Poker Agency Poker Icons Making Moves

Lance Bradley | February 12, 2009

joao-barbosa

Joao Barbosa is the first to benefit from the Poker Icons/Vegas Group AB merger.

The past week has been a busy one for Per Hagen, president of player marketing agency Poker Icons.

On Monday the European-based agency announced they had merged with Vegas Group AB, a Swedish poker agency and event planning company, to form Poker Icons AB. Hagen will continue in his role as company president while former Vegas Group AB CEO Lars Kollind will maintain his role as well.

“This deal with Poker Icons is yet another step in our one stop-shop vision. We will, with the players from our own agency, from Poker Icons and the newly signed stars just made official, be representing many of the big names in Poker today including both experienced superstars as well as the hottest upcoming stars,” said Kollind. “We are also looking at new markets such as Russia and South America for instance.”

The merger came about after the two groups worked together on previous projects and both sides feel the fit couldn’t be better.

“Working with Vegas Group over the last couple of months has been a pleasure and I look forward to the continuation,” said Hagen.

Following up that announcement was news that Poker Icons client João Barbosa had signed with Full Tilt Poker. Barbosa, who recently broke the European Poker Tour record for most cashes in a season, is the first Portugese player to sign with Full Tilt.

“I feel very honored and grateful to represent Full Tilt Poker,” said Barbosa, who described signing with the online poker giant as a dream come true. His recent successes include a win at the EPT Polish Open on his 26th birthday last November.

After getting one of their own on board with an endorsement contract Poker Icons added another top European player to their group of players. Finnish superstar Juha Helppi, winner of the EPT High Roller event in Deauville last month, has signed on to be represented by the new agency.

“I need a good agent to help me with many different poker related things. Poker Icons is a company that provides all the help that I need and I look forward to our cooperation,” said Helppi.

Helppi joins a roster that includes 2007 World Series of Poker Europe champion Annette Obrestad, runner-up for 2008 BLUFF Magazine Online Player-of-the-Year Chris “Moorman1″ Moorman and 21-year-old Danish sensation Soren Kongsaard, who was recently signed to Full Tilt Poker.

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