PokerWorks

What do mountain climbers and poker players have in common? Well for one, they both aim high. To reach the top, either in a poker tournament or climbing a mountain, is the ultimate goal for players and climbers.

Mount Everest has long been known for being a dream of many a mountaineer. To conquer that mountain would be an achievement of a lifetime. Now poker players and mountain climbers have another thing in common, the dream of getting to the top of Everest. In this case, it is Everest Poker that is providing the challenge to poker players, and poker playing mountaineers.

Everest Poker has announced they will be forming a poker team to play in major tournaments around the globe. The team will be comprised of ten players, all amateurs, who will qualify to be on the team by playing in a series of tournaments on the Everest Poker. There will be 20 qualifying tournaments every Tuesday, starting in November and running until March 2008. The top 10 finishers in each of the tournaments will then audition for a spot on the team.

A panel of judges will interview each of the 200 potential team members. The panel is looking for players with personality, integrity and a love of poker. The lucky 10 who are chosen for the Everest team will receive a prize package worth $100,000 that includes buy-ins to eight major tournaments and travel expenses.

In a press release, Jennifer Joyce, Vice President of Marketing for Everest Poker said: "We have helped bring poker to Europe, providing amateurs with many learning opportunities and live events for players to improve their skills, so it only seemed natural for us to seek out spokespeople from within the amateur poker community."

Not only is Everest going to be sponsoring a team, but they have also signed with Cristiano Blanco, the Italian poker pro. Everest will sponsor him in several tournaments in Europe including the WSOP Europe and the Italian Championship. When not playing in a tournament, Blanco will be playing at Everest Poker, giving players a chance to not only play with a pro, but to read his blog as well.

In March, Blanco finished second in the European Poker Tour event and a month later, came in fourth at the Torneo Di Poker Tournament. According to Everest Poker Property Manager Jonathan May; "Cristiano's star is rising and Everest Poker is very happy to offer him the chance to shine. He's a player who's just starting to see his skill really paying off at the poker table."

Want to be a part of the Everest Poker Team ? Sign up at Everest Poker here , use the bonus code PNEWSS2 and get $50.00 on top of the normal $100 sign up bonus. Play on Everest Poker and aim for the top!