Two top up and coming poker professionals, 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe bracelet winner Scott Shelley and noted billiards/poker pro Toni Judet, have recently signed sponsorship deals with two of the top online poker sites in the industry.
The signing of Judet, who hails from Bucharest, Romania, to the Team PokerStars Pro roster might be a surprise to some, but it is a well deserved sponsorship. Judet, for years a billiards champion, picked up poker about five years ago. The move from one green felt to another has been quite profitable for the burgeoning poker pro.
According to the Hendon Mob database, Judet earned his first cash at the European Poker Tour’s (EPT) stop in Prague, Czech Republic in 2007, finishing in 53rd place for a €6,380 payday. Since that time, he won a side event during the EPT Grand Final schedule – for a windfall of €156,500 – in 2008 and, later that year, went on to finish 22nd in the WSOP Main Event for $257,334.
Judet has continued his tremendous success over the past two years. He captured the title in the Casinos Austria Poker Tour (CAPT) Bregenz Open in 2009. Most recently, he cashed at the EPT Deauville earlier this year and just missed the final table in a side event at EPT Snowfest. For his career, Judet has amassed a very respectable $761,277 in earnings. Judet becomes the first Romanian signed to the Team PokerStars Pro roster and he should continue to carry the banner for the site throughout EPT stops across the continent and around the world.
England’s Shelley is probably a more recognizable name than Judet and his achievements on the felt more than warrant his sponsorship through PKR. The newest member of Team PKR Pro, Shelley began his trip through the poker world by working with PKR through their customer service team. In 2009 – after winning a tournament for staff members of PKR – he made his first stab at the WSOP Europe in a £1,000 No Limit Hold’em event, where he didn’t cash, but made a run to 75th place.
His performance on the felt this year would prove to be his big breakout into the tournament poker scene. He stepped to the felt once again for the WSOPE’s £1,000 No Limit Hold’em tournament, which drew an outstanding field of 582 players that included top names such as Phil Hellmuth, Tom “durrrr” Dwan, and Phil Ivey. Shelley eventually reached heads-up play against defending champion J.P. Kelly and defeated him for the title, earning a nice £133, 857 bankroll boost and, perhaps more importantly, a bracelet.
Shelley was quite humbled by the attention his championship has earned him as well as the new sponsorship with PKR. “The last two weeks have been life changing and joining Team PKR Pro has been the icing on the cake,” Shelley commented during his sponsorship announcement. “It is a privilege and an honor to join the likes of the current team members and I can’t wait to start representing PKR at future events!”
Scott’s first tournament as a member of Team PKR Pro will be the London Calling poker festival, also sponsored by PKR, in November. “I’m looking forward to showing PKR and its community what I can do,” continued Shelley. “I aim for some more big wins, and, most importantly, increasing my bracelet collection.” Shelley joins other Team PKR Pro members Marc “Waswini” Bariller, Sofia “wellbet” Lövgren, and 2009 Asian Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) High Roller Champion Vladimir “Beyne” Geshkenbein in representing the site in tournaments around the world.