The World Series of Poker Europe is currently underway in London. The event has attracted the elite of the poker world, each vying for their share of millions of dollars. In addition, there have been several side events in the European city, including the third installment of the Party Poker Den, which will begin on Tuesday, September 30th and run for 36 straight hours. The high-stakes cash game is expected to draw a lively crowd.
Here’s a look at several of the contestants who are slated to appear in the Party Poker Den III:
David “Devilfish” Ulliott – Won his first (and so far his only) bracelet in the 1997 World Series of Poker, taking down a $2,000 buy-in Pot Limit Hold’em tournament. He’s the namesake of Devilfish Poker and the man everyone is gunning for in the site’s weekly bounty tournament.
Robert Williamson III – Won his first and only WSOP bracelet in 2002 after he took down a $5,000 buy-in Pot Limit Omaha tournament. Williamson is a member of Team Full Tilt Poker.
David Williams – Finished as the runner up in the World Poker Tour’s Borgata Poker Open during Season III, cashing for $573,800. He was also the runner up to Greg Raymer in the 2004 WSOP Main Event, cashing for $3.5 million. Williams is calm and collected at the poker felts.
Neil Channing – Winner of the 2008 Irish Poker Open and a columnist for a major industry magazine. He has 14 career WSOP cashes for a grand total of $158,697, finishing in the money in the 2004, 2005, and 2007 Main Events.
Others slated to appear include Roland de Wolfe, Andrew Feldman, Brian Townsend, Kirk Morrison, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Jon Kalmar, John Tabatabai, Mike Matusow, Juha Helppi, Jennifer Tilly, Anthony Hardy, Ian Frazer, and Chris Parker. Party Poker has also sent one of its own members, Bodo Sbrzesny, into the fray as an online qualifier.
The tournament works in a similar fashion to other high-stakes cash games. Each player will put up $10,000 of his or her own money. Blinds stay constant throughout the entire 36 hour period at $25/$50. However, players will be able to raise the stakes, which a press release by the online poker room states is “subject to the discretion of tournament director ‘Mad’ Marty Wilson.” In addition, select hands will award $1,000 extra as part of a “Party Pot.”
Party Poker has been promoting the fact that Phil Laak has stated that he may sit at the table for 36 hours straight. A Party Poker spokesperson commented, “We’ve been told that Laak has spent all weekend mentally preparing for the game and that he intends to try and make television history and sit in the game for a record-breaking 36 hour stint! PartyBets.com was going to introduce betting on whether one of the top professionals could play the whole duration, but with others like Neil Channing also rumored to want to give it a go we are loathe to give them too much encouragement!”
Jesse May will call the action, which will air on Five in the United Kingdom in 2009.