World PokerTour
satellite competitions were being announced this week and from Albuquerque,
NM to Verona, NY casinos and international online poker rooms are
getting in on the action by providing poker enthusiasts a low-cost
way to play their way into the prestigious $25,500-a-seat World Poker
finale. The event is expected to attract 1000 players with an estimated
prize pool of $25 million.
The international online poker rooms currently interested include
PartyPoker.com, UltimateBet.com, PokerStars.com, bodog.com, TigerGaming.com,
and PokerChamps.com.
“Poker is the ultimate democratic sport; anyone can rise
to the occasion,” says Steve Lipscomb, founder and president.
“We are pleased to bring the opportunity to win a seat
in our World Poker Championships to so many properties across the
country, enabling thousands more players to get a shot at our record
prize money. We tip our cap to the satellite affiliates and thank
them for helping us grow this grassroots entry system.”
In April 2004, Martin de Knijff of Stockholm, Sweden, prevailed over
342 players, to take home a first-place $2,728,356-cut of the $8,342,000
pie. However, he sat at a final table with three relative unknowns,
including two college students who collectively took home $1,164,311,
once again proving everyone has a serious shot at the WPT World Championship
prize pool.
Should a player win one of the coveted satellite spots at a regional
or online casino, he or she will receive from the hosting poker room
the $25,000 + $500 buy-in, round-trip airfare and accommodations at
the Bellagio.
The World Poker Tour, the show that reinvented poker as a televised
spectator sport, will broadcast 16 new tournaments filmed at leading
casinos and exotic locales from Las Vegas to Paris, beginning with
the launch of its third season in March 2005.