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	World Series of Poker: There's no limit to the thrills Last update: July 6, 2005 at 9:09 PM Steve Wilstein, Associated Press July 7, 2005 LAS VEGAS -- The World Series of Poker creates legends and changes lives, makes instant millionaires and megastars, pits world-class rounders against online amateurs, brings together Hollywood celebrities and red-eyed denizens of backroom games. It's a sport without athletics, a marathon that doesn't move. It takes skill and luck, math and feel, and it's captured an audience of millions of players and TV viewers of all ages. Once the province of a small cadre of pros, poker's most renowned affair has burgeoned into the world's richest spectacle -- some $100 million worth of games that go on for six weeks of day and night sessions. The no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event starts today with a record number of players paying the $10,000 entry fee -- between 5,000 and 6,000 are expected -- and a record top prize that might approach $7.5 million for the winner of the final table that begins July 15. In Texas Hold 'em, each player is dealt two cards. Five cards are dealt on the table and whichever player can make the best hand from his two cards and the five on the table wins. No limit means precisely what it sounds like -- a player can risk all the money they have at any point in the game. The aptly named Chris Moneymaker, a young accountant, emerged from anonymity and a $40 investment in a tournament on PokerStars.com two years ago to win $2.5 million against a field of 829 players. Greg Raymer, a patent attorney with a penchant for fossils and goofy holographic sunglasses, walked away with $5 million last year when 2,576 players entered the main event. Bill Barnett, the 64-year-old mayor of Naples, Fla., also qualified on PokerStars.com. but doesn't think he has a realistic chance of winning. "It's doubtful I'm going to make it through nine nights," he said. "It's just a thrill to be able to say, 'Hey, I was there and I got to play in it and I earned my seat.' My kids and grandkids all think it's hysterical." Thanks to http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/5494001.html	Your Ad Here
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LAS VEGAS -- The World Series of Poker creates legends and changes lives, makes instant millionaires and megastars, pits world-class rounders against online amateurs, brings together Hollywood celebrities and red-eyed denizens of backroom games.

It's a sport without athletics, a marathon that doesn't move. It takes skill and luck, math and feel, and it's captured an audience of millions of players and TV viewers of all ages.

Once the province of a small cadre of pros, poker's most renowned affair has burgeoned into the world's richest spectacle -- some $100 million worth of games that go on for six weeks of day and night sessions.

The no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event starts today with a record number of players paying the $10,000 entry fee -- between 5,000 and 6,000 are expected -- and a record top prize that might approach $7.5 million for the winner of the final table that begins July 15.

In Texas Hold 'em, each player is dealt two cards. Five cards are dealt on the table and whichever player can make the best hand from his two cards and the five on the table wins. No limit means precisely what it sounds like -- a player can risk all the money they have at any point in the game.

The aptly named Chris Moneymaker, a young accountant, emerged from anonymity and a $40 investment in a tournament on PokerStars.com two years ago to win $2.5 million against a field of 829 players. Greg Raymer, a patent attorney with a penchant for fossils and goofy holographic sunglasses, walked away with $5 million last year when 2,576 players entered the main event.

Bill Barnett, the 64-year-old mayor of Naples, Fla., also qualified on PokerStars.com. but doesn't think he has a realistic chance of winning.

"It's doubtful I'm going to make it through nine nights," he said. "It's just a thrill to be able to say, 'Hey, I was there and I got to play in it and I earned my seat.' My kids and grandkids all think it's hysterical."

Thanks to http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/5494001.html

World Series of Poker: There's no limit to the thrills