Hosted by 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event Winner Joe Hachem, PokerStars held a “PokerStars Champions Reception” and invited select media to attend. Hachem acted as the host and gave a speech about the site and how important the relationship is for him. He went on to talk about how many players that PokerStars sent to the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event (the number was over one thousand) and how the site is still going strong.
Later in the speech he welcomed 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Joe Cada, who admitted he’s not much of a speech guy but thanked PokerStars for their sponsorship and to the media for attending the event. He talked about what winning the WSOP Main Event meant for him and how PokerStars has supported him every step of the way.
Cada then handed off the microphone to the first of the two newest members of Team PokerStars Pro in David Williams. Williams, who won the World Poker Tour’s Five Diamond Championship at the Bellagio in Las Vegas earlier in the year, was able to opt out of his contract with his former sponsor at Bodog. He then went on to sign with the world’s largest poker site and become part of the team. Off the record it was overheard that Hachem, upon seeing Williams at the party for the first time, shook his hand and said with a big smile, “Welcome to a REAL poker site!” as Williams returned the handshake and smile, obviously excited for his new sponsorship.
Finally, the second new member of Team PokerStars Pro, Vanessa Selbst, came on the stage to say a few words. She talked about her win at the NAPT which was much publicized and how she came out of semi-retirement to play again full time once PokerStars made an offer for her to come aboard the team.
This reception speech was filmed just prior to the start of the 2010 WSOP Main Event from the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. We will be bringing interviews from this reception with members of Team PokerStars all through this week.
