September 23, 2010

World Series of Poker Europe main event begins today

The fifth and final event of the fourth annual World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) – the celebrated £10,350 buy-in championship main event – kicks off later today in London as more than three hundred poker players and aficionados from across the world are expected to battle it out over the next six days to win the celebrated gold bracelet and a top prize of some £750,000.

The £10,350 buy-in no limit hold’em main event will begin at 12:00 BST today at the Casino at the Empire in London, with play on the final table taking place on Tuesday. A top prize of some £750,000 is expected to be awarded to the winner, from a total prize pool of more than £3m.

Past winners of the WSOPE main event include inaugural winner Annette Obrestad who made history as the youngest ever gold bracelet winner at the age of 18; U.S pro John Juanda who won after the longest finale in the 41-year history of the WSOP - 19 hours and 10 minutes; while last year’s event was won by another U.S pro Barry Shulman.

For the first time, a same-day internet stream with hole cards will be featured for the final two days of the WSOPE next Monday and Tuesday. Coverage will showcase the 27 players who start on Monday, with action continuing until nine players remain at the final table. Viewing of the final table will begin Tuesday at noon and continue until the event champion is crowned.

ESPN3.com, ESPN’s 24/7 sports broadband network, will stream the event in the U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and Brazil.

The coverage will show players’ hole cards with a five-hour delay, also a first. As has been standard with WSOPE coverage, the event will also be carried on television globally, with broadcasts scheduled during the upcoming winter.

“ESPN is committed to delivering the best poker content to fans, and ESPN3 is the ideal format to showcase this great event as it happens,” said Doug White, senior director of programming and acquisitions for ESPN.

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