Ladbrokes officials this week announced that Peter Jepsen has signed a one year sponsorship agreement with the online poker room that will begin on January 1st, 2009. Jepsen, who hails from Denmark, was the winner of the European Poker Tour’s (EPT) Polish Open in 2007. That event takes place annually in Warsaw.

Jepsen pocketed $423,323 for his efforts in the EPT tournament, besting French poker player Farid Meraghni heads-up. Also at the final table of the event was World Series of Poker bracelet holder and PokerStars sponsored pro Katja Thater. Edward Ihre, the Managing Director of Ladbrokes Poker, commented in a press release, “Peter Jepsen was our main target to become our new Danish sponsored player and we are very pleased to have secured his signature. Peter is one of the best online poker players in Europe and has also proven that he is a good player in live tournaments after his EPT win in Warsaw last year.”

As part of the agreement with Ladbrokes, Jepsen will travel to World Poker Tour and EPT events under the Ladbrokes banner. The 26 year-old is a former officer in the military police and, according to Ladbrokes, took down the second largest pot ever played online, banking $499,000 in the process. He goes by the name Zupp and is friends with fellow Ladbrokes Poker pro Jonas Danielsson, who is known as Nebuchad in the online poker world.

Jepsen will join a talented group of pros that make up Team Ladbrokes. Jon Kalmar (skalie) finished fifth in the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event. That tournament was ultimately won by Jerry Yang. Kalmar also notched three cashes at the 2008 Five Star Classic. 2007 EPT Dortmund champion Andreas Hoivold is also a member of Team Ladbrokes. He pocketed $881,000 for his win in that event, besting Cristiano Blanco heads-up; Sebastian Ruthenberg took third place. Ruthenberg captured his first WSOP bracelet in 2008 by virtue of winning a $5,000 buy-in Seven Card Stud High-Low Split Eight or Better tournament.

Other members of Team Ladbrokes include Jeff Kimber, online cash game player Morten Erlandsen, Roy Brindley, Nordic Series of Poker winner Pasi Heinanen, and Des Wilson. Jepsen is described by Ladbrokes as a “young, ambitious, motivated, and a tough competitor who thrives in both high-stakes cash games as well as multi-table tournaments.”

Current promotions going on at the massive online poker room, sports book, casino, and Bingo site include the $500,000 Ladbrokes Freeroll Bonanza. Over the course of nine weeks, $50,000 in freerolls will take place on the online poker room. During the weeks of Christmas and New Years, which take place consecutively, the prize pool will shoot up to $100,000. To access the freerolls and sign up, visit the “MTT / Free Tournaments” section of the Ladbrokes Poker lobby. Freeroll buy-ins vary and range between 250 and 1,500 player points. In addition, VIP Freerolls also occur weekly and are limited to the first 50 players who register. However, minimum play requirements also exist.

The Ladbrokes Poker Million VII is currently airing on Sky Sports. The site just opened betting for who will win the entire tournament. The favorite in the pack is WSOP bracelet holder and former Irish Poker Open winner Marty Smyth, who is going off at 7:1. Right behind him is David Ulliott, the namesake of Devilfish Poker. Ulliott’s odds are 8:1. Other notables include Tony G (10:1), Ross Boatman (10:1), Brindley (12:1), and the long shot in the field: Sammy George, who is going off at 25:1. The final of the Poker Million VII will air on Sky Sports next Friday, December 12th. The semi-finals will air next Wednesday and Thursday.

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