For poker fans, the Travel Channel and the World Poker Tour are an unbeatable pair. With the advent
of hidden cameras and clever commentary, millions are learning what diehard poker fanatics have
known for years - there is nothing more fascinating than high-stakes poker - and it's getting
better.
Largely due to the popularity of the televised World Poker Tour (WPT) as well as the World Series
of Poker (WSOP), new players are flocking to tournaments. The World Poker Tour Championship last
April featured the highest buy-in for a poker tournament in history, $25,000, drawing 111 players
competing for $2.6 million in prize money and a $1 million first prize. This year's World Poker
Tour Championship is expected to exceed 200 players with a $2 million first prize.
With the additional exposure offered by the World Poker Tour and the WSOP, tournaments are growing
in size and prestige, so much so that even Hollywood is getting in on the act. While they pose no
immediate threat to their World Poker Tour counterparts, stars such as Ben Affleck, Martin Sheen,
Shannon Elizabeth and David Schwimmer are facing off in the newest ante into the televised poker
pot - Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown. In this newest televised poker variation, celebs perform
their best imitation of the World Poker Tour's practiced veterans, competing for a quarter-million
contribution to the charity of their choice.
The upshot of all of this is that poker is on the rise, especially tournament poker. People around
the globe are fascinated by the skill and steely nerves of the World Poker Tour players. Perhaps the
key appeal of televised tournaments is their ability to place the viewer in the player's position
and who better to live vicariously through than a fellow amateur? Enter Chris Moneymaker.
Moneymaker, a 27-year-old Tennessee accountant, lived the ultimate poker fairy tale - converting a
mere $39.00 stake in an online tournament into his $2.5 million coronation as the 2003 World Series
of Poker Champion.
If poker was on the rise before Moneymaker, it exploded into the stratosphere after his victory
at the WSOP. Whether they're drawn by the timeless appeal of the gameplay or the suddenly trendy
cache of the game, millions are now following in Moneymaker's footsteps and getting into the
action online. From the World Poker Tour to the World Wide Web, the Internet is the natural
evolution of poker. From Instant Messaging to Online Forums to Peer-to-Peer Networks, the Internet
has continued to revolutionize business and society alike with its ability to bring people
together. For a growing wave of poker fanatics, it's the perfect medium to apply the lessons
they've learned watching the World Poker Tour. Not only does an online card room such as
Poker World offer the perfect opportunity for people to play tournament poker at any
time they choose with anyone in the world, the software offers numerous features to enable
communication between players. Better yet, an online poker site such as
Poker World is
the perfect place for players inspired by the World Poker Tour to hone their nascent poker skills.
If you are a new player, visit the
Poker World Play-For-Fun page for hints on
making your first poker experiences enjoyable ones or drop by the Rules page for the rundown
on all the popular poker variations. Of course, nothing beats the allure of a real-money game.
If you're ready to get in on the action, visit the Preview Page to get a feel for the
Poker World software or head straight to the lobby and check out one of the many
games currently going on.
