Qualifying Begins for Third Annual Carnival PokerPro Challenge Onboard All of the Line's "Fun Ships"

PokerTek, Inc. and Carnival Cruise Lines are pleased to announce the third annual Carnival PokerPro Challenge poker tournament. This premier event attracts poker players from around the world who compete in satellite tournaments for a chance to win a seat in the final event that is guaranteed to pay $75,000 in cash prizes.

Players qualify by winning a satellite tournament between now and November 2010 aboard any of Carnival's 22 "Fun Ships." Players can also qualify by playing at participating land-based properties featuring PokerPro. The Final Event will be held on board the Carnival Destiny the week of January 29, 2011.

"Players have enjoyed this event each year since it began in 2008, and we are very pleased to continue the Carnival PokerPro Challenge in partnership with PokerTek," said Rodney Dofort, Senior Vice President of Casino Operations for Carnival Cruise Lines' parent company, Carnival Corporation & PLC. "Texas Hold'em on PokerPro has grown to be a very popular amenity in our casinos, and we're looking forward to offering our players a chance to participate in this large-scale tournament."

"This event has been a proven success for the last two years, and we are excited to bring this popular tournament back for 2010," said PokerTek President James Crawford. "Carnival Cruise Lines has done an excellent job facilitating this exciting event, and we expect this year to have the largest turnout yet."

Tournaments will be played on state-of-the-art PokerPro tables, the only poker tables available across Carnival's fleet. The tables clearly and quickly display players' commitments and table stakes, pot amount and community cards. PokerPro tables also identify the winners at the end of each hand and immediately add the winnings to the player's table stakes.

Players who play in the satellite event on board one of Carnival's ships will pay a $150 entry fee. First-place winners of the satellite tournaments will win a $750 entry to the "Grand Final Event," to be held from January 29 -- February 3, 2011 on the Carnival Destiny sailing from Miami. In addition, winners will receive a cash prize or a cruise certificate.

Anyone having played in a 2008, 2009 or 2010 PokerPro satellite round on board a Carnival ship will receive a 20% discount ($150) off the purchase of a guaranteed Grand Final entry seat. Subject to availability, Grand Final seats can also be purchased by any passenger on the cruise itself for $750.

Players qualifying at PokerPro land-based properties will win a $750 entry to the "Grand Final Event" and a cruise certificate. Buy-ins, payouts and additional prizes at land-based properties featuring PokerPro will vary. Check official rules at each property. The Final Event prize pool is starting at $75,000 guaranteed with room for expansion pending player participation.

News Added: 10 May, 2010

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