Real world championship starts today

It's the event everyone has been waiting for.

Well, not everyone.

There are still 8-10,000 hopefuls counting down the days to the 2007 World Series of Poker $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event.

But true card aficionados - and the top pros themselves - generally look to the event starting today, $50,000 H.O.R.S.E., as the "real" poker world championship, with only the best all-around card player able to weave his/her way through the small but power-packed field and the full range of poker variations.

Just underway in the Amazon Room, the starting line-up for the event reads like a complete who's who of poker over the last 30 years, with every prominent poker professional squaring up the $50k and taking a shot at the esteem that comes with the H.O.R.S.E. title.

Already spotted at the felt: Allen Cunningham, Barry Greenstein, Doyle Brunson, Todd Brunson, Chau Giang, Mike Matusow, Erick Lindgren, Daniel Negreanu, Ted Forrest, Phil Hellmuth, Gavin Smith, Scotty Nguyen, Bill Chen, Erik Seidel, Michael Mizrachi, Jennifer Harman, Johnny Chan, Cyndy Violette, Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Patrik Antonius, John Hennigan, Eli Elezra, Dewey Tomko and Chip Reese - last year's H.O.R.S.E. champion, back to defend his title as best player in the world.

Andy Bloch, last year's runner-up, is also in the field.

Action in what WSOP Commissioner calls the "All-Star Game" of the World Series winds its way through a full five days, with a champion crowned June 28.

courtesy of Christopher Hunt

News Added: 24 June, 2007

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