A new strategic alliance between social game developer Zynga and the World Series of Poker will ultimately award players with seats to this year's World Series of Poker.

"Zynga will host several 'Shootout' tournaments on their Texas Hold'Em Facebook application, offering two skilled poker winners the chance to win a seat in the WSOP Main Event, where fame, fortune and the richest prize in sports awaits the victor," read a press release.

The Shootout tournaments begin June 8 and run until June 22 with 18 winners being randomly chosen to partake in the Final Showdown which will go June 29 and 30.

From there two players will win roundtrip flights to Las Vegas, a three-night stay at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino as well as passes for WSOP player's lounge and a tour of the WSOP backstage area.

The game developer has Facebook's top game application, free Texas Hold'em Poker, which sees in excess of 12 million users every month, and seeing a partnership between one of Facebook's top apps and one of poker's most recognizable brands only makes sense.

"We built our Texas Hold’Em Poker game into the largest game on Facebook by keeping an eye on what is important to our players," explained Zynga CEO Mark Pincus.

"We know that poker is a lifestyle which includes playing online and offline, and watching it on TV. This partnership is an opportunity to bring those worlds together."

The World Series of Poker is popular but it can still grow and a deal with Zynga can aid with that says WSOP VP Craig Abrahams.

"Any poker player knows the Holy Grail is to win the Main Event of the World Series of Poker," said Abrahams.

"Now for the first time, we’re reaching fans in a new way, through Zynga's platform. Players from all over the world can play the free Texas Hold’Em game from the convenience of their own living rooms, and win a seat to the biggest poker tournament in the world."

More information here.