PartyPoker.com Premier League Poker III starts tonight - 05/01/2009

The PartyPoker.com Premier League Poker III begins on Channel 4 tonight - the first of a 15 week run starting at 1.35am.

Another former star wins on the European Tour

The line up for the third instalment of the Premier League is boosted by five formidable new faces - the youngest WSOP Main Event winner Peter Eastgate, internet sensation Tom "Durrrr" Dwan, WSOPE champ Annette Obrestad, Asian Poker Tour ambassador JC Tran and WSOP bracelet winner Nenad Medic.

Premier League Poker II champion Andy Black is back to defend his title, with Phil Hellmuth gunning for Eastgate, who broke his record as the youngest WSOP Main Event winner. Tony G and Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott return to the league along with Roland de Wolfe, Vicky Coren and Premier League Poker I winner Juha Helppi. The stakes are high with the buy-in elevated to $75,000 and the added money raised to $350,000, making a total prize pool of $1.25million.

Eddie Hearn, Director of Online Gaming at Matchroom Sport said: "The reason Matchroom Sport became involved with poker is because we love the game. We wanted to deliver a dream dozen for the fans and this is without doubt the most exciting line up in poker history. The Premier League is an arena where greatness is on display and genius happens - twelve of the games biggest ever talents will face off for over a million dollars in what will be the greatest poker spectacle of all time."