Modelled on other high profile sports, such as tennis and golf, the league is designed to allow entry only to those who qualify through their achievements on the live circuit as well as just nine Wild Card entries per event. There are four $20,000 NLH (rake free) Main Events, each with a $1 million first prize, scheduled for the first season. The first event takes place in August, and like all the others, will take place at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

The idea for such a league was born from a long friendship between Annie Duke and former WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. Annie said: “The Epic Poker League is the evolution of an idea that I have been thinking deeply about for many years. We agreed there could be room for something to service the players at the highest level.”

“There is a place for 8,000+ player tournaments but there should be room for something more PGA like where you have an acknowledgment that there are players that have risen to the top of the game. I have been thinking about this for many years and along with Jeffrey and our other three partners we have come up with the most transparent system possible.”

With a relatively small pool of players eligible for entry the field will certainly be quality rather than quantity similar to that of the World Series of Poker Europe. Annie said: “It is hard to say how many will take part. We are confident we will see a quality field from the qualification criteria and hope that people will start to re-think what makes a successful poker tournament. We have been monitoring the WSOP fields this year, which have all increased, and will be looking closely at the Main Event field next week.

“We have a lots of European players in the field but it is hard to predict how many will want to extend their stay in Las Vegas after the WSOP but we are really excited by positive feedback we are getting from the players.”

All the $20,000 NLH Main Events will be televised and broadcasts will start to air in September. Federated have yet to announce their policy on sponsorship but they are committed to helping players “do what they need to do” in order to take part.

Qualification is based on a player’s performance in qualifying tournaments and measured by a combination of adjusted lifetime earnings, number of major poker titles won, adjusted earnings since January 1, 2008, and, the adjusted number of cashes since January 1, 2008. So far nearly 240 players have made the cut on the inaugural roster with a dozen or so currently hovering on the bubble. There are four levels of card awarded for qualification with the minimum requirement being at least $1.25 million in adjusted lifetime earnings (single largest win capped at $750,000) and at least nine cashes totalling $600,000 since January 1, 2008. The level of card signifies how long the player will be eligible to compete in the league.

The four Main Events will feature different formats of NLH tournament play, including a six-handed play event, a heads-up tournament with an innovative seeding structure, and a special multi-format tournament. The inaugural season culminates with a League Championship Freeroll event open to the top 27 players who will compete for a $1million purse.

In addition to those who have qualified there will be 9 Wild Cards offered at each leg only available through a $1,500 NLH Pro-Am event preceding the main event. This will be the only way to join the league and is open to everybody. Live qualifiers to the $1,500NLH Pro/Am events are running at The Palms every Saturday at 7pm with a $340 NLH re-entry tournament with at least one seat guaranteed. Smaller satellites into the weekly tournament are also being hosted at the Casino.

Schedule

Satellites at The Palms

7pm Saturday Super Satellite

• $340 buy-In
• Re-entry allowed
• 1 in 5 gets seat into Pro Am
• 1 $1500 seat guaranteed

7pm Sunday Super Satellite

• $180 buy-in
• No re-entry allowed
• 1 in 10 gets seat into Pro Am
• 1 $1500 seat guaranteed

Noon - 10pm Saturday & Sunday

• $190 Single Table
• 1st Place = Seat into Pro Am
• 2nd Place = $200

Noon - 10pm Saturday & Sunday

• Single Table Satellite
• $340 buy-in
• 10 players = $3,000 in Prize Money
• 1st Place = Seat into Pro Am + $50
• 2nd Place = Seat into Pro Am
  
  

Schedule

Pro/Am Charity Tournament League Main Event

Event #1 Aug 5-8 Aug 7 Aug 9-12

Event #2 Sept 2-5 Sept 4 Sept 6-9

Event #3 Dec 9-12 Dec 11 Dec 14-18

Event #4 Jan 27-30 Jan 29 Feb 9-12

Championship Feb 13-14

Federated Sports + Gaming  has a promise "We promise to always put the players first. This will drive every decision we make."

For more information on the Epic Poker League visit www.epicpoker.com.

Eliza Burnett was Editor of Poker Europa magazine for five years until its closure in March 2011. She is the author of "A Girls Guide to Poker" and has been playing poker for 13 years.