18 of the world’s top poker players have confirmed their seat in the Aruba Poker Classic online poker tournament

With just days before the first hand of the 2009 Aruba Poker Classic is dealt, UB today announced that a record number of poker professionals will be playing in this year’s Main Event in Aruba. In addition to the 16 pros who represent UB on Team UB, the popular island tournament continues to attract pros from outside of UB.

“This is one of my all-time favorite poker tournaments,” said Annie Duke, UB’s Cardroom Consultant and member of Team UB. “While the UB community is famous for gathering together at all sorts of other poker tournaments like the WSOP, Aruba is all about celebrating the successes of UB’s online poker players. I can’t wait to meet the people I play against online, party with old friends on the beach and make some new ones.”

Over the last year, UB has secured some of the world’s most respected poker players for its popular Team UB. To date, the group of online poker pros made up of those who have achieved incredible success online and in land-based events has skyrocketed to 16. Each member of the group has confirmed their attendance in the 2009 Aruba Poker Classic.

Slated to play are Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Joe Sebok, Adam Levy, Billy Kopp, Bryan Devonshire, Brandon Cantu, Debo34, Hollywood Dave, Liv Boeree, Matt Graham, Michael Binger, P0ker H0, Scott Ian, Shawn Rice and Tiffany Michelle.

Also confirmed to play in the event are professional poker players Lacey Jones and Matt Vengrin, who both play on the CEREUS Poker Network. While the expanded list of pros from outside of the CEREUS Poker Network hasn’t been reported, the Aruba Poker Classic has attracted some big name poker players in past years, including Mike Matusow, Evelyn Ng, and Johan Storakers.

Tags: adam levy, annie duke, billy kopp, brandon cantu, bryan devonshire, debo34, hollywood dave, joe sebok, liv boeree, matt graham, michael binger, p0ker h0, phil hellmuth, scott ian, shawn rice, tiffany michelle

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Matt Savage returns to the 2009 Aruba Poker Classic

This year, online poker players have an unprecedented number of reasons to join the online poker site in Aruba with today’s announcement that the world’s leading tournament director Matthew Savage will return to oversee UB’s prestigious 2009 Aruba Poker Classic.

“Matt’s natural ability to run a smooth and fair tournament and his talent for making it feel more like a party than a poker room is one of the many reasons why our Aruba event is still one of the most popular on the annual calendar, ” said Phil Hellmuth.

“For the third straight year, Savage Tournaments partners with UB to deliver one of my favorite tournaments of the year,” added Matt Savage. “In celebrating UB’s 10th Anniversary, I am honored to once again be part of the Aruba Poker Classic; with an extended tournament schedule, plus a group of floor staff and dealers that is second to none, 2009 is shaping up to be one for the ‘scrapbook’.”

As the Tournament Director for the Aruba Poker Classic, October 3rd through 10th, Savage will manage eight days of all-out poker action, which is expected to attract over 500 players from around the globe, competing for a slice of an overall festival prize pool in excess of six million.

To date, world famous event manager Savage has directed countless million-dollar tournaments including the WSOP, various WPT events, and the Aussie Millions. He has appeared on almost 400 televised poker shows on ESPN, GSN, Fox Sports, Travel Channel and other popular networks.

However, Savage’s pedigree reaches far beyond just calling the shots on the poker room floor. As one of the founders of the Tournament Directors Association, he has been instrumental in standardizing tournament rules throughout the world, and in 2003, his far-reaching contribution saw him inducted into the Poker Room Manager’s Hall of Fame as its very first member.

Online poker players can enter a series of online satellites to win an $8,500 Aruba prize package at UB. The prize package includes the $5,500 main event seat and $3,000 for travel and accommodation.

Tags: aruba, aruba poker classic, matt savage, phil hellmuth, savage tournaments

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