest and most
respected online poker rooms. Owned and operated by InterCasino, one of the
oldest, most awarded and largest online casinos in the world, InterPoker
partners with NETELLER.com, a publicly traded company on the London AIM
exchange to transfer funds securely and conveniently, ECash system, one of the
most reliable and trusted e-commerce applications in the world, which has
processed more than $11 Billion in uncompromised electronic transactions for
customers in more than 240 countries and industry software leader CryptoLogic,
Inc., one of the few gaming software companies certified to strict standards
similar to land-based gaming.
About Extreme Poker
Aimed to test the physical and mental limits of even the most seasoned
tournament professionals, the Extreme Poker tournaments are held in the
harshest and most exotic conditions know to man. Inter
Poker.com is always
accepting suggestions from players and supporters for where and when the next
Extreme Poker events will be held. Players can send their submission to Ryan
Hartley at ryanh@interpoker.com. For more information on Inter
Poker.com's
Extreme Poker Professionals, visit their website at http://www.interpoker.com.
Press Release, www.interpoker.com - 2006-03-13 08:53:15
