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Online Poker -- PokerStars WCOOP Begins on Thursday

Series Features 45 Events in a Variety of Games

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WCOOPIt’s finally here! The time has come for every online grinder’s dream come true, the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). Bloodshot eyes and sore clicking fingers will be the norm for the next two and a half weeks as players compete in the largest online tournament series in the world.

This year’s WCOOP will feature a total of 45 events, ranging in buy-ins of $200 to $25,000 in a variety of games. In addition, there will be three high-roller events offered, including a $10,000 two-day tournament, a $25,000 heads-up championship, and a $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship.

PokerStars expects huge turnouts and has put their money on the line with $40 million in guarantees, highlighted by the main event, which promises to pay out at least $10 million.

Tournament Statistics

Kyle BowkerThis is the eighth year that the WCOOP has taken place. Previous champions include great players such as Spiro “55lucky55” Mitrokostas, Erik “Erik123” Sagstrom, Jeff “ActionJeff” Garza, Jason “strassa2” Strasser, Chad “stelladora” Brown, James “mig.com” Mackey, Mike “Sowerss” Sowers, Greg “FossilMan” Raymer, James “Andy McLEOD” Obst, Steven “stevesbets” Jacobs, Shaun “shaundeeb” Deeb and Steven “PiKappRaider” Burkholder.

Only two players can claim multiple WCOOP bracelets. Canadian unknown “spawng” was the first to accomplish the task, winning his first in 2005 and his second in 2006. Kyle “kwob20” Bowker (pictured left) followed, winning two of his own in 2006.

Dan HeimillerA total of 121 bracelets have been awarded in the history of the WCOOP, and 78 of those belong to Americans, making up a whopping 64 percent of the winners. Sweden sits in second place with 12, and Canada rounds out the top three with nine.

Dan “Lenny” Heimiller (pictured right) currently holds the record for the most WCOOP final tables in history, with five. He is followed by Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Christoph “Sassenage” Wolters and Steve “Rabscuttle” Cowley with four each.

Main Event Winners

2002: MultiMarine — $65,450 (Taby, Sweden)
2003: Joe “DeOhGee” Cordi — $222,750 (Indian Wells, California, USA)
2004: Edgar “Ragde” Skjervold — $424,945 (Oslo, Norway)
2005: Jordan “Panella86” Berkowitz — $577,342 (Eddystone, Pennsylvania, USA)
2006: J.C. “area23JC” Tran — $670,194 (Sacramento, California, USA)
2007: Kyle “ka$ino” Schroeder — $1,378,330 (Omaha, Nebraska, USA)
2008: Carter “ckingusc” King — $1,265,432 (Columbia, South Carolina, USA)

2009 Schedule of Events

Event Date Buy-In Game Guarantee
1 3-Sep $215 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max $1,250,000
2 3-Sep $215 Razz $200,000
3 4-Sep $215 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max $500,000
4 4-Sep $215 No-Limit 2-7 Rebuy $200,000
5 4-Sep $109 8-Game (5-Minute Levels) $50,000
6 5-Sep $109 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000,000
7 5-Sep $215 Pot-Limit 5-Card Draw $200,000
8 5-Sep $215 Limit Hold’em $400,000
9 6-Sep $215 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000,000
10 6-Sep $10,300 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day) $2,000,000
11 6-Sep $530 No-Limit Hold’em 4-Max $3,000,000
12 7-Sep $215 No-Limit Hold’em $500,000
13 7-Sep $320 7-Card Stud $150,000
14 8-Sep $320 Mixed Hold’em 6-Max $300,000
15 8-Sep $320 Badugi $100,000
16 8-Sep $1,050 No-Limit Hold’em $500,000
17 9-Sep $530 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout $500,000
18 9-Sep $320 8-Game $300,000
19 10-Sep $320 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max Rebuy $400,000
20 10-Sep $320 Triple Draw 2-7 $100,000
21 11-Sep $215 No-Limit Hold’em Rebuy $1,250,000
22 11-Sep $530 Omaha 8/ob $400,000
23 11-Sep $320 No-Limit Hold’em $300,000
24 12-Sep $530 Heads-Up NL Hold’em $1,000,000
25 12-Sep $320 H.O.R.S.E. $400,000
26 13-Sep $215 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000,000
27 13-Sep $25,500 Heads-Up NL Hold’em $800,000
28 13-Sep $1,050 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day) $3,000,000
29 14-Sep $320 Pot-Limit Omaha/Hold’em $400,000
30 14-Sep $320 No-Limit Hold’em 2X Chance $600,000
31 15-Sep $320 Pot-Limit Omaha Rebuy $700,000
32 15-Sep $530 7-Card Stud 8/ob $200,000
33 15-Sep $1,050 No-Limit Hold’em $500,000
34 16-Sep $215 No-Limit Hold’em (Big Antes) $500,000
35 16-Sep $320 Pot-Limit Omaha 8/ob $500,000
36 17-Sep $530 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max Rebuy $1,000,000
37 17-Sep $2,100 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max $600,000
38 18-Sep $530 No-Limit Hold’em Rebuy $1,000,000
39 18-Sep $1,050 Limit Hold’em 6-Max $400,000
40 18-Sep $215 No-Limit Omaha 8/ob $200,000
41 19-Sep $530 Pot-Limit Heads-Up Omaha $250,000
42 19-Sep $2,100 8-Game $350,000
43 20-Sep $215 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000,000
44 20-Sep $10,300 H.O.R.S.E. $1,000,000
Main Event 20-Sep $5,200 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day) $10,000,000

Check out Card Player TV’s Poker Buzz, featuring the 2008 main event champion Carter “ckingusc” King.







Watch WCOOP 2009: Preview Show on PokerStars.tv

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