Sam Grafton Becomes One of Six Pros to Join PokerStars

April 7th, 2021 | by Kaycee James

Sam Grafton and Parker Talbot are among six new players to become official ambassadors for PokerStars.

PokerStars has signed six players, including Sam Grafton, to help raise its profile in key areas. (Image: PokerStars)

Grafton has been grinding since the early days of the poker boom. He started out playing in London’s infamous Gutshot Club before making his name online. Add to that a $1.5 million win at EPT Barcelona in 2019 and the man known as squid has earned his stripes.

Talbot may not have been around as long as Grafton, but he’s shot to prominence in the last seven years. As well as $750,000+ in live earnings, the Canadian has over $3 million in online cashes under the moniker tonkaaaaP.

Hard Work Pays Off for Grafton and Talbot

The two players will continue plying their trade in live events and online but with the added benefit of support from PokerStars. Naturally, there will be mutual benefits for all involved.

As well as being strong players in their own right, Grafton and Talbot have become popular figures on social media.

WE BACK BAYYYBEEE!!! will be back livestreaming on twitch a few times a week. no schedule at the moment naturally, but I will promise Sunday streams and ANY 215+ day2 stream. really looking forward to this year and streaming/getting wild with all my good buds on the team! https://t.co/GPl3vojz2S
— Parker Talbot (@tonkaaaap) April 5, 2021

Talbot hosts his own Twitch streams, while Grafton is a regular analyst for PokerStars’ tournament broadcasts.

“I’m really excited to join the team and I was really excited when I heard tonkaaaaP was coming on board at the same time. I’ve really enjoyed working with PokerStars over the last year and now I’m contractually obliged to turn up anytime Joe Stapleton requests a commentary buddy,” Grafton said on April 6.

Joining Grafton and Talbot is another familiar face, Andre Coimbra. The Portuguese pro was previously part of Team PokerStars but retired from the game in 2017.

His departure from poker meant he didn’t renew his contract with PokerStars. Fast-forward four years and he’s back.

This time, as well as setting his sights on a major title, Coimbra wants to entertain the masses.

“Andre returns to the team and is coming back with goals of growing his Twitch and social media communities,” reads PokerStars’ press release.

PokerStars Pushing for Dominance Online

Completing the line-up of recent recruits are three up-and-coming players. Lasse Jagd Lauritsen, Keith Becker, and Mark Foresta don’t have the poker résumés of their colleagues.

However, they all have a presence on Twitch. PokerStars has been working to increase its social media presence in recent years, particularly in the live streaming area.

As well as its own channel, the poker operator has a stable of pros that stream from various PokerStars platforms around the world.

Lauritsen et al will add to this growing online presence. In fact, what’s most notable is that Becker and Foresta both live in Pennsylvania.

This means they’ll be streaming from PokerStars PA. That’s a first for the company and something that could help cement its status in the state before other operators launch their products later in the year.