Poker News

The WSOP have annouced this week that their Tournament of Champions will have 20 out of the 27 seats awarded by the votes of poker fans.  This is a new move by the WSOP in an effort to engage its fanbase and give them some ownership of the tournament.  The tournament of champions is a $1 million dollar event. 

HIE Vice President Ty Stewart said,  "We're thrilled to reinvent it around a model that should elevate the game by engaging millions of poker fans.  We have received a lot of input from players and their affinity for the TOC, and we are excited for them and the fans and hope its here to stay."

Two seats will be allocated by WSOP organisers nearer the time and 5 of the seats are given in automatic entry.  These are the current WSOP and WSOPE champions Joe Cada and Barry Shulman have seats.  The other three go to previous Tournament of Champions winners - Annie Duke, Mike Sexton and Mike Matusow.

Fans can vote for any living WSOP bracelet winner.  There are 521 to choose from.  You can vote at www.wsop.com  You can vote now and the ballot ends on the 15th June at midnight.

This year the WSOP is being held in the Rio All Suite Hotel, Las Vegas.  It starts on the 27th June 2010 and the final table begins 4th July.  Just to add to the celebrations of such a great American day.

If you are reading this and thinking, 'I wish I was playing Poker in a massive tournament,'  Why don't you do something about it.  The Irish Poker Open qualifiers are running in most poker rooms.  For UK and European players I would recommend William Hill.  The have a £400 100% match deposit bonus and there are lots of ways to qualify and win a package to the event.  Go to William Hill for more details.

For our cousins across the pond I would suggest Cake Poker as there is less competition than the likes of PokerStars or Fulltilt.   They have WSOP qualifiers running now with 110% match deposit bonus for first time deposits,  Go to Cake Poker for more details.