German Open

The second PartyPoker.net German Open, is all set to go down between the 29 November – 2 December in London. The 36 player €2,500 buy-in tournament has been organised by Matchroom Sport and offers a total prize pool of €117,000, with a first prize of €50,000.

Bookmakers PartyBets.com make WSOP Europe bracelet winner Thomas ‘Buzzer’ Bihl and 2007 WSOP bracelet winner Michael Keiner the joint 9/1 favourites to triumph in a field that also includes the likes of PartyPoker Premier League Poker runner-up Eddy Scharf, Rino Mathis, Benjamin Kang and Roland Specht all at 12/1.

Bihl will be hoping to go one better this year after finishing runner-up in the inaugural tournament in 2006 to Hamburg pro Sebastian Ruthenberg. Bihl failed to hit anything with his King Queen off suit as Ruthenberg’s pocket eights held up.

As well as the pros and internet qualifiers there is also a special celebrity table and the winner of that will progress into the main tournament. Ex–footballer and television pundit Thomas Strunz, Austrian television presenter Robert Palfrader, German television presenter Gundis Zambo, musician Klaus Baumgart, actor Christian Kahrmann and Berlin bad boy rap star Sido make-up the line-up.

A PartyPoker spokesman said: “There are a huge number of very able German speaking internet players out there and it will be fascinating to see how these up and coming aces get on against giants such as Keiner, Scharf and Mathis. The event was a big success last year and we’re pleased to be sponsoring it again in 2007.”

“We’re looking forward to the celebrity heat and are just a bit worried that we will have enough room in the hotel for Sido and his entourage. He’s a huge fan of poker and will be celebrating his birthday while on the felt.”