WPT announces U.S. schedule for 2009

LOS ANGELES, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Continuing its plan to offer land-based tournaments for players around the globe, World Poker Tour® (WPT) today published full details for its anticipated eighth season in the United States. The 12-stop tour, which will be filmed in High Definition for broadcast on Fox Sports Net (FSN) in the United States, kicks off next month at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

WPT Season VIII also features favorite pro stops at Bay 101 in San Jose, Calif.; Bicycle Casino's new Event Center in Los Angeles; Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss.; Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City; Commerce Casino in Los Angeles; and Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

Joining the tour as a new stop in Season VIII is the inaugural Hollywood Poker Open in Lawrenceburg, Ind. The casino, which will re-open as the Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg on June 29, is a 270,000 square foot riverboat casino that sits on the Ohio River. In addition to the $10,000 main event—the first ever televised WPT tournament in the Midwest—Hollywood Casino will host three non-televised WPT tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. All tournaments will be played in the casino's brand-new state-of-the-art WPT Poker Room.

"As this great game has evolved over the years, we have seen the tour grow and develop into something truly incredible," said Steve Lipscomb, WPT Founder and CEO. "Each year seems to top the last, from stops in exciting new venues to historical moments to break-out players to unbelievable action. We're looking forward to seeing what the eighth season brings—thenwatching it broadcast in HD!"

Bellagio Cup V
Bellagio
Las Vegas, NV
July 13 - 19, 2009
$15,000 +$400

Legends of Poker
The Bicycle Casino
Los Angeles, CA
Aug 22 – 26, 2009
$9,800 + $200

Borgata Poker Open
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Atlantic City, NJ
Sept 19 - 24, 2009
TBD

Festa al Lago
Bellagio
Las Vegas, NV
October 20 – 26, 2009
$15,000 +$400

Foxwoods World Poker Finals
Foxwoods Resort Casino
Mashantucket, CT
Nov 5 – 10, 2009
$9,700 + $300

Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic
Bellagio
Las Vegas, NV
Dec 13 – 19, 2009
$15,000 +$400

Southern Poker Championship
Beau Rivage
Biloxi, MS
Jan 24 - 27, 2010
$9,700 + $300

L.A. Poker Classic
Commerce Casino
Los Angeles, CA
Feb 20 – Feb 25, 2010
$9,600 + $400

WPT Invitational
Commerce Casino
Los Angeles, CA
Feb 27 – March 1, 2010
Invitation Only

Bay 101 Shooting Star
Bay 101
San Jose, CA
March 8 – 12, 2010
$9,600 + $400

Hollywood Poker Open
Hollywood Casino
Lawrenceburg, IN
March 20 – 24, 2010
$9,600 + $400

WPT World Championship
Bellagio
Las Vegas, NV
April 17-24, 2010
$25,000 + $500

Courtesy of Blue Diamond Almonds, WPT Live Updates will continue reporting live from the tournament trail, delivering up-to-the-minute tournament action for fans around the world.

A full schedule of WPT events including 2009-2010 international tour stops, will be available soon in the "WPT on Tour" section of www.WorldPokerTour.com.