Team poker to make national debut in Vegas May 1

Poker pros will suit up as a team in hopes of sacking a million-dollar win at PokerBowl, a hybrid of Texas Hold'em and American football.

The U.S. Poker League is organizing the event in which six-player teams from 25 U.S. cities compete for cash in Las Vegas May 1.

The competition features a roster of famous poker pros - Phil Hellmuth, T.J. Cloutier, Phil Gordon, to name a few - as well as celebrities and amateur poker players who try out to make their city's starting line up.

This will be the national debut of team poker, which allows players knocked out of competition to have a stake in the game as long as their team is still kicking.

The 25 cities are split into five conferences and so far, the competition looks pretty stiff. Boasting an all-star crew, the Las Vegas Rat Pack may be the team to beat with Hellmuth, Gordon, Antonio Esfandiari, Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak and actor Danny Masterson committed to compete.

The Eastern conference's Philadelphia Phish could also have a leg up in the tournament, with big poker names like Scott Fischman, Mike Matusow and Michael Mizrachi on its roster.

Tryouts for the teams - which will each front a $10,000 buy-in - are already underway at some competing cities.

A host casino for the event is expected to be announced Jan. 22.

News Added: 21 January, 2007

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