There was a time when young Scandinavian poker phenomenoms were as commopn as internet start-ups. With many looking for investment a short period of boom got everyone excited until capitalist realities, tied in with nature's 'survival of the fittest', seperated the high-minded from the high-skilled.

Just as businesses floundered so did some poker players. But not all of them. Some, call them the Googles and Amazons, went from strength from strength, needed to do little to convince those watching that they were in fact the real deal.

Step forward one of those number Johnny Lodden, who this week became the latest player, and the first Norwegian, to join the talented ranks of Team PokerStars Pro.

New Team PokerStars Pro Johnny Lodden

While Lodden has appeared on this year's European Poker Tour in the familiar colours of PokerStars his first as a Team Pro will be in San Remo next month, followed by the season five grand finale in Monte Carlo a week later.

Lodden's tournament palmares is long. Just last September Lodden finished 11th in the World Series of Poker Europe Main event and in January this year was awarded the title of Norway's best poker player. All this came after he became a feature of the poker press aged just 18, amassing EPT tournament winnings in excess of $245,000 to date.

Johnny, welcome to the team.