The world's largest online poker site – PokerStars.com – announced recently that it was launching a new poker series of events, billing them collectively as the “North American Poker Tour,” or NAPT. There are expected to be a number of Tour stops, with the NAPT kicking off in the Bahamas at the “PokerStars Caribbean Adventure” (PCA). Other Tour events are scheduled for the Venetian casino in Las Vegas and at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. At present, it is anticipated that these will be the three tour stops for 2010.
PokerStars is characterizing the new tour as being the first of its kind in North America that will feature reasonable buy-ins, very large prize pools and with thousands of players from all over the world competing vigorously for millions of dollars in prize winnings. The site is already well-known for the quality of the online poker experience it provides and this new tour is expected to further cement its already formidable reputation for high-stakes poker play.
The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure is currently running in the Bahamas through the 14th of this month, at the Atlantis Resort and Casino. The tournament features 50 events of various games and formats and with millions of dollars in prize money at stake. Last year's overall champion, Poorya Nazari of Canada, took home over $3 million dollars with this year's winner expected to exceed that amount.
The next stop on the Tour will take place at the Venetian casino in Las Vegas and will run from February 20th through the 24th. This $5,000 dollar buy-in event is expected to draw some of the best online poker players in the world, including several top pros from Team PokerStars like Joe Cada, Greg Raymer and Daniel Negreanu. The Venetian hosts several top-quality tournaments throughout the year and this second stop on the NAPT promises to be its most exciting.
The last stop on the 2010 inaugural tour is set to take place at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun casino, with buy-ins expected to range from $200 all the way up to $25,000 for the main event, which is expected to feature the poker world's brightest and most skillful professionals. There are expected to be 20 events taking place over the two weeks the tournament is expected to run.
Tournaments will be filmed for television. “Dancing With The Stars” and “PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge” competitor Joanna Krupp will be serving as Tour host. She is renowned for her dancing and poker playing skills. The NAPT is expected to expand beyond its first three stops in the years ahead.
