888Poker and the World Series of Poker have agreed that the poker provider will again come on board as a sponsor in 2016, securing broad exposure on the WSOP website during the prestigious tournament, particularly around the official live reporting section for the festival, which attracts wide television and live streaming coverage.
On an operational level, the tournament provides 888Poker an opportunity to run satellite tourneys with WSOP seats and travel packages as prizes.
On event – number 54 – has already been named Crazy Eights in honour of the poker company and is an eight-handed $888 No-Limit Hold’em competition with a guaranteed first-place prize of $888,888….and an official WSOP bracelet event.
Itai Pazner, who heads business to consumer affairs at 888, said that his company would be sending more players to Las Vegas for this year’s WSOP, whilst WSOP executive director Ty Stewart applauded the 888 contribution and commitment to promote the series and the game itself by introducing incentives and ancillary contests.
Last year 888 supported 128 players entering the main event, one of them the ultimate winner, Joe McKeehen, and Tommy Yates – a poker fan who won a 1 cent satellite that sent him to Vegas and a $19,500 cash for a 486th placing (see previous reports).