PCA underway

The fifth Annual PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) is underway at the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas.

This year’s field – a record-setting 1,135 players including more than 650 players who won their seats online at PokerStars – represents the largest live poker tournament outside of the World Series of Poker.

The PCA welcomes some of the most skilled online and professional poker players in the world to compete in the first premier poker tournament of 2008 with a staggering $8.6 million prize pool.

Tournament participants enjoy the luxurious amenities and scenery of Atlantis and Paradise Island during this six-day competition while vying for the chance to best one of the largest and most competitive tournament fields of any live tournament circuit. This year’s field includes 20 Team PokerStars Pros led by WSOP Champion Joe Hachem and poker legend Daniel Negreanu.

After the success of last year’s record-breaking tournament, the 2008 PCA (an official PokerStars European Poker Tour event) features more competitors and an even larger prize pool than last year’s $7.06 million prize pool and 937 players. The tournament launches today with the first of two Day 1 starting flights (January 5 and 6). The event will conclude with an eight-player final table on January 10 that will be broadcasted internationally, and a massive send-off party for the winner, celebrities and all the PCA players.

Last year’s PCA champion, Ryan Daut, returned home` to New Jersey $1.5 million richer after besting a 937-strong field of top-tier poker players.

Daut said: “Last year’s PCA was undoubtedly a memorable one. Being able to play in such a beautiful location and compete against some of the top poker players in the world was a thrilling experience and unlike any other tournament. I cannot wait to defend my title against even stiffer competition this year.”