Uk-Poker.co.uk

When international and UK online poker sites announce sponsorship deals with selected players, there are usually few surprises. Generally speaking, poker sites will head-hunt the most talented and successful professional players. Full Tilt Poker has Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Gus Hansen, Patrik Antonius and Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan; Poker Stars has Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem, Vanessa Rousso and Chris Moneymaker; and Ultimate Bet has Phill Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Liv Boeree and Adam Levy among many others. In short, many of the top international and UK online poker sites sponsor only those players who can represent the game in a professional and successful way, which is why Ladbrokes Poker’s decision to sponsor Boyzone star Shane Lynch has raised a few eyebrows.

According to a number of sources, Lynch has become something of a ‘drifter’ since Boyzone took a break from singing; however, this does not mean that the former pop music star has spent his free time coasting aimlessly from one point to another. On the contrary, Lynch has become a huge star in drifting, which is fast becoming one of the UK’s most popular motor sports. In swapping the steering wheel for a deck of cards, Lynch will enjoy a year long sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes Poker that will take him to the WSOP in Las Vegas and Irish Poker Festival in Dublin.

Ladbrokes Poker will also sponsor Lynch to play the game online, as he is seen as a person with whom many amateur players could identify. Talking about the deal, Lynch said: “I’d always been a bit intimidated by the poker scene; I’d seen it on TV and found the whole thing a bit baffling. But having spent time with the Ladbrokes players at a few events last year, I’ve seen that you don’t need to be an expert to give it a go”. Head of Ladbrokes Poker, Kate McLennan, said: “Shane is the perfect ambassador… he’s a great guy”.