GIBRALTAR, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is back in action in its 2009 editionand so is Team 888, 888.com's [http://www.888.com/] poker team, which isaiming to capture the largest cash prize in poker [http://www.pacificpoker.com/]. The poker tournament is taking place at theentertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada where Day one hasalready been completed.

This year's tournament is bigger than ever, with 6,494 poker playersclaiming their seat at the table. A total cash prize pool of $61,043,600 willbe handed out to 648 lucky winners, with the first place earning a total of$8,548,435.

Twenty-two players from 12 countries representing Team 888 are takingpart in the 2009 WSOP. Among this distinguished list of players are arepresentative from the Tower Torneos platform, along with sponsoredprofessionals, Shane Warne and Jeff Fenech from Australia, Michael Keinerfrom Germany and Spain's Leo Margets.

Germany is represented by a total of four players, followed by Australiaand England with three players each. Argentina, The Netherlands and Denmarkare represented each by two players, with Estonia, Sweden, Spain, Serbia,Russia and Canada, with one representative each.

Day one of the 2009 WSOP took four days to complete due to the sheer sizeof the playing field and after these four eventful days, Team 888 hasachieved noteworthy success with 17 out of our 22 players moving on to playin Day two of the tournament.

Aussie cricket legend and team captain, Shane Warne is proving his talentnot only on the cricket ground, leading the team after Day one with 87,625 inchips. He is closely followed by Denmark's Anders Skellaridis with 68,300and Argentinean Fernando Gordo with 64,650. Not far behind are EnglishmenWilliam Frye with 52,775 in chips, Estonian Kristjan Abakanov (50,450) andGermany's Michael Keiner (50,175). Rounding the list off are Mark Lee fromEngland, Aussie Matt Downing, Canadian Kevin Mignon Anthony Fraser fromEngland, Spaniard Leo Margets, Germany's Michael Clees, Argentina's AlbertoSalvatierra, Sweden's Chen Zhiyong, Robert Hauke and Sarnow Florian fromGermany and Bojan Gledovic from Serbia.

Team 888 will be back in action during Day two of the tournament, whichis to be played today and tomorrow.

Itai Pazner, 888.com's Senior Vice President Regions, said:

"We all wish all our players in team 888 the best of luck. We'reconfident that under the leadership of our team captain Shane Warne, the teamwill achieve further success in the WSOP over the next few days."

About 888.com

888.com is the World's No.1 online casino. It has millions of membersworldwide who enjoy its casino, bingo and poker rooms and receive an onlinegaming experience like no other. Founded in 1997 - 888.com this yearcelebrates its 12th anniversary - by pioneers of the online gaming industry,888.com has developed a strong brand grown by cutting-edge marketing throughoffline sponsorships, poker events, online collaborations and continualupgrading of its flagship online products; 888.com Casino, Bingo and Poker.888.com's goal is to provide quality entertainment to people who enjoygambling, by giving them the opportunity to do so in a safe, fun, fair,regulated and secure environment. Its clients are its assets and itcontinually makes every effort to establish customer satisfaction by buildingrelationships via service, honesty, advice and trust - with every member.

888.com operates under a license granted by the Government of Gibraltarfor the purposes of operating an online casino and poker room. 888.com hasadopted the code of conduct of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), of whichit is a member. 888.com is operated by Cassava Enterprises (Gibraltar) Ltd. Aregistered company incorporated and located in Gibraltar (companyregistration number 83961). The company has other offices around the worldand employs over 750 employees. 888.com can be used in 22 different languagesin 176 countries worldwide. A leading force in the gaming industry since1997, 888.com continually strives to be the No.1 site. It was a foundingmember of eCOGRA, an independent standards authority for the industrycommitted to protecting online players around the world. It continuallydonates to UK and global charities and is working even harder on its CSRmessages as well as promoting eCOGRA and providing an international frameworkof best operational and player practice requirements enforced throughinspections, reviews and continuous monitoring by global audit companies.888.com recently announced its first acquisition; the bingo business andassets from Globalcom. 888's bingo brand - 888ladies - has become a brandleader within a very short time, winning awards and delivering a strongcommunity. Further to the new site offerings and following significanttechnological investment, 888.com has recently embarked in to new on-landventures; partnering with key brands to deliver specific propositions. Itsfirst partnership, announced late 2006, is an innovative cooperation withRileys snooker and pool clubs for which 888.com uses its online pokercapabilities to power http://www.rileyspoker.com. 888.com has also recently launched mobile, in-flight, and in-hotel casino where customers can access their favourite games, not only from their computers but from mobile phones and televisions too.

888.com has been named EGaming Awards Online Casino three times in thelast four years, and won 2008 Best Online Operator Award, as well as beingnamed Best Online Casino at the UK Gambling Awards, and Best Betting andGaming and Operator of the Year at the 2008 Leisure Awards. 888.com alsolanded the 2008 Gambling Online Magazine Top Casino award and its internalmagazine, Eight, won the prestigious Most Effective Membership title at the2008 APA Effectiveness Awards. Offline activity sits side by side the onlinebusiness, complimenting 888.com's position as the leading authority in gamingentertainment. 888.com is the main sponsor of Sevilla FC and sponsors ShaneWarne from the world of cricket.

For further information please contact Ed Nicholson on +44(0)207-487-8682; +44(0)7767-480-274 or at ed.nicholson@888holdings.com