PokerStars launches five-minute poker tournaments

PokerStars has launched a new five-minute tournament format called “Beat The Clock”as the firm continues its push toward recreational players.

The four-player game sees players trying to survive until a five-minute timer runs out, with prizes then distributed in proportion to the players’ chip stacks at the end of the tournament.

The new format is inspired by the company’s new strategy to maximise “winning moments”for its players and shift the focus away from grinders towards recreational players.

In Monday’s Q3 earnings call, Amaya CEO Rafi Ashkenazi said the strategy was already paying dividends, with poker revenues only down around 1% year-on-year for the quarter, despite the negative effects of Euro 2016 and casino cannibalisation.

Severin Rasset, director of poker innovation and operations at PokerStars, said: “We are constantly looking to innovate at PokerStars and believe Beat The Clock is a great new addition to our poker offering.”

“It’s the perfect format for those who want to fit in some quick, intense poker action and is ideal for mobile play, where, in just five minutes, players can experience all the emotions and excitement that only poker provides.”

The new format will be backed by a TV ad campaign hitting screens worldwide this week featuring Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Beat The Clock requires you to think and act quickly with a high level of skill, which gives me the same rush of excitement that I experience on the pitch,”Ronaldo said.

“The timed element of this game makes it fun to play and means I can get that quick adrenaline fix on the move.”