The Intercontinental Poker Series

With the World Cup going on right now, and all of the countries showing their national pride what a perfect time for the poker world to televise their rendition of the World Cup by introducing the Intercontinental Poker Series. This past saturday on CBS was the first of 8 episodes to be aired. This poker event is not live as it was played out this past April at the Palms in Las Vegas.

You will see 21 poker players representing 21 different countries in the Intercontinental Poker Series. The format of this poker tournament is as follows:

Thanks to Cardplayer Magazine for the excerpts below:

Twenty-one players are divided into three tables of seven through a random draw. Each table plays a freezeout style tournament with that table’s winner advancing to the second round. The eighteen players who did not advance are divided into three tables of six players and compete for a second-chance freezeout. The three winners from each freezeout advance with the initial three into the second round.

In the second round, the six qualifying contestants play another freezeout, with the winner advancing to the final round. As in the first round, the remaining five players get a second-chance. Two winners advance to the finals.

The two finalists go heads-up in the best-of-three matches to determine the winner. The runner-up receives $150,000. The champion takes home $350,000, a trophy, and the right to be named the Intercontinental Poker Champion for his country.

This is a great format and it is definitely nice to see some changes being made to keep poker on television exciting. This will definitely be a must see event and make sure you check your local listings to see all of the poker action unfold.

Here is a list of all the entries and the countries that are represented:

Australia: Antanas Guoga
Canada: Daniel Negreanu
China: Johnny Chan
Costa Rica: Humberto Brenes
England: Dave Ulliott
France: David Benyamine
Ireland: Don O’Dea
Israel: Eli Elezra
Italy: Marco Traniello
Japan: Yosh Nakano
Lebanon: Sammy Farha
Mexico: Refugio Quintero
Norway: Thor Hansen
Pakistan: Hasan Habib
Russia: Ralph Perry
Spain: Carlos Mortensen
South Africa: Stephen Wolff
South Korea: Jimmy Cha
Sweden: Chris Bjorin
United States: Doyle Brunson
Vietnam: Chau Giang

Well until next time, good luck and enjoy your experiences at the poker tables.