Euro Poker: Cricket Star Hosts Great British Poker Tour

Former England Test cricketer and "King of the Jungle" Phil Tufnell fronts The Great British Poker Tour (GBPT) airing on ITV4 from Oct. 4.

The Tour, which has so far covered legs in Edinburgh, Teesside, Nottingham, Bournemouth, and Leeds, showcases the abundance of poker talent across Britain to form a series of 12 one-hour shows, hosted by presenter Alex Jones, right through to the Bristol final in early November. Tufnell and poker pro Simon "Aces" Trumper form a brotherly double-act to provide expert commentary on each of the tournaments.

Each show will feature in-depth coverage of play from the final table of each festival (using under-table cameras to give a player's-eye view of the cards and the game) to reveal how each regional winner achieved his festival victory and won his seat at the £500,000 grand final. Amateur players from across the country pit themselves against seasoned pros, whilst a number of well-known celebrity players are also among those testing their skills on air. To date, Michelle Heaton of Liberty-X, Doug Henshall of ITV1's Primeval, Norman Pace from comedy duo Hale & Pace, and an array of well-known sports stars have all taken part in the GBPT.

Tufnell, a keen poker player, said, "I am really excited to be involved with the GBPT. I've really got into poker recently, and I try and play as much as I can. Poker really is a game that anyone can learn. I've entered several tournaments in the past and have not done too badly. I even released a DVD last year to teach people how to play, so hopefully I can bring my knowledge and experience of the game to the viewers."

Seasoned poker pro Trumper said, "Viewers will be amazed at the standard of play. There are some very dramatic hands which make for great television."

The GBPT grand final takes place at the Gala Casino Harbourside, Bristol, from Nov. 5-11. It has a £650,000 prize pool, as well as the coveted title of Great British Poker Champion, 2007.

Budding champions can qualify for the grand final main event through a satellite tournament in selected Gala Casinos around the country or via an online satellite at www.galapoker.co.uk

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