Top 10 tourneys

1. WORLD SERIES OF POKER 2006 MAIN EVENT RIO CASINO, LAS VEGAS – JULY 28-AUG 10

8,000 players, 13 days, a potential $80m prize fund – this really is the Big One. Last year an unknown gunman rode into town in the form of Aussie Joe Hachem. Quietly and confidently he took down the big shots and left with $7.5m in cold hard cash. Who’s to say this year you can’t do the same or replicate Internet qualifiers Greg Raymer or Chris Moneymaker – 2004 and 2003 winners respectively – to scoop the main pot? Satellite qualifiers are under way at most of the big poker sites for just a few dollars. Or you could just raid your kids’ college fund for the $10,000 buy-in. Either way, beg, steal and borrow the cash and we’ll see you at the Rio in July. For details of links to sites holding qualifiers go to www.wsop2006.com.

This year’s WSOP takes in a whopping 45 events over 47 days. If you enter them all you’ll die. The leading bracelet winners are Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson with 10 each. Hellmuth has nine. Joe Hachem won $7.5m last year and wasn’t taxed a cent as the Aussie tax board said it wasn’t his profession.

2. POKERDOME LAS VEGAS – MAY 15-JULY 12

This huge series of events, set up by MANSIONPOKER.net and housed in a giant dome in Las Vegas, is the biggest poker TV deal ever, with Fox Sports Network signed up to a 43-week package. But the piece de resistance is the final event in July, which will be the biggest poker pay-off of all time. Six players, $10m to buy-in, winner takes all. Unsurprisingly, Phil Ivey’s signed up.

3. 2006 ULTIMATE POKER CLASSIC ARUBA – SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 1

If there’s one date on the poker calendar all the players pencil in, it’s this one. And it’s hardly surprising with a $1m first prize and a stunning Caribbean setting. As UltimateBet pro Annie Duke puts it, ‘It’s the best tournament because if you get knocked out, you can just hit the beach.’ We’ll be there and you can join us if you qualify via the satellites at www.ultimatepoker.com.

4. TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS RIO CASINO, LAS VEGAS – JUNE 28-29

This annual curtain-raiser for the WSOP is an invitational freeroll event for the top players on the circuit. And with only the crème de la crème of the poker world involved the final table is a viewer’s dream. In 2004, Annie Duke fought off the likes of Hellmuth, Brunson, Ivey and Negreanu, while Mike ‘The Mouth’ Matusow edged out Hoyt Corkins in 2005. Miss this at your peril.

5. PARADISE POKER MILLION DOLLAR FREEROLL WWW.PARADISEPOKER.COM – JULY 22

Now in its third competition, this is the biggest payout the Internet has to offer. And what’s more, it won’t cost you a penny to enter. Brit Lee Biddulph won the first one last year. It could be you next time. If you make the final table, you’ll be flown out to an exotic island, pampered with the best hotel and hospitality that money can buy and get to play for $1m. Daily qualifying heats are on now.

6. MONTE CARLO MILLIONS MONTE CARLO, MONACO – TBC

The ‘world’s most exclusive poker tournament’ is a big draw for the US players who love the glamour of Monaco. It’s invitation-only, with a handful of places going to online qualifiers, but once again, it’s a dream cast. Phil Ivey won last year’s event, and took down the Full Tilt Invitational a couple of days later. The Hendon Mob and a host of Europeans will be hoping to do better this year.

7. LADBROKES POKER MILLION SKY SPORTS – DECEMBER 15

With a prize pot of $4.1m, the Ladbrokes Poker Million V is now the richest poker event in Europe. Last year, online qualifier Tony Jones, from Essex, pipped Soccer AM presenter Helen Chamberlain to the first prize of $1m. You can qualify for one of the 72 live final seats via freerolls and satellites at www.ladbrokespoker.com. Maybe your only opportunity to appear on Sky Sports. So don’t blow it.

8. WPT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT BELLAGIO CASINO, LAS VEGAS APRIL 18-24

The WPT season finale is the biggest event outside the WSOP. The buy-in is $25,000 and each of the season’s event winners return with the aim of being crowned WPT Champion. Last year Tuan Le edged out unlikely hero, Paul Maxfield, from Stoke-On-Trent, to win nearly $3m. This year’s first place is $5m – enough to make the likes of Ivey, Hansen and Hellmuth sit up and take notice.

9. PADDYPOWERPOKER.COM IRISH OPEN JURYS HOTEL, BALLSBRIDGE, DUBLIN APRIL 14-17

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Irish Open is full of history. It’s the oldest poker tournament in Europe and second longest running event after the WSOP. And the prize money this year is a guaranteed ¤1m. So get yourself a cheap flight on Ryan Air and lap up the land of Guinness. You’ll have to qualify first of course, so get yourself on to paddypowerpoker.com now!

10. EUROPEAN POKER CHAMPIONSHIPS GROSVENOR VICTORIA CASINO, LONDON – SEPTEMBER 16-24

If you like your poker action a little closer to home and, more importantly, want to avoid playing some of the big boys to stand a chance of winning a large cash prize, then this event is for you. Packed with some of the UK’s best amateurs and professionals, a total prize pool of over £600,000 is an enticing prospect. Tell the wife you’re putting the holiday money to better use this year…