Late Night Poker latest

The heats for PartyPoker Late Night Poker are underway in Cardiff, climaxing with the final on Saturday 27 October, and betting has been considerable, with PartyBets.com making ‘Flying Dutchman’ Marcel Luske the 16/1 favourite (from 25/1) when the market closed.

After a number of different formats over recent years the tournament goes back to the classic format of 1999-2002, with an emphasis on player personalities that have made the tournament so compelling over the years.

A PartyBets.com spokesman said: “There was a steady stream of money for Marcel but it is not as if his heat can be seen as easy as it also features the likes of Annette Obrestad, Robert Williamson III, Jon Kalmar and Surinder Sunar. We also saw money for Roland De Wolfe and Jamie Gold but it is victory for Late Night Poker legend Luske that will do the most damage.”

Joining familiar Late Night Poker personalities and champions such as Dave “The Devilfish” Ulliott, the Hendon Mob, Padraig Parkinson, Donnacha O’Dea and Simon Trumper is the likes of Jamie Gold, Rene Mouritsen, Michael Keiner, Eddy Scharf and Andy Black.

Adding to an already international flavour, there is also two complete wildcards who are recent converts to the game. Holland’s Maud Mulder is famous in her homeland for finishing second in the original Pop Idol series, has had hit chart records but also won the very first major poker tournament she played in spectacular style. Joining Maud is Agnieszka Rylik, a top television journalist from Poland who has prepared for her tussle with the pros by heading to Las Vegas for coaching sessions with Mike Sexton.

Late Night Poker had a big impact when the tournament was first broadcast on Channel 4 in 1999, and was the first to use under the table cameras. The total prize pool for 2007 is $335,000 ($90,000 added by PartyPoker) with $125,000 going to the eventual winner.

There will be 49 players paying a $5000 buy-in with seven heats featuring seven players, followed by a semi final and a final. The field will also feature ten online qualifiers who won their seats in exclusive online tournaments on PartyPoker.