Poker Superstars
Phil Hellmuth
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As a result of the further growth in popularity of their world class tournament events, the World Poker Tour announced earlier this week that they will be adding a new 'Ladies Poker League' and WPT tournament circuit, entirely based around growing the market around women who play poker.
The circuit will feature a series of events with buy-ins ranging from $300 to $1500 each. So far they plan to keep the price of entry lower than in other WPT events so as to spur greater turn outs and hopefully increase activity. There will also be a WPT Ladies' Championship, much like the regular WPT Championship, that each WPT winner will be automatically invited to.
WPT is excited about this series as a way to enforce the current rise in women play poker. WPT vice president Robyn Moder said: "Women are a rising force in poker. By bringing a WPT ladies league and tour stops to top gaming destinations across the US, we hope to support and perpetuate the evolution of the sport and recognition of the women who play."
The first event in the series will be on Jaunaru 20th 2008 at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, followed by events in Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, CT, Commerce Casino in LA, and Bay 101 in San Jose, CA. The season championship will be a $1,500 buy in event at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and will be filmed for broadcast in the new season of the World Poker Tour when it debuts on its new home, GSN, in 2008.
To make things even better all around, the WPT Ladies Circuit has pledged to donate 15% of their entry proceeds to the championship event to Komen for the Cure, the world's largest grassroots breast cancer awareness group.
Here's more information on the tournament circuit from the WPT website:
DATE LOCATION BUY-IN
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January 20 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Buy-in: $300
Atlantic City, NJ Entry Fee: $50
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Commerce Casino
Los Angeles, CA Buy-in: $970
February 2-3 In association with Entry Fee: $95
Ladies Poker Association
(LPA)
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Bay 101
San Jose, CA Buy-in: $300
March 16 In association with Ladies Entry Fee: $30
International Poker Series
(LIPS)
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March 29 Foxwoods Resort & Casino Buy-in: $530
Mashantucket, CT Entry Fee: $70
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WPT Ladies' Championship Bellagio Buy-in: $1,500
April 13-14: Tournament(b) Las Vegas, NV Entry Fee: $90
April 25: Final Table(c)
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Schedule subject to change.
(b) WPT will provide up-to-the-minute coverage including blogs, interviews, chip counts and more from the tournament floor. Visit WPT Live Updates at www.worldpokertour.com for live coverage from the WPTL Championship at Bellagio.
(c) WPT Televised Final Table
January 10, 2008 |
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