Football Legend Ronaldo Strikes it Big in Bahamas at PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

NASSAU, Bahamas, January 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Original Ronaldo Shows His Skills On The Green Felt As He Competes At Major Poker Event

Brazilian football legend and three-time FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldo has been spotted playing poker in the Bahamas this week. He is competing in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event and has his eye on the top prize of more than $1.4 million. The cash prize is only part of it though, as "El Fenómeno" proves he belongs alongside some of the best in the business as the Main Event of the festival heats up.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150112/724391-a )
     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150112/724391-b )

Ronaldo has already created a new record at this prestigious poker tournament however as he has gone the furthest out of any other sports star in the PCA's 10-year history - breaking Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia's record of 52nd place set in 2012.

Commenting on the experience, Ronaldo said: "I'm really excited, it's the same emotion I used to have at the soccer fields playing at the highest level.

"The experience has been great. My first goal was to get a prize in a big tournament. I did that and now my focus is to get as deep as I can in the challenge - to get to the final table."

After his clash with tennis superstar Rafa Nadal in a heads-up poker charity event in late 2014, Ronaldo was determined to improve his game and has obviously been spending time working on his poker strategy. With less than 35 players left from an original field of 816, Ronaldo is proving he can battle alongside some of the best in the poker world and currently stands to win at least $31,820 for his efforts. However the hopes are he can keep his calm and focus and make it all the way to the $1,491,580 top prize. Support is flooding in with celebrities and sports fans voicing their encouragement on Twitter with the hashtag #GoRonaldoPCA

The heat is on for the poker-playing football hero and his attempts at gold are currently being featured and followed on the PCA webcast: http://www.pokerstars.tv/live/ 

About PokerStars
PokerStars operates the world's most popular online poker sites, serving the global poker community. Since it launched in 2001, PokerStars has become the first choice of players all over the world, with more daily tournaments than anywhere else and with the best security online. More than 120 billion hands have been dealt on PokerStars, which is more than any other site.

PokerStars.com and PokerStars.eu operate globally under licenses from the Isle of Man and Malta governments, respectively. PokerStars also holds separate government licenses in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

PokerStars is a member of The Rational Group, which operates gaming-related businesses and brands, including PokerStars, Full Tilt and the European Poker Tour. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Rational Group companies in the UK and Isle of Man won recognition as one of the best workplaces in the UK being awarded a top 25 position by the Great Place to Work Institute's Best Workplaces - Large category rankings. Rational Group entities in Costa Rica and Dublin also achieved the same accolade in their respective local rankings in 2014. PokerStars is owned by Amaya Inc. (TSX: AYA).

SOURCE PokerStars