World Poker Tour Season Three: Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic

This year's event attracted 376 players for a $5,470,800 prize pool, a $2,426,050 increase over last year's event which drew 314 players.

The winner of this year's $15,000 buy-in event will take home $1,795,218 and will advance to the WPT World Championship when the Tour's season culminates at Bellagio in April 2005.

The World Poker Tour is the highest rated series in the history of the Travel Channel, airing Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Season's Three's total prize pool has already topped the $30 million mark at $30,456,770, a $13,736,490 increase over Season Two stops to date. The high stakes No- Limit Texas Hold'em tournaments are increasing the number of players at every stop on the Tour and are averaging a "poker millionaire a month." This season's prize pool is anticipated to reach $70 million.

Many recognizable faces were spotted today at the tables, including the likes of Annie Duke, Gus Hansen, Chris Ferguson, and John Juanda.

The public is invited to be a part of the WPT Final Table television audience when the Five Diamond World Poker Classic concludes at Bellagio on Saturday, December 18. Fans will be admitted from the WPT Viewing Party located in Ballroom 6. Admission is free and seating is first come, first serve; viewing party doors open at 3:30 p.m. and seating begins at 4:30 p.m. Fans will also have the opportunity to attend a second viewing party on Sunday for the taping of a new television special, WPT Young Guns of Poker.

This Season Three special will feature six of the game's youngest and hottest players. Location and admission times are identical to those of the Five Diamond World Poker Classic.

The ninth stop of the World Poker Tour's 16-tournament season will be the PokerStars Caribbean Poker Adventure from January 5-12 at Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, Bahamas. For a complete WPT tournament schedule and casino contacts, please visit www.worldpokertour.com.

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