Goa to host India's first major poker event

The hippies and ravers of Goa will have to get adjusted to even more glitter in the air next year, as the infamous Indian resort province will host the $1 million Asian Poker Classic, India's first major professional poker tournament.

Already expected to be the biggest event of the year, the inaugural Asian Poker Classic will go Mar. 1-5, 2007 at "InterContinental The Grand Resort Goa," a luxury resort on the Indian state's renowned tropical coast.

The three-day main event will offer one of Asia's richest-ever poker prize pools, a guaranteed $1 million, and will reportedly bring a gaggle of pros, online players and celebrities from both Hollywood and Bollywood to the event.

As part of a push to turn Goa into a major Asian gambling destination, a series of luxury casinos has also been planned for next year, and to add international credibility to the APC, Austrian Thomas Kremser has been hired as the tournament director.

"The Asian Poker Classic is not just the biggest poker event scheduled for India in 2007," Kremser said in a release, "it's one of the biggest events anywhere in the world."

"With big names ready to take part and Goa the perfect setting, it's the most exciting new poker tournament of the year."

For more information on the tournament and ongoing satellite qualifiers, visit www.asianpokerclassic.com.