Whilst many of us are happy with simple poker pleasures, like our Aces holding up in a 320 play money Sit & Go, other poker players feel more ambition, they feel the need to test themselves in tougher poker challenges. It can't get much tougher than the month and a half of high stakes tourney poker action that is the World Series of Poker. 55 events are displayed on the schedule for the Rio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas in June and July, with the 'World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold'em (Event 55) $10,000' the unremarkable way to describe an event that will certainly make millionaires, create stars, and change lives. None of that stuff ever happens in 320 play money Sit & Gos. At least not when I play.

PokerStars has more to do with this glamorous highlight of the poker year than most sites. PokerStars sends more players to play there, PokerStars created or fostered the talents of three Championship winning players, PokerStars has devised an impressive array of ways for an 'Average Joe' player to find himself winning a $10,000 seat, and sharing a table with stars of the poker world. PokerStars promotions are still ongoing if you're in the mood to seek out Vegas glory. It's possible to win a seat based purely on Frequent Playing Points, or Tournament Leader Board skills.

If you simply want to read about the Main Event, and perhaps dream about next year whilst you practise with play money, you can read updates from Vegas on our WSOP blog. Brad "Otis" Willis and team will be reporting on your favourite Team PokerStars players, as well as any PokerStars Average Joes playing a better than average poker game.

The World Series has kicked off now, and some may see the preliminary events as warmups for the big game on July 6th, but there are plenty of glorious bracelets and big money prizes to stir hearts and swell bank balances. Some stories that have caught my eye from the early days of action... PokerStars player Steve "MrSmokey1" Billirakis winning Event #1 and becoming the youngest person to ever win a World Series bracelet... Team PokerStars Steve Paul-Ambrose finishing 4th in the same event for $146,249... Barry Greenstein playing in two tournaments at the same time... The manic action of three hours of unlimited $5000 rebuys in an Omaha tournament making for an impressive $2.89 million prizepool...

For me it's back to those 320 play money Sit & Gos. I feel grateful that play money refills are free.


Greg Raymer


Vanessa Rousso


Barry Greenstein


Humberto Brenes