World Series of Poker director forcommunication, Gary Thompson, announced today that the ongoing 2005 WSOP Championship Events prize pool is expected to reach $100 million.

The record prize pool is being driven by the unprecedented number of players paying entry fees to WSOP events. In 2003, the WSOP generated a total of 7,572 player registrations and a total prize pool of nearly $22 million.

The WSOP has a total of 45 events, the 36th annual WSOP is the longest, largest and most prestigious event of its kind. Its unprecedented growth necessitated its move this year from its longtime home in downtown Las Vegas to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino just off the Strip, where the tournament is hosted in a 60,000-square-foot gaming area equipped with 200 poker tables.

Then tournament, which started on June 2, is now done up to 19 events.

In 2004, the total number of player registrations nearly doubled, reaching 14,054 -- and the total prize pool soared to nearly $45 million.

The 2005 WSOP will run through July 15, 2005 with teh final table events to be held at Binions Horseshoe, and will be taped by ESPN.

Technorati: Poker, Online Poker, Poker Tournament, World Series Of Poker, World Poker Tour, Poker Room

Poker News: ESPN has announced the points system for the "2005 Toyota WSOP Player of the Year" award, and we have an updated top 20 through nine events of the WSOP.

Points are awarded to each player who finishes in the money in the following events:

1. The 5 $10,000 buy-in WSOP Circuit Events in Atlantic City, Rincon Indian Reservation in California, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and New Orleans.

2. Each open WSOP preliminary bracelet event.

3. The WSOP World Championship Main Event

No points are awarded in the following events:

1. Casino Employees event

2. Ladies event

3. Seniors' event

4. "Second chance" events held simultaneously with the main event: Events 43, 44, and 45

Points are awarded based on how high a player finishes in the money as well as the size of the field for each event.

To determine the number of points a player earns for finishing in the money, multiply the number of points awarded for each place by the multiplier for the size of the field.

For example, a player who finishes 2nd in a tournament with 1100 players will earn 80 x 2.0 = 160 points.

The tables with the information to see how the points are figured are below, and through the first nine events of the WSOP, the top 20 are.

C. Violette 263 points

A. Cunningham 248

S. Fischman 233

H. Demetriou 225

J. Steinhorn 218

E. Seidel 210

E. Froehlick 200

T. Werthmann 200

J. Harman 197

C. Ferguson 189

M. Gracz 180

T. Ma 170

C.K. Hua 168

A. Esfandiari 167

D. Evilfish 161

L. Flack 160

P. Poels 160

M. Green 158

D. Pham 158

P. Ivey 152

Technorati: Poker, Online Poker, Poker Tournament, World Series Of Poker, World Poker Tour, Poker Room

24 World Series Of Poker (WSOP) Seats up for Grabs!

Win 24 WSOP Seats in 24 Hours! . Win your way into the World Series of Poker now with 24 chances in 24 hours!

Bodog Online Poker The race starts June 11th at 11am (EST) in the Bodog Poker Room, with 24 chances in 24 hours to win your seat to the WSOP! No matter how many people play in the tournament, Bodog will cover the overlay and guarantee the seat. That's right, 24 Bodog players are guaranteed to win a seat to the biggest tournament in poker, all in one day!

Winners will receive the Bodog World Series of Poker prize package worth over $12,500.

The Bodog World Series of Poker package includes their $10,000 buy in to the tournament, airfare, accommodation for their tournament duration, Team Bodog gear, and a ticket to the hottest party of the year - The Bodog party held at the Rain Nightclub at the Palms in Las Vegas.

How to Qualify? Easy!!! Complete information?

• WORLD SERIES OF POKER QUALIFYING MARATHON - 24 SEATS IN 24 HOURS - JUNE 11TH, 2005
• Bodog's World Series of Poker Prize Package worth $12,500!!!

World Series of Poker, World Series Poker, 2005 World Series of Poker, WSOP, 2005 WSOP

Technorati: Poker, Online Poker, Poker Tournament, World Series Of Poker, World Poker Tour, Poker Room