PartyGaming to build first grassroots poker team; hired Ian Fraser

PartyPoker is to create its first ever grassroots poker team to compete at major poker events.

PartyPoker.com has previously stayed out of the player sponsorship market with the exception of main site ambassador Mike Sexton, but has sponsored UK player Ian Frazer as the new team’s first member.

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “The sponsored player and grassroots team initiative will continue to grow, with all VIPs reviewed for suitability. We are looking for players that have shown themselves to have star quality in their play but who are also fun, humorous and possess a strong character and willingness to co-operate. Our extensive international television distribution gives players the chance of brilliant exposure.”

VIPs, loyal players and players with historic links to PartyPoker will form the basis of the team.

Ian ‘The Raiser’ Frazer, a 50-year-old building contractor from London with live tournament winnings of over US$1.3m, started playing online at the site in 2004, and has finished on the final table of five offline Party tournaments.

Frazer will host invitation-only private tournaments on PartyPoker.com and represent PartyPoker.com at events at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, on which he has started blogging on the PartyPoker blog. As reported on EGRmagazine.com ,WSOP owner Harrah’s recently hired former PartyGaming boss Mitch Garber to establish new subsidiary Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment to manage the WSOP.

In other poker news this week, EGRmagazine.com revealed that billionairre Bodog maverick Calvin Ayre is launching a new poker network; while state governor Charlie Grist signed a bill to undertake a study into the impact of legalised intrastate online poker on Florida; and the Poker Voters of America’s top lobbyist said the bill to legalise intrastate poker in California will be a “smooth sail”.