Maria Konnikova parted ways with PokerStars in 2019. Yet, the poker operator recently signed a deal with the renowned author, who has gradually grown to be a successful poker player. It appointed her on Thursday to represent its North America division.
Konnikova is the fourth PokerStars ambassador to rejoin it in a second term. She will highlight its ventures in the Ontario and U.S. gaming markets.
The New York Times bestselling author stated that she was excited to rejoin team PokerStars as its ambassador. She added that poker is a skill game that teaches players a lot about themselves and their minds. Also, she is eager to share her passion for the game with her teammates.
PokerStars has a great vision for the U.S., and it is determined to expand its client base. Konnikova is happy to enlighten the world more about poker and help it view its beauty.
Konnikova has a Ph.D. in psychology and is a three-time bestselling author. Her interest in poker grew after discovering John von Neumann’s Game Theory, which the world of poker greatly influenced. The author met with Erik Seidel, a Poker Hall of Fame inductee in 2016.
The two players partnered for over a year as Konnikova learned more about poker. She occasionally pushed her potential in the game and narrated her experiences in “The Biggest Bluff’ book.
Her Poker Career
Konnikova played her first poker event at a 2017 PokerStars live Monte Carlo event. She won $84,000 and the prestigious $30,000 PSPC Platinum pass in the 2018 PCA National Championship. This made her the first female poker player with such an achievement.
Even so, Konnikova has accumulated more than $450,000 in poker event earnings. PokerStars first signed the author as its ambassador in June 2018.
Her prowess in poker greatly affected her writing project. It prompted her to extend the book’s deadline before she published it in 2020.
Steve Preiss, PokerStars North America’s Vice President, stated that Konnikova has unique communication skills. He believes that she will help the gaming operator expand its games portfolio and meet its client’s needs.
Konnikova’s return to PokerStars matches with the resumption of its North American Poker Tour (NAPT) in the country after being unavailable for 12 years. PokerStars merged the North American “COOP” series using the NACOOP banner as it increased its commitment to the region’s poker market. Konnikova is interested in taking part in this November’s NAPT tour in Las Vegas.
She will compete in the USCOOP series constituting the Michigan and New Jersey shared liquidity network. Also, Konnikova will play at the October 2 Ten-Deuce tournament. It is a freeroll tournament specially held to honor the late Doyle Brunson’s legacy.
Konnikova’s return to PokerStars is the first addition to its ambassador list since November 2022. She met Jennifer Shahade and David Kaye. Other PokerStars ambassadors that have rejoined it include Andre Coimbra, Ronaldo, and Neymar Jr.
