DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, Sept. 3, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PokerStars, the world's largest online poker room, is pleased to announce another high profile recruitment to its team of international celebrity ambassadors. National Hockey League (NHL) icon and former Toronto Maple Leafs' captain Mats Sundin will play poker both live and online as part of his new brand ambassador role for PokerStars.
Playing online as "MatsSundin," the 37-year-old Olympic champion plans frequent appearances playing on PokerStars.net and at live tournaments on the PokerStars' global poker tour circuit. This includes the PokerStars European Poker Tour which starts its fifth season next week in Barcelona.
Mats first played in the NHL for The Quebec Nordiques before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, also sponsored by PokerStars. Sundin holds numerous records as an NHL player. He is the:
-Longest serving, non-North American captain in NHL history -First Swedish player to score 500 goals -Player with the most overtime goals -First player to score 400 goals playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He has represented Sweden in many international events, winning a total of seven medals while playing in three Winter Olympics and five World Championships since 1992.
Mats has played poker and enjoyed cards since his early NHL years, and said he is inspired by the challenge of representing PokerStars. He is looking forward to the opportunity to test his skills against the players and pros at PokerStars.
Sundin said, "I have always enjoyed playing poker, and partnering with PokerStars gives me the opportunity to challenge myself and explore the full potential of my game. Learning from and playing against some of the best poker players in the world won't be easy, but I believe the fighting spirit I've developed as a hockey pro will really help me at the tables."
Mats, who supports many charities in Sweden and internationally, says that he will donate his profits earned at the poker tables to various charities.
"I am very proud to become an ambassador for PokerStars. It allows me to fulfil my personal ambition of working with charities around the world and I will be donating 100 percent of the money I earn from playing poker to charity. For me, the combination of excitement and challenge in poker, plus the potential to support good causes is a win-win situation."
Michael Holmberg, PokerStars regional marketing manager Nordics, added that Mats' athletic abilities and unique sporting record make him a perfect role model in the world of poker.
"Mats has gained worldwide recognition as a professional athlete, renowned for his dedication, focus and commitment that have earned him a place at the very top of his profession. This profile is very similar to the qualities we witness among the most successful poker pros on our site and tours. Mats is a charismatic leader and champion, one that we are tremendously proud to have represent PokerStars as a brand ambassador."
Players on PokerStars.net will be able to challenge Mats online in coming months. The star's first live poker appearance will be at the PokerStars European Poker Tour in Barcelona, starting September 10, 2008.
Please see below link to images of Mats Sundin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30176680@N04/
About PokerStars:
PokerStars is the world's largest online poker room (with 15 million players worldwide) and also the #1 poker tournament site. As the premier destination for the top players -- with over 100,000 tournaments running every day -- PokerStars is renowned for offering the best software and security in the online poker world. To date, PokerStars has:
* Dealt over 20 billion hands * Run more than 100 million poker tournaments * Entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the first and only poker website to reach the 160,000 simultaneous players mark.
PokerStars is the official sponsor of: The European Poker Tour (www.ept.com), PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Latin American Poker Tour (www.lapt.com), Asia Pacific Poker Tour (www.appt.com) and The World Cup of Poker. PokerStars is the home of Team PokerStars Pro, a group of 29 veteran and up-and-coming players from around the world who play online at PokerStars and are sponsored by the site in international tournaments around the world. For more information please visit www.pokerstars.net.
The PokerStars logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3169