Big names announced for Belgian Poker Championship

NAMUR, Belgium -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The fourth annual €1,500 + €150 buy-in Belgium Poker Championship, being held at Casino de Namur, Belgium from Nov. 13 to 23, 2008 is drawing closer and a host of big names have signed up for the event. The field of up to 1,000 will include Davidi Kitai (Team Winamax), Anthony Lelouche (Team Winamax), Michel Abecassis (Team Winamax), Eric Koskas (Team Winamax), Guillaume de La Gorce (Team Winamax), Anthony Roux (Team Winamax), Peter Dalhuijsen, Michiel Brummelhuis, and Rolf Slotboom.

Last year the €1 million guaranteed tournament was won by Jamel Maistriaux from Belgium who took home €300,092 for his victory over a field of 842 which included Lex Veldhuis, Mickey Finn, Michiel Brummelhuis, and Haim Kakoun.

The main event takes place over nine days:

Nov. 15: Day 1A
Nov. 16: Day 1B
Nov. 17: Day 1C
Nov. 18: Day 1D
Nov. 19: Day 2A (Remaining players from Day 1A + 1B)
Nov. 20: Day 2B (Remaining players from Day 1C + 1D)
Nov. 21: Day 3 (Remaining players from Day 2A + 2B)
Nov. 22: Day 4
Nov. 23: Day 5 (Final Table)

Twelve qualifying satellites take place over the next 17 days at Casinos Namur and Spa in Belgium. They are:

Nov. 1: €55 + €15 + rebuys + add-on in Namur
Nov. 2: €55 + €15 + rebuys + add-on in Namur
Nov: 4: €55 + €15 + rebuys + add-on in Namur
Nov. 5: €200 + €20 freezeout in Namur
Nov. 8: €55 + €15 + rebuys + add-on in Namur
Nov. 9: €55 + €15 + rebuys + add-on in Namur
Nov. 11: €55 + €15 + rebuys + add-on in Namur
Nov. 12: €200 + €20 freezeout in Namur
Nov. 13: €55 + €15 + rebuys + add-on in Spa
Nov. 15: €200 + €20 freezeout in Namur (qualification for day 1B)
Nov. 16: €100 + €20 + rebuys + add-on in Namur (qualification for day 1C)
Nov. 17: €300 + €20 freezeout in Namur (qualification for day 1D)

Online qualification: Players can also qualify for a through a wide variety of low buy-in tournaments at Unibet, Winamax, T6-poker, Poker770 and Chilipoker.

Alternatively players can visit http://www.circuspoker.be/poker-en.php to register online, email Kenny Hallaert at kh@circuspoker.be or call +32 (0) 476 80 65 35 to register by telephone.

The Belgium Poker Championship also hosts a number of side events each day at 1 p.m. including (all events are no-limit hold'em freezeouts unless otherwise stated):

Nov. 15: €200+20 (satellite for main event day 1B)
Nov. 16: €100+20 rebuy (satellite for main event day 1C)
Nov. 17: €300+20 (satellite for main event day 1D)
Nov. 19: €200+10 pot-limit Omaha freezeout
Nov. 20: €100+10 rebuy (satellite for 1050+80€ event on Saturday Nov. 22)
Nov. 21: €300+10
Nov. 22: €1050+80 (two-day tournament)
Nov. 22: €100+10 ladies only freezeout (start at 7 p.m.)
Nov. 23: €500+10

The main event will be filmed for broadcast on Belgium TV and then distributed globally. Hold'em and Omaha cash games will also be available during the festival.

Players can book a package costing €2,500 which includes one ticket for the main event, seven nights in the hotel which is in the same building of the casino, seven breakfast, seven evening meals + one bottle of wine, and 70 drinks vouchers. A second player can share a room with an already booked in player for €2,200 and receive the same package. Players can also bring a friend or partner for €899 which includes seven nights in the hotel, seven breakfast, seven evening meals, and 70 drinks vouchers.