Premier League III Will Air This Year
Written by Maria T | Monday, November 24th, 2008
The 3rd season of Premier League will air earlier than expected. Party Poker has decided to move the broadcast date up to November 2008. There is much excitement surrounding the season given the “A” list of poker stars to play.
When the PartyPoker sponsored Premier League was launched in 2007 it was touted as the best thing to have happened to television poker. Jesse May of the Hendon Mob wrote, “It’s been a while since there was a poker program that promised as much of an impact. I believe Premier League Poker will change the face of televised poker in Europe.” The format involved twelve invited poker celebrities vying for the crown. Premier League II was telecast in 2008 and Premier League III was scheduled for 2009. However the international broadcasters have convinced PartyPoker to pre-pone the event. Premier League III will now be in the last week of November in London.
The final lineup has now been announced and is as follows: Tom “durrrr” Dwan, J.C. Tran, Nenad Medic, Tony G, Vicky Coren, David “Devilfish” Ulliott, Annette Obrestad, Roland De Wolfe, Andy Black, Juha Helppi, Peter Eastgate and Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth was the last to sign up. This is a motley crowd of young and old, men and women and players from all over Europe and America.
Eastgate and Dwan are representing the young brigade. Both have seen enormous success in 2008 and are brimming with confidence. Eastgate, fresh from his WSOP Main Event win, acknowledged his happiness at being a part of this legendary line up but did not fail to add, “I am the man in form and want to show people why I am the World Champion.” Now he will be pitted against Hellmuth, the man whose record he broke to become the youngest WSOP Main Event winner. Dwan on the other hand has shown his prowess in online play. Market Pulse rates him as the highest online moneymaker this year with winnings of $2.5 million in recorded hands. Others estimate his year to date total online winnings at over $6 million. And he has not fared too badly in the land-based tournaments. He too expressed his gratitude at being invited and is equally confident. He said. “I am coming to London determined to win.”
The two women in the fray are Annette and Victoria. Annette has not done anything much since her win at WSOPE last year and he second place at the EPT Dublin a few months later. Neither is she in the limelight for non-poker activities like some other women players are. Therefore if she does not do something soon she will surely lose her celebrity status. Victoria is the local girl. She has done even less than Annette at the poker tables but she was one of the judges at the first EPT Awards held earlier this year.
The most colorful character of the dozen is by far David “Devilfish” Ulliott. Ulliott was at one time involved with the underworld in the Kingston upon Hull. He got out of that mess and took to playing poker. He also owns a jewelry business. Ulliott features regularly in televised poker shows with his trademark orange-tinted shades and gold knuckleduster rings embossed “Devil” and “Fish”. Incidentally Helppi had won the original Premier League and Black is the defending champion.
Check Out Other Related Articles
· Written by Maria T · Filed Under Poker News · Comments Off
