PokerStars launched on 9/11 — one of the darkest days in modern history.
PokerStars opened its public beta on September 11, 2001, the same day the 9/11 attacks shook the US and the world.
The launch itself had been planned in advance. Terrence Chan wrote the announcement the night before, saved it, went to bed and sent it the following morning. Only after sending the message did he check the news and realize what was happening in New York.
Steve Badger, one of PokerStars’ earliest employees, later documented the story, which has remained one of the more unusual footnotes in the company’s history.
Twenty-five years later, we look back at how PokerStars ended up going live on that day.