PokerStars Strikes First as UFC Star Joins Players NL Hold’em Championship

January 2nd, 2019 | by Greg Shaun

PokerStars is taking full advantage of its celebrity ties ahead of the Player’s NL Hold’em Championship in a bid to start 2019 on a high.

Bruce Buffer will be among the celebrities taking part in the 2019 PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship. (Twitter/@brucebuffer)

Following news that PokerStars was to become a global partner of the UFC and sponsor its final pay-per-view event of 2018, the poker operator has moved to harness its counterparts popularity. With the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure set to get underway on January 5, the host has announced UFC veteran Bruce Buffer will be joining the action.

Buffer to Fight for $1 Million

By playing in the $25,000 PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship (PSPC), Buffer will not only solidify the ties between the UFC and poker but improve his own record. When he’s not introducing the top mixed martial artists, the announcer is an avid poker player.

As well as cash games, Buffer is active on the tournament circuit and currently has just over $354,000 in live earnings. By sitting down for Day 1 on January 6 inside the Bahamas’ Atlantis Resort & Casino, the Voice of the Octagon will be in line to win a guaranteed first place prize of $1 million.

In fact, with Partypoker breaking records in 2018, PokerStars is looking to take the fight to its opponent in January. Joining Buffer at the felt will be a host of international stars, including comedian Norm Macdonald, former pro skater Tony Hawk, ten-time NBA All-Star Paul Pierce and Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia.

Celebs Boost PokerStars

To help generate some extra buzz, PokerStars’ sports betting axis BetStars is offering last longer odds, with the celebrities currently priced at 66/1 to win the tournament.

Joining the famous faces for PokerStars’ opening festival of 2019 will be the usual mix of pros as well as Platinum Pass winners who won their way to a $30,000 prize package.

For the operator, the Caribbean Adventure is a chance to get the jump on Partypoker. By the close of 2018, the two poker brands had struck up an interesting rivalry.

Despite being long-time competitors, innovations from both saw records fall and standards pushed to new heights. In December, the quest for dominance resulted in two online festivals offering more than $100 million in added value for players.

With that setting the tone, PokerStars is looking to hit the ground running in 2019 and use its roster of celebrity friends to gain maximum exposure during the Caribbean Adventure.