Canada's Best Compete at Coast to Coast Poker Championships

Canada's poker players will be put to the test in the inaugural Coast to Coast Poker Championships taking place May 5 thru 13, 2008 at the River Rock Casino Resort, featuring 7 events over 9 days, with an estimated 2,650 players and $2.4 million prize pool. The main event offers a top prize of $377,300 based on a sell-out.

The tournament will bring players from the East and the West together for a poker showdown. Leading the way are B.C.'s homegrown poker pro "Yukon" Brad Booth and Ontario's local poker star Gavin Smith.

"I was born and raised in B.C., so I'm proud to represent the West in this new Canadian tournament," explained Booth. "I challenge all my eastern counterparts to come out to B.C. so we can show the world who really is at the top of their game!"

"I'm thrilled to be part of the Coast to Coast Poker Championships," stated Smith. "I look forward to lots of good poker action, and knocking out some of my Western opponents."

"We are proud to host the first ever Coast to Coast Poker Championships, which brings together some of the best poker players in Canada while adding an East versus West rivalry to the classic game," said Darryl Schiewe, BCLC's Vice President of Casino Gaming. "We have such good poker in Canada, and with great poker rooms, tournaments and players, there is no reason to leave Canada to play."

Tournament events include No Limit Texas Hold'em, Pot Limit Texas Hold'em and Omaha High Mix, a Mother's Day Team Tournament, as well as a "bounty" event where players who knock out a celebrity win extra cash (see schedule below).

WORLD POKER TOUR CANADA'S FIRST STOP

The Coast to Coast Poker Championships will be the first stop for World Poker Tour Canada.

WPT Canada, a licensed product of WPT Enterprises, will film four one-hour episodes of the Championships to air nationally in Canada late August 2008. WPT Canada will reflect the popular WPT TV show based on a series of high-stakes poker.

SATELLITES AVAILABLE NOW

Satellite games, which allow players to win their entry to tournament events, are currently available through participating casinos. Players, aged 19 or older, can register by phone at 1-604-247-8983 or in person at River Rock Casino Resort, 8811 River Road, Richmond, British Columbia. More information is available at www.bclc.com.

Here are the 2008 Coast to Coast Poker Championships Schedule of Events:

Event 1 - $500 No Limit Hold'em, May 5th, 2008- Single Day Event, Limited Field

Event 2 - $220 Super Satellite, May 6th, 2008- Single Day Event, Awards $4,000 C2C Packages which includes entry to Events 3 & 4- 1 package/20 entries

Event 3 - $1,000 No Limit Hold'em with $50 and $1,000 Bounties, May 7th & 8th, 2008- Final Table May 11th, Limited Field

Event 4 - Main Event $3,000 No Limit Hold'em, May 9th, 10th & 11th, 2008- $15,000 Starting Chips, Limited Field

Event 5 - Mothers Day Team Event & Brunch, $200 Buy-in includes Team entry and 2 Brunches, May 11th, 2008- Limited to 200 teams

Event 6 - $300 Pot Limit Hold'em/Omaha, May 12th, 2008- Limited to 300 entries, Single Day Event

Event 7 - $300 No Limit Hold'em, May 13th, 2008- Limited to 300 Entries, Single Day Event