This week, the 2008 World Series of Poker Europesm (WSOPE) announced it will be hosting its event under one roof at the Casino at the Empire, LCI's newest club in the heart of London at Leicester Square. The event to be held from September 19 to October 2, 2008, will feature four bracelet events, and start with a new £1,500 No-Limit event. Cash games, satellites and non-bracelet tournaments, in addition to other casino games, will be available at the casino and other London Clubs International (LCI) locations.The schedule is as follows:
September 19th -- Event #1: £1,500 – No-Limit Hold'em Day 1A (3-day event/2 opening days)
September 22nd -- Event #2: £2,500 – H.O.R.S.E. (3-day event)
September 24th -- Event #3: £5,000 – Pot Limit Omaha (3-day event)
September 27th -- Event #4: £10,000 – World Championship No-Limit Hold'em (5-day event)
"We are eagerly anticipating World Series of Poker Europe this year," said Ty Stewart, World Series of Poker Director of Marketing. "We have enhanced the schedule to provide more variety and game play, greatly broadened the worldwide television exposure and have brought the event under one roof to better the player experience for this prestigious and premiere event."
Professional poker players have already started to buy in directly including the final table participants from the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas held earlier this month. November Nines participants, whose fate will be decided a month after WSOP Europe, are scheduled to participate, including Ivan Demidov, Peter Eastgate (right) and David Rheem. These three and any others from the November Nine participants who play, will be seeking the ultimate double of two main event bracelets in one year. Other notable players appearing in 2007 and expected to attend this year include Chris Ferguson, Erick Lindgren, Jennifer Harmon, Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth. "Harrah's has obviously put effort into making a lot of improvements to the event," said 11-time gold bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth. "I would like to make history by being the first American to win a bracelet in Europe."
Players can pre-register for the WSOPE at any LCI venue in the UK and all Harrah's venues in Las Vegas. Alternatively they can try and qualify online exclusively at Betfair Poker. "Empire is excited to be hosting poker's greatest players," said Michael Silberling, COO, London Clubs, International. "Our Leicester Square property provides a fitting backdrop to conduct such a prestigious event like the World Series of Poker Europe."
WSOPE in London complements the WSOP held annually in Las Vegas. The inaugural 2007 event featured 623 entrants competing for £1,305,215 over three tournaments including the Main Event that saw Norway's Annette Obrestad outlast a field that included Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Chan to win the largest amount ever for a female, £1 million – or U.S. $2,013,102.For the first time, and subject to the execution of a definitive agreement, ESPN, the exclusive World Series of Poker telecaster, is scheduled to air eight original hours of coverage of the World Series of Poker Europe in the United States and distribute the tournament globally. This will mark the first time a European poker tournament has received television coverage in the United States.