World Cup Of Poker

Posted 1/4/11 : 56 nations were represented in the 2010 international Pokerstars spectacular
 
The Bahamas is the place to be on January 14, when the Grand Final of the seventh Pokerstars World Cup of Poker series starts, the climax of an event that has attracted representatives of 56 nations fighting for a place this year, with a $290 000 prize pool on the line, of which the winning national team claims $100 000.
 
Pokerstars amended its formula in 2010 to give more players a chance to participate in this key event, in which the Grand Final will be held as part of the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure at the Atlantis Resort and Casino.
 
Players had to initially compete for a slot in their national four-player teams, with successful players graduating to the online divisional finals as part of each national team, competing with other teams to reach the live Grand Final in the Bahamas.
 
Members of the teams that survive through to the World Cup of Poker Grand Final receive a prize package that includes travel and accommodation at the Atlantis Resort and Casino.
 
Once there, each team member will compete in a single table tournament to determine their team’s starting chip stack for the World Cup of Poker Final Table.
 
The live Final Table will be a ‘Tag Team’ event, where all team members will rotate in and out of play until one team takes overall victory. They will get to claim the national glory, $100,000 and the title of World Cup of Poker VII Champions.
 
This year the finalist teams hail from Argentina, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Spain, Slovakia, Italy, France, Ukraine and the United States, and Pokerstars this week released the names of the captains, all respected pros with impressive experience and success behind them.
 
Liv Boeree will spearhead the UK drive, whilst Luca Pagano leads the Italians and Arnaud Mattern will helm the French team. The Slovakians will be headed by Dag Palovic, and Argentina’s captain is Nacho Barbero. The Philippinos will be directed by Neil Arce, while the always competitive Spanish squad will be led by Juan Manuel Pastor, and the United States players will be skippered by Vanessa Selbst.
 
Previous champions in the event have included:
 
2004: Team Costa Rica
2005: Team Costa Rica
2006: Team Poland
2007: Team USA
2008: Team Germany
2009: Team Chinese Taipei