Poker News

WSOP set to take off once again

2006-10-30 17:20:00

New legislation and changes in the entry qualifications have not dampened enthusiasm for the latest World Series of Poker (WSOP) event, according to a tournament spokesman.

The event, one of the main highlights on the year's gambling calendar, saw an upsurge in interest after unknown Chris Moneymaker won the prestigious gold bracelet in 2003. That year there were 839 participants in the main event, whereas last year saw 8,773 players get through to the final rounds.

WSOP spokesman Gary Thompson is confident that online qualifiers, who make up a significant proportion of the tournament's participants due to the fact that they can avoid the $10,000 buy-in, would find a way to play in the 2007 event.

Exploiting a loophole whereby players pay their own entry fees directly having been bankrolled by online companies accounted for 2,000 entries this year, Thompson said.

Last year's winner Jamie Gold, who took home the $12 million prize pot with a hand, is expected to defend his crown in 2007. Celebrities who made it to last year's main event include Lennox Lewis and Charles Barkley.



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