WSOP 2005 - The Satellites are Starting!
 Every poker player dreams of making the pilgrimage to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker (WSOP), competing in the most prestigious poker event in the world. The $10,000 main event for 2005 runs from 7th-15th July, and is set to be even bigger than the record-breaking 2004 event, which had a field of 2,575 poker players from all over the world.
The last two WSOP champions both won their $10,000 seats after winning online satellites. In 2003, Moneymaker turned a $39 PokerStars satellite into $2.5 million, and in 2004, Greg Raymer won his seat via a $160 buy-in satellite, again on PokerStars, and turned it into a record-setting $5 million payday.
The chances are that this year's WSOP champion will have also won his/her seat via an online poker site. Of course you can always go to Vegas and pay the $10,000 entry fee for the main event. For many of us this is just a little too much, so how about playing some satellites on offer from the online poker world?
Here's a rundown of what is on offer from some of best poker sites, giving you a go at the spot in the big league, and the chance to win your way to the biggest poker event in history:
Poker Stars
PokerStars helped Moneymaker and Raymer become champions, and will be looking to add another name to this list. The massive expected field for WSOP 2005 will undoubtedly comprise many PokerStars players.
PokerStars will be running many different super satellites starting from as little as $2. They will also be giving away 100 free WSOP prize packages to their frequent players.
Paradise Poker
Over April, May, and June, Paradise Poker is going to give away more than $500,000 in free WSOP prize packages and cash.
There are various ways you can win a WSOP seat via Paradise :
Finish in the top 15% of any Multi-Table tournament and you'll earn points through their tournmanet points formula. Be one of the Top 1,000 point earners for the week and you'll qualify for the Private Tournament 'WSOP Tourney'.
Paradise is also going to give their cash game players plenty of chances to win free WSOP prize packages. Be one of the Top 1,000 point earners for the week and you'll qualify for the Private Tournament 'WSOP Cash'
For April, May and June, Paradise Poker will also give away 1 free WSOP prize package each month. There will be daily freeroll tournaments, and if you place in the top 50 you'll qualify for the end of month 'WSOP Final'.
Victor Chandler
Victor Chandler's WSOP Super Satellites are underway. There are 3 ways to enter the Victor Chandler Super Satellites:
a) Buy in directly for $198
b) Win a Single Table $23 Tournament
c) Win a seat in a daily $3 multi-table tournament.
Poker Room
PokerRoom.com is running a 'Main Draw' for which the top placers will win a ticket to the World Series of Poker. The Main Draw is played on the last Saturday of every month. You can buy into this tournament for $300, or play many of the super satellites. There are $32 Single Table Qualifier Tournaments which run every day.
Empire Poker
Empire Poker is giving 50 free WSOP seats to its loyal players. Every month you have many chances to win, with no money involved. Empire is also giving away WSOP seats from daily tournaments and is also offering a monthly freeroll for frequent Empire players.
InterPoker
InterPoker are guaranteeing 145 seats to WSOP events in 2005. They will be running a range of satellites from as little as $11, starting in May. Their 'Everyone Deserves a Second Chance package!' is a nice touch, whereby you will get a buy-in to a second WSOP event if you're knocked out of the Main Event.
Click here for the WSOP 2005 Tournament Schedule
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