MANSION POKER ONLINE QUALIFIERS TRIUMPH IN WSOP* 2007

As the final table in the World Series of Poker* 2007 sits down, MANSION Team PokerNews qualifier Mikkel Madsen from Copenhagen, Denmark can watch on, satisfied knowing he has played the game of his life to finish in 20th place and over $300,000 richer in this year’s Main Event.

The MANSION (http://www.mansion.com) online poker qualifier entered Day Six having survived a rollercoaster Day Five, including a tangle with popular poker pro Scotty Nguyen, to take his place amongst the final 36 players still in the hunt of the ultimate poker dream – that of being crowned the 2007 World Poker Champion .

When the cards were in the air on Day Six at the RIO All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Madsen started out in 25th spot with 2,080,000 in chips and with high hopes for a WSOP* 2007 final table finish.

His dream run finally came to an end when he got “involved” with Raymond Rahme and his Qh-10h ran into the South African’s pair of nines. The flop came 6s-4s-2d, the turn was 7d, and when the river uncovered the 5s, it brought no joy for the Scandinavian.

The unassuming Dane had battled hard throughout his Texas Hold’em adventure, to eventually bank $333,490 for his six days “at the office” up against a total field of 6358 hungry hopefuls.

“It’s been a great ride and a wonderful feeling to win the prize money, but I can’t wait for next year and a chance to progress even further…a WSOP bracelet is definitely the goal,” said Madsen.

“Let’s not make light of this monumental achievement to reach 20th spot out of over 6000 runners; it’s awesome and gives hope to all those who qualify online. Well done Mikkel…that’s $333,490 more reasons for Mikkel and MANSION Poker (http://www.mansionpoker.com) to be proud,” enthused MANSION Poker Ambassador Marc Goodwin.

A total of seven out of the eight Team PokerNews players who made the money qualified for the 2007 Main Event via MANSIONPOKER.com to win a total of $627,536 in prize money.

“This is a fantastic result for MANSION, which has offered incredible value to players since day one, and continues to attract a class style of online player, that can equally hold their own in the toughest of live games,” said Gareth Edwards, Marketing Director for PokerNews.

“We are thrilled to partner with MANSIONPOKER.COM to create such a successful 'Team PokerNews' for the 2007 World Series of Poker,” added Edwards.

When the final table of ten players take to the felt today at 12:00PDT, Madsen will lament his position on the wrong side of the rails, as he considers what could have been. The final table of the main event is the single most exciting night in poker for the year, and the whole world is sweating on just who will be crowned this year’s king of the cards.

Amongst the finalists are 62 year old Rahme, from Johannesburg South Africa, who took down Madsen, the last MANSION Team PokerNews member, plus Madsen’s fellow countryman and final table chip leader, the 31-year old Philip Hilm from Denmark, currently residing in Cambridge in the U.K.

Madsen’s $333,490 poker purse is by far his biggest pay cheque to date, but his burning ambition remains to “win some major titles”.

The MANSION Team PokerNews experience has served to sharpen the 28 year old tournament professional’s resolve for success and respect amongst his poker peers.

Expect to see more of Mikkel Madsen on the world circuit, with upcoming European Poker Tour, World Poker Tour and WSOP circuit events clearly in his sights.

Madsen first parlayed a $100 entry at MANSION Poker into a $12,500 satellite package back in May, to take his place amongst the MANSION Team PokerNews line-up, which gave 56 players from all corners of the globe a real shot at this year’s Main Event millions.

Congratulations to the following Members of MANSION Team PokerNews on some outstanding 2007 WSOP*performances:

20th Mikkel Madsen Denmark $333,490
71st Ed de Haas Netherlands $130,288
355th Nils Ersson Sweden $ 34,664
389th Daniel Goldstein U.K. $ 34,664
397th Oliver Maingay U.K. $ 34,664
462nd Jeppe Nielsen Denmark $ 29,883
466th Andrew Grimason Ireland $ 29,883

Full details of the daily tournament schedule and exciting promotions are available now at www.mansion.com

* World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah’s License Company, LLC (“Harrah’s”). Harrah’s does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, Mansion (Gibraltar) Limited or PokerNews, or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.
* * * * *
For additional media information, please contact:
Kathryn Farrell Communications Manager – MANSION (Gibraltar) Limited
Tel: +350 792 62
Mob: +44 7912 895 804
Email: kathryn.farrell@mansion.com
Gareth Edwards Marketing Director - PokerNews Limited
Mob: + 1 702-425-3222
Email: gareth@pokernews.com

ABOUT MANSION.COM
MANSION.COM is headquartered in Gibraltar and is focused on establishing itself as a leading brand in online Poker, Casino and Sports Exchange. The company is funded by private equity investors who share a passion for the thrill of games of skill and a vision to become the world’s leading multi-platform betting product, providing customers worldwide with premium gaming entertainment.Substantial brand awareness for MANSION has been generated through a key partnership with the English Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, via the innovative Las Vegas based Emmy Award winning televised tournament series, the MANSIONPOKER Poker Dome Challenge, and sponsorship of UK poker professional Marc Goodwin. www.mansion.com
About PokerNews Ltd
PokerNews Ltd incorporates PokerNews.com which is considered to be the independent online poker authority, having been picked by Forbes as "Best of Web" for the Poker category. PokerNews features daily news, reviews of the major poker rooms, live feeds of tournaments available online as well as special bonuses and freerolls, and is available in over 20 different languages. PokerNews Ltd also incorporates PokerNewsCasino and PokerNewsBackgammon, which both provide up-to-date news and information in the PokerNews tradition.