World Poker Exchange announced the line up for it's much anticipated London Open Tournament 2005 this week. The player list includes poker celebrities like Max Pescatori, Tony Bloom and Antonio Esfandiari, but most impressive of all, Doyle Brunson.
Doyle Brunson, also know as "Texas Dolly", won the World Series of Poker in 1976 and 1977, and has won ten World Series of Poker bracelets during his long career, including this year's No Limit Short-handed event.
World Poker Exchange's Managing Director Haden Ware said more well known professional poker players are expected to play in the London Open, but "With the UK activities of late, a great number of players have expressed intent to play but are waiting to see if things quiet down a bit before committing. This makes the gauging the final number of pro players difficult to assess, and therefore the players that compete may have extremely favorable odds due to the guaranteed minimum pot".
The London Open 2005, to be held at the famous Old Billingsgate Market on the banks of the Thames, is not an ordinary poker tournament. It has been labeled by some insiders as a "lifestyle tournament", because it combines a four day $2 million poker tournament with various "lifestyle" events, like a private concert, a separate charity tournament and VIP Reception featuring South London-based funky pop act Dirty Vegas, international chanteuse and "Queen of the Nightclub" Grace Jones, and celebrity club and party DJs Guy Preston and Jason Moore.
The London Open will be broadcast as a Bravo primetime TV special "World Poker Exchange London Open."