FIFA World Cup 2006 Kicks Off With Purple Lounge Poker meets Football in a beautiful union of games in time for FIFA World Cup 2006.

In a play-off like no other, poker play meets football fantasy as gaming enthusiasts compete for the ultimate golden tickets to one of the most oversubscribed sporting events in 2006. Requiring skill, flair, speed and dexterity, poker has proved it has more in common with football than gaming tactics, with the announcement that sleek online poker provider, Purple Lounge are offering up four VIP tickets to the much anticipated FIFA World Cup 2006 final.

The four tickets, which include flights to the event, gain the winners entry into the World Cup final on Sunday 9th of July, 2006, in Berlin, Germany, for what promises to be an exhilarating game. Indeed, with poker stars such as Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi citing football as one of their hobbies, Purple Lounge has raised the gaming stakes to host an exclusive pre-game, poker game.

The sophisticated poker site has established itself as the most fashionable online poker venue, with a reputation for high rollers, glamorous players including European royalty and film icons, and luxury prizes such as a Bentley Continental GT. These latest dream-come-true ticket prizes therefore continue the site's dedication to player satisfaction, adding its own blend of poker chic to this football extravaganza.

The online tournament kicks off on January 1st 2006. Two tickets will be won by the sites top player with the highest rake between the competition timeline, and two tickets will be awarded to the sites top affiliate who secures the most real players between January 1st and April 30th. Terms and conditions will be on the Purple Lounge homepage, www.purple-lounge.com from January.

“Poker and football are two of the world's most popular games, each producing their own celebrities, and generating fabulous wealth for those players who are truly talented,” explained Tara, the exotic cyber face of the company. “The allure of each therefore holds great attraction to its players, with titans of football such as Michael Owen being keen poker players, while poker players themselves show great enthusiasm for the other beautiful game. The World Cup is therefore of great attraction to our players at Purple Lounge, and we thus sought to procure tickets to the world's hottest football event. Not only does Purple Lounge provide a sleek and professional gaming environment, but we tailor our service and prizes to the sophisticated tastes of our players and affiliates.”

With over a million tickets sold within 12 hours of the last FIFA sales period, World Cup 2006 tickets are indeed a hot commodity. Thirty-two teams from six continents will compete in the 2006 World Cup, of which, a quarter are World Cup newcomers, and six are past winners.

Purple Lounge offers everything to play for in the 2006 World Cup.