2008 World Series of Poker Europe Dates Announced

Harrah's Entertainment has officially announced the dates and sites for the second annual World Series of Poker Europe Presented by Betfair. The 2008 edition of Europe's WSOP outpost will again be held at the same three London Clubs International casinos that hosted the inaugural event last year --- St. James (Fifty), Leicester Square (The Casino at the Empire) and Marble Arch (Sportsman). The 2008 WSOPE will run from September 19th to October 1st, 2008, with the specific dates for the events still being worked on at this time.

Betfair returns as the title sponsor for the series, and boasts returning WSOPE Main Event champion Annette "Annette_15" Obrestad of Norway as one of its pro-player endorsers. The young Internet star proved that her online success was no fluke as she topped a field of the world's finest, including former WSOP ME winners and poker legends Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Chan. Obrestad's victory was worth £1 million ($2,013,102), the largest poker prize ever won by a woman. Obrestad remains too young to compete in US-based WSOP events, with their higher age-21 minimum, but will be on hand in London to defend her title.

"It was a clean sweep for the Europeans last year," said World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "There are many, many talented players in the European poker community and I think it caught some of the world's best known poker players by surprise. It's safe to say the pros haven't forgotten about last year and the young guns should expect a tougher fight in 2008."

"Last year produced a fantastic tournament which exceeded all expectations," said David Yu, CEO, Betfair, also noting that online qualifiers for WSOPE have begun on the site.

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