WSOP Europe 2009 Gets Underway At The Empire Casino London

Thursday heralded the beginning of WSOPE 2009 festivities when Anestis Metsas (23) from Greece beat 17 fellow online qualifiers to win Betfair’s Free Million Dollar game and the $1 million first prize. Following his win Metsas exclaimed:
“It’s unbelievable to have won. This amazing win has given me the confidence to believe I can compete against the best players in Europe and the rest of the World. Having won I’m now going to buy my way into the £1,000 No Limit Hold’em tomorrow and after that who knows.”
The runners ups were not quite finished with the competition just yet and 2nd to 4th place  received a buy in for the WSOPE Main Event, a £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha seat, and £1,000 No Limit Hold’em seat respectively.
However, the tournament which is held at the Empire Casino in Leicester Square,  begins today proper and will continue through to October 1 when the main events champion is crowned.
Different to its American cousin, the WSOPE has a schedule of just 4 events in the following games; 1) £1,000 + £60 NLHE,  2) £2,500 + £150 PLHE/PLO, 3) £5,000 + £250 PLO, and 4) £10,000 + £350 – World Championship NLHE.
Top poker professionals around the world have descended upon London to compete for the four prestigious bracelets available and include  Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, David “Devilfish” Ulliott, Daniel Negreanu, John Juanda, Gus Hansen, Eric Seidel, Mike Matusow, Joe Hachem, Vanessa Rousso, Andy Bloch, David Benefield, Ivan Demidov, Sorel Mizzi and Jennifer Tilly.
Particular attention will be on the WSOPE Main Event after last year’s exciting final which saw top pros Daniel Negreanu, Ivan Demidov and John Juanda competing at the final table for the £868,000 ($1,539,250) top prize, which Juanda eventually won.
This the third WSOPE also presents an inaugral competition, the Caesars Cup which sees the cream of North American players competing against Europe’s finest. The one day team event will take place on the 25th September, one day prior to the Main Event, with Team America represented by  captain Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, John Juanda and Jennifer Harman. Team Europe  will include captain Annette Obrestad, Peter Eastgate, Patrik Antonius, Dario Minieri, Bertrand Grospellier and Ilari Sahamies. 
We will keep poker fans updated with all the action as it happens throughout this premier European competition.