PokerStars EPT: London's Largest Poker Tournament?

Tuesday is the start of the Pokerstars European Poker  Tour (EPT) in London. The worlds best poker players, over 400 of them, are expected to compete in this event making it possible for this to be the biggest poker tournament ever played in the UK.

There has been an amazing jump in popularity in the UK poker scene in 2007 and also a jump in entrants in the EPT across all the European venues. In 2006 3,500 players played in the EPT tournaments for prize poll totaling more than €26million and this year is even bigger.

"The PokerStars.com London EPT is like no other event in the sporting calendar. Set at ‘The Vic' - the casino that is the spiritual home of poker in London - the London EPT brings together world champions, the best British and European professionals, as well as talented amateurs and online qualifiers to compete for one of poker's biggest prizes.

"Last year's London EPT saw a hugely popular winner in Vicky Coren and as a cash game regular at the Vic, she will definitely have ‘home field advantage' as she tries to retain her title. The London EPT 2006 was the biggest live poker tournament ever held in the UK and we expect this year's event to be even more successful," John Duthie, founder of the EPT, said.