Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007

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NPL finds new home at The Venetian

By Arthur Crowson

One of poker's newest tours has found a very respectable place to call home. The NPL today announced they will be joining forces with the Venetian and their brand of poker will be featured prominently at the hotel.

The NPL's 2007 Vegas Open, which is scheduled Nov. 24-30, as well as the World Championship Tournament, scheduled for Dec. 3, will take place in the Venice-themed hotel. In addition the Venetian Poker Room will also serve as home base for the NPL Broadcast Center for all 26 episodes of the NPL television series, which airs nationally and internationally, to a projected 100 million viewers.

"We are extremely honored and excited to partner with The Venetian as The Venetian Poker Room offers poker players a stylish and comfortable environment for our player-friendly tournament," said Robert Huxley, vice president of operations for the NPL. "By making The Venetian the new home of the NPL, we are assured to provide players with a magnificent poker room and resort that offers the very best Las Vegas has to offer.

The 2006 Vegas Open proved to be a high-profile event with many marquee players making an appearance. Max Pescatori, J.C. Tran, Andy Bloch and many more pros cashed. Keith Tilston was the overall champion.

Meanwhile the NPL World Championship event will wrap up the leagues global circuit. Winners of the global events will return for a $15,000 buy-in event.

Las Vegas radio personality Dave Farra and poker player/nice guy Kirk Morrison will offer their commentary to the televised coverage of the series. "Captain Kirk" has been almost unstoppable in poker this year most recently placing 56th in the Main Event for $154,194. Both Farra and Morrison will be broadcasting exclusively from The Venetian throughout the year.

The Venetian is one of Las Vegas' "Mega Properties" with 4,049 suites and a 120,00 square foot casino. It is located on the east side of the strip between Harrah's and the Wynn Las Vegas.

The NPL is just two years old but has grown in size considerably since their first event. Aimed at the younger crowd of poker fans the NPL calls itself the most aggressive poker playing organization in the world.

In addition to the events at the Venetian the NPL will be holding the United Kingdom Open, Aug. 12-17, the Asia Open, October 10-13, and the Australian Open, October 26-27. All the tournaments are No-Limit Hold'em.

The Vegas Open will kick off with a Charity Party on Nov. 24 that will raise funds for a Las Vegas charity in conjunction with the NPL "Poker Cares" program.

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