World Championship of Poker in the Pub

The Poker in the Pub National Final will take place in May 2008, and it will bring the second season of Poker in the Pub to a close. The players will be looking to book their seats on the plane to Las Vegas, so that they can experience the thrill of being in the city that never sleeps during the World Series of Poker.

We are sending 10 people in total, as well as some additional members of our team, so I am sure that the lucky winners will have a fabulous time. Here are the prizes:

First: Luxury holiday to Las Vegas for two with $1,000 spending money
Second: Luxury holiday to Las Vegas for two with $500 spending money
Third: Luxury holiday to Las Vegas for two with $250 spending money
Fourth: Luxury holiday to Las Vegas for two with $200 spending money
Fifth: Luxury holiday to Las Vegas for two with $150 spending money
Sixth to ninth: To be confirmed

The players will be staying at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, where they can enjoy the delights of the $30 million pool area, complete with shark tank, hot tub, and glorious sunshine. For those players looking to indulge their taste for poker, they will be spoilt for choices, with many casinos putting on special events during the WSOP. The Golden Nugget has the Grand Poker Series running over this period, with buy-ins ranging from $225 to $1,080, which may tempt some of our players. Just across the street at Binion's, the second-annual Binion's Poker Classic will take place, and I know that this poker room was a happy hunting ground for some of our players last year.

For our winners who prefer to see the sights, there is plenty to whet their appetites, such as excursions to the Grand Canyon, sky diving, golf, and, of course, the casinos themselves. For those who want a more leisurely outing, the Hoover Dam is definitely worth a visit, and it lies 35 miles outside of Las Vegas. It is a spectacular structure.

For those players who do not hit the cards this time around, next year promises to be even better. I was in the States during February to try to organise the first-ever World Championships of Poker in the Pub. This will feature some of the best pub poker players from around the world, each attempting to become the world champion of pub poker.

We are looking to get this running in June 2009, and are getting in touch with other leagues around the world to invite them to join the party. We are hoping to send a team of players out to this event, and I am sure that everyone involved will have an amazing time. I know that our players who took part in the challenge game last year, involving World Series of Poker bracelet winner Diego Cordovez and resident poker comedian Adam Schoenfeld, really enjoyed themselves. We already have sounded out a number of people in Las Vegas, and there has been a good amount of interest in the idea.

With pub poker leagues running across the world, an annual championship has the potential to become a huge event that will enable players to be part of something special that they will remember for the rest of their lives. The only people who stand to lose out are the competitors' friends and families, who will have to listen to endless tales about how a player was foiled in his quest to become a world champion when his pocket aces lost to 7-2.

If anyone reading this runs or plays in a pub poker league and wants his league to take part in the World Championship of Poker in the Pub, please get in touch on + 44 (0) 1752 675375 or by e-mail at [email protected].