Johnny Lodden Named First Norwegian Team PokerStars Pro
This week PokerStars announced the signing of poker pro Johnny Lodden, making him the first Norwegian Team PokerStars Pro. The signing tops off a terrific year for the 24-year-old from Jørpeland, highlighted by a 17th-place finish at the EPT Grand Finale in Monte Carlo last April and an 11th place at last fall's World Series of Poker Main Event in London. Those finishes, along with several other significant cashes, led to Lodden being named Norway's best poker player in January.
"This signing is fantastic for PokerStars.com, Johnny Lodden, and the Norwegian poker community," said an enthusiastic Thomas Udness, Marketing Manager for PokerStars.com in Norway. "Since his breakthrough in 2004 Johnny has played on a really high level," added Udness, noting that he "deserves the title as the first Norwegian Team PokerStars Pro."
A highly successful online player for several years, Lodden has amassed over half a million dollars in live tournament winnings since his first cash at the 2004 St. Maarten Open, with more than half of that total coming within the last twelve months. Lodden has been a constant presence of late on the European Poker Tour, cashing eight times in the last three years.
The announcement of Lodden's signing comes just in time for the Norwegian Poker Championships beginning this weekend in Nottingham. From there, Lodden will travel to the PokerStars European Poker Tour San Remo event next month before heading to Monte Carlo for the EPT Season Five Finale.
