No longer can the Hit Squad be taunted with jibes of "Look, here comes the Shit Squad" (okay, I made that one up), as two of their brightest members were recently announced as Blue Square's newest recruits, each receiving a full-time sponsorship deal.
As two of the UK's hottest assets on the poker scene, Praz Bansi and Karl Mahrenholz join the likes of Mickey 'The Worm' Wernick and JP 'Wonderkid' Kelly on the Blue Square team and are set to represent the company from here on in.
Considered to be the 'in form' man, Praz Bansi has enjoyed a magnificent 2007. After his bracelet win at last year's World Series, Praz faced a difficult task in proving that he wasn't a one hit wonder, but with impressive wins at the inaugural Grosvenor Grand Prix in Bolton and the Broadway Festival of Poker a month later, not to mention cashing in April's WPT Championship Final, Praz has inevitabley cemented the respect of his peers and dispelled without doubt any flash-in-the-pan accusations.
As for Karl, well, he's not too far behind. A former financial analyst with Deutsche Bank, the younger Hit Squad member has also had some impressive finishes in major events. He followed up his second place in the Bolton GUKPT with another second place finish in the £500 No limit event at the Walsall GUKPT and is sure to make plenty more final tables as the year progresses.
In addition to playing in high profile events for the company the pair will also contribute writings for the Blue Sq Poker and GUKPT websites.
Good luck to the two of them, wise choices indeed.