L.A. Poker Classic starts today at Commerce Casino

The champions of international poker will descend on Commerce, California, today for the start of the World Poker Tour (WPT) L.A. Poker Classic in the Commerce Casino's 200-table poker room, the largest poker venue in the world. The casino will play host to the month-long WPT series which will feature a wide variety of poker variations, including Limit Hold'em, Stud Hi-Low Split, Pot-Limit Omaha High, Seven-Card Stud, and Omaha Hi-Low Split.

The No-Limit Hold'em Championship tournament will commence on February 16 for a $10,000 buy-in. It will award first place finisher with a cash payout of $2 million and a $25,000 seat to the WPT World Championship at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in April 2006. In addition, the competitor rated best overall player (based on performance throughout the month) will receive a $50,000 bonus.

This year's championship event is expected to attract over 600 players, including defending champion Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi who defeated 535 players in last year's main event to take home a first place prize of $1,859,909.