Pollock, Duke Leads New Poker League

The Professional Poker League, which starts in Las Vegas this year, is getting the signal on the PGA Tour.

The as-yet-unnamed league, the brainchild of former World Series of Poker commissioner Jeffrey Pollack and professional poker player Annie Duke, is targeting big names on the professional poker circuit.

About 200 players will be invited to compete in four “Tour Stop” leagues that will be broadcast nationwide. League participation will be based on mathematical formulas driven by players’ previous poker achievements, such as major event titles, career wins, and recent successes.

Like golfers on the PGA Tour, poker players must earn tour cards to participate in the tournament.

“We’re not competing in the World Series or the World Pokémon Tour,” Pollock said Tuesday. “We want outstanding players in those tournaments to compete in our league.” “We want players who have done well in major tournaments.” 메이저 토토사이트

Duke, who will serve as the league’s commissioner and will not participate in the event, said such a league is “something that poker players have been talking about for a long time.”

Eight-time World Series poker bracelet winner and poker Hall of Fame member Eric Sidell believes he will be able to get a tour card to play in the league.

“It’s been a long time coming for a poker league on par with other professional sports,” Seidel said. “I can’t wait to see the game’s true excellence rewarded.”

Unlike major poker competitions, league games will not receive a percentage of the prize money from players. Pollock expects the league to earn money from sponsorship deals and other means. Players will pay their own admission fees.

The league will have three initial tournaments in the Palms between August and December. The fourth event and championship tournament is expected to take place in the Palms in January 2012. Each tournament will have several events and will conclude with a $25,000 buy-in main event.

Pollock said entry formulas, league names, tournament formats and initial contenders would be announced later. He said the league’s contract with Farms was exclusive and not beyond the initial year.