In a surprising move, the terror of the nosebleed stakes, Isildur1, has signed a sponsorship deal to become the latest member of the Team PokerStars Pro stable.
Although he still has not, as of yet, announced his name or released any photos, Isildur1 becomes the top online cash game player that the largest site in the industry has been able to snare. The announcement today also indicates what the future will hold for the Swedish high roller.
“I chose to join PokerStars because it’s the biggest site and it will be an exciting challenge,” Isildur1 stated during the announcement. “It means a great deal to be playing on a team alongside players such as Daniel Negreanu, Dario Minieri, and Johnny Lodden.”
2011 should bring Isildur1 to the live felt under the sponsorship from PokerStars, something that he admits he is preparing himself for. “My goals now are to improve my live game for some upcoming events,” Isildur1 continued in the PokerStars statement. “(I will) continue to focus on Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em, but also try to develop my Pot Limit Omaha game.”
The news of the signing of Isildur1 to a sponsorship deal excited one of the leaders of Team PokerStars Pro, Negreanu. “It’s not every day that a player like Isildur1 comes along,” Negreanu stated during the announcement. “If you look up the definition of the term ‘phenom,’ you’ll see a picture of his face!”
Negreanu observed that, when the Swedish poker pro takes to the virtual felt, it’s an iconic moment in the poker community. “When he is playing, the poker world takes notice,” the Canadian poker pro explained. “Hate to overuse the poker term ‘sick,’ but Isildur1’s No Limit Hold’em game is just that – sick! Few people step up to the plate against him, but the ones who have universally respect his raw talent.”
To celebrate the arrival of the Swedish pro, PokerStars has already built a promotion around him that is sure to draw plenty of action. The Superstar Showdown will allow players to battle Isildur1. At stakes no lower than $50/$100, Isildur1 will take on all comers for a 2,500-hand heads-up match either in No Limit Hold’em or Pot Limit Omaha. The winner of the Superstar Showdown will be the player who shows a profit for the match after the requisite 2,500 hands or takes the other player’s bankroll.
PokerStars is already fielding plenty of challengers for Isildur1 through a special e-mail that has been established. This e-mail address, showdown@pokerstars.com, is reserved for those who have the bankroll to take on the Swedish wunderkind. PokerStars states in the promotion, “Only serious applicants will get a response.”
For those with lesser bankrolls, PokerStars is also offering a chance to earn your way into a heads-up match against Isildur1. SuperStar Showdown qualifiers will start on December 13th and run through April 3rd. These qualifiers will feed players into finals that will be played on February 13th and April 10th. The winners of these two finals will take a $15,000 bankroll heads-up against Isildur1 and, if the winner is able to take the Swedish pro’s bankroll in the heads-up match, they’ll earn a $10,000 bonus. Be warned, however, that Isildur1 has the same motivation to break the winner. If he does, then he receives the $10,000 bonus.
Perhaps because of the mystery surrounding his identity – many have assumed he is noted pro Viktor Blom, among other players – the poker world stops when Isildur1 brings his bankroll to the tables. Over the past year, Isildur1’s bankroll has been in excess of $5.3 million at its peak according to PokerTableRatings.com and he has battled the likes of Patrik Antonius, Phil Ivey, and Tom “durrrr” Dwan at previously unimaginable stakes.
Isildur1 has been involved in all 10 of the largest pots in online poker history according to PokerTableRatings.com and also has the distinction of losing the first ever pot in excess of $1 million. Even with these swings, Isildur1 continues to battle against the best in the game. Visit PokerStars today.
