Bellagio Hosts the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic

Attention all Poker Buffs: 

The Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic is set to kick off at Bellagio Las Vegas on Friday November 28, 2008 at noon.  The three week event consists of multiple pokers tournaments, including 10 no limit hold 'em tournaments.  Player registration is open at Bellagio's Poker room.  

Last year the top player, 26-year old Eugene Katchalov, won the main event, taking home nearly $2.5 Million.   The total prize pool for all tournaments last year during the event totalled more than $9.6 Million. (We couldn't resist putting that in bold because its sooo much money;  and it was won by several poker players in just three short weeks.)

This year's main poker event will be held Saturday Dec. 13th - Friday, Dec. 19, 2008. The entry fee for the main event is $15,000.  Entry fees for other tournaments during the 3 week event range from $1,500-$5,000.  Player regsitration is open at Bellagio's Poker room. 

Here's the full press release, which contains more information:

WORLD POKER TOUR® RETURNS TO BELLAGIO FOR
DOYLE BRUNSON FIVE DIAMOND WORLD POKER CLASSIC
 
Three-Week Event Begins Friday, Nov. 28 at noon
 
            LAS VEGAS – The World Poker Tour® (WPT) returns to Bellagio for the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic Friday, Nov. 28 – Friday, Dec. 19.  The three-week event, created by Bellagio to pay tribute to Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, consists of 10 no limit hold ‘em tournaments, seven super satellites and a Senior’s No Limit contest.
 
The entry fees for all tournaments range from $1,500-$5,000 and the WPT main event, to be held Saturday, Dec. 13 – Friday, Dec. 19, requires an entry fee of $15,000.  The champion will receive the first place prize money as well as a $25,000 seat in the April 2009 WPT World Championship at Bellagio.  Player registration is now available at Bellagio’s poker room.
 
The ClubWPT event, which premiered during the Festa al Lago VI tournament in October, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 17 and is open to all professional and amateur poker players.  The entry fee is $500 and for more information fans can visit www.worldpokertour.com.
 
Professional poker player and first-time World Poker Tour (WPT) winner Eugene Katchalov claimed the first place prize at the 2007 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic last December.  The 26-year-old Katchalov, of Brooklyn , NY , took home $2,482,605 for his victory.  The 2007 tournament attracted a Bellagio tournament-record 664 players for a total prize pool of more than $9.6 million.
 
“Doyle always has been a strong supporter and friend of Bellagio,” said Doug Dalton, director of poker operations for Bellagio.  “We cherish our partnership not only with him but all of the players.  We expect another strong turnout for December’s event and look forward to Eugene ’s (Katchalov) attempt to defend his title.”
 
Brunson, who remains one of the most esteemed names in poker with five decades of experience at the table, captured the first of his 10 World Champion bracelets in 1976 and his first WPT win at the Season III Legends of Poker tournament.  The Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic main event’s final table will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net (FSN) as part of the WPT Season VII television lineup, scheduled to begin airing during the FSN Sunday night sports block in 2009.