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Online Poker Qualification Underway for the Poker Ashes 2009 With Shane Warne and Darren Gough

- Use Sign Up Code ASHES100 to Qualify for the Poker Ashes 2009 on 888.com and Play Poker on SKY SPORTS With Cricket Legends Shane Warne and Darren Gough

888.com, in conjunction with TV production company Winmedia, today announces details of the Poker Ashes 2009 which will see four lucky online poker players win their way onto either theEngland or Australian teams to compete in this innovative televised poker tournament to be broadcast on SKY SPORTS 2 from July 15 to 19.

The Poker Ashes 2009 will seeEngland, led by formerYorkshire captain Darren Gough, andAustralia, captained by legendary bowler Shane Warne, do battle to see which nation holds the aces off the crease.

Qualification for places on each of the teams is now underway at 888.com and players can sign up at http://promo.888.com/pokerashes/?sr=XXXXXX using sign up code ASHES100.

Players fromAustralia can start qualification for the Poker Ashes online final being held on June 7 at 8 p.m. through daily free rolls from Monday to Saturday at 8 p.m. AEST or through the daily $5 US buy in Poker Ashes satellite at 8:45 p.m. AEST.

English players can begin qualification for online their online final being held on June 7 at 8 p.m. through the weekly free roll each Thursday at 8 p.m. or in the $1 US satellites being held from Saturday to Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Each team consists of four international cricketers and two online qualifiers in a format that will see five 'test matches' to be filmed in London on June 22 and 23.

As part of the Poker Ashes 2009, sponsor 888.com will be donating $50,000 US to the charity of choice of the winning team - the Shane Warne Foundation forAustralia and the Professional Cricket Association forEngland.

Aussie captain Shane Warne said of the upcoming Poker Ashes, "Aussies don't like to be beaten by the Poms - whatever the sport. And I can tell you that Darren Gough and his English Poker Ashes team will face a stern test from our boys! We are taking this very seriously - I'm getting the very best poker players from the Aussie changing rooms, and you Poms are set for an absolute flogging!"

Players can get further details of this event at their local cricket clubs.

The event, produced by Ian Langstaff and Winmedia, will be broadcast on in the UK at 10 p.m. from July 15 to 19 on SKY SPORTS 2 in the UK as well as Australia,India,South Africa, andNew Zealand. The lucky online qualifiers will receive tournament entry, travel and accommodation expenses, $1,000 US spending money and a package of autographed cricket memorabilia.

SOURCE 888.com