PokerStars launches knockout tournament backed by Neymar

PokerStars have announced the launch of PokerStars Knockout Poker, a tournament format exclusively available online at PokerStars which will be supported through a global marketing campaign featuring football superstar Neymar.

The tournament prize money in PokerStars Knockout Poker will be split 50/50, with 50% going to the ‘normal’ prize pool and the other 50% being awarded for ‘knockouts’, with players winning a share every time they eliminate an opponent.

The game will also include prizes for players even if they don’t win the overall tournament. The launch is part of a broad-based strategy to grow poker by introducing the game to new audiences, and by introducing innovative new formats of the game.

Neymar Jr, the Barcelona forward who will be the face of the global marketing campaign around the tournament, commented: “I love winning on the football pitch, and I love the opportunity to win instantly in Knockout Poker. PokerStars Knockout Poker takes an ordinary game of poker and makes it more fun, with more winning moments!”

To coincide with the launch, PokerStars also conducted a survey to find the player that people would most like to knock out of a poker tournament. Daniel Negreanu topped the worldwide poll, with Phil Hellmuth in second and 10-time World Series of Poker champion Phil Ivey in third.