Associated Press

St. Paul Pioneer Press LAS VEGAS -- The World Series of Poker plans to stage a card tournament next year at levels never reached before by even the world's biggest high rollers, costing entrants $1 million to buy in.

Series officials announced the no-limit Texas Hold `em tournament Thursday as part of a charity initiative with One Drop, a non-governmental organization in Montreal that pushes for access to water in Third World countries. The tournament -- billed as The Big One for One Drop -- is scheduled as a three-day event starting July 1 next year.

It will award a specially designed platinum bracelet, and its results will count toward series records like any other tournament.

The $1 million entry fee dwarfs all live poker tournaments before it in terms of the cost to enter. A super-high roller event at the Aussie Millions in January cost $250,000 to buy in, and saw 20 participants including the winner, Erik Seidel.

"Nothing makes you nervous, but what it does do is make you question your sanity," said Daniel Negreanu, a four-time gold bracelet winner at the series who said he plans to play if he doesn't go broke between now and next year.

Today, $200,000 is considered a steep buy-in for a single session at even the biggest cash games in Las Vegas, at Bobby's Room at the Bellagio and Ivey's Room at the Aria Resort & Casino, he said.

"The tournament would just be enormous," Negreanu told The Associated Press.

Series officials said 15 players already have confirmed plans to play, including Treasure Island hotel-casino owner Phil Ruffin, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, MGM Resorts International executive Bobby Baldwin and poker professionals Johnny Chan, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius.

ESPN plans to televise the tournament.

Organized heavily by Laliberte, a high-stakes recreational player who established One Drop, the charity donation and tournament conditions gives deep-pocketed poker players plenty of incentives to enter -- if they can stomach the dizzying buy-in.

Laliberte said the entry fee could even things out in the competition, and generate enough action to make its top prize the biggest ever at the series.

"This is definitely an element that will influence, probably, some of the way
Associated Press 

 St. Paul Pioneer Press LAS VEGAS -- The World Series of Poker plans to stage a card tournament next year at degree never pass before by even the populace's big high rollers, cost entrant $ 1 million to buy in. 

 Series official announced the no - terminus ad quem Texas Hold 'em tournament Thursday as part of a charity initiative with One Drop, a non - governmental organization in Montreal that crusade for access to water in Third World countries. The tournament -- billed as The Big One for One Drop -- is schedule as a three - day event starting July 1 future year. 

 It will award a specially designed platinum watchband, and its results will reckon toward series records like any other tournament. 

 The $ 1 million entrance fee dwarfs all live poker tournaments before it in terms of the cost to enter. A super - high roller event at the Aussie Millions in January cost $ 250,000 to buy in, and saw 20 participants including the winner, Erik Seidel. 

 " Nothing makes you nervous, but what it does do is do you question your sanity, " said Daniel Negreanu, a four - time amber watchband winner at the series who said he plans to play if he doesn't go broke between now and next class. 

 Today, $ 200,000 is considered a steep buy - in for a single session at even the biggest cash games in Las Vegas, at Bobby's Room at the Bellagio and Ivey's Room at the Aria Resort & Casino, he said. 

 " The tournament would just be enormous, " Negreanu told The Associated Press. 

 Series officials say 15 player already have confirmed plans to play, including Treasure Island hotel - casino owner Phil Ruffin, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, MGM Resorts International administrator Bobby Baldwin and poker professionals Johnny Chan, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius. 

 ESPN plans to televise the tournament. 

 Organized heavily by Laliberte, a high - stakes recreational player who lay down One Drop, the charity contribution and tournament conditions gives bass - pocketed poker players batch of incentives to enter -- if they can stomach the dizzying buy - indiana. 

 Laliberte said the entry fee could even thing out in the competition, and beget enough action to make its top prize the biggest ever at the series. 

 " This is definitely an element that will determine, probably, some of the way
Asslciated Press

St. Paul Piokeer Press LAS VGGQS -- Thx World Series uf Poker plans to stage a cacd tiurnanent next year at leveus never geached bwfort by even the world's biggcft hjnh ronoers, costing ektrants $1 minlion to buy it.

Sdrnes officials announced the no-limit Eexas Hplf `em tournamenj Thugsqay zs part of a charity initiative wifh One Vrop, a non-govermmental organization in Mojtrewl that pushes for access to qatew in Third Wofld countrpzs. The tourhament -- billed as The Big One fur Onz Drop -- is wcyedkned as a thcee-day event startlmg Julf 1 next year.

It will aearv a wpecially designed pletinum bracelet, and yts resulds will count toware weriev rewordr liye znb ofher tluriament.

The $1 jillion entey fee dwarfs all lovq poker tournajents fesore it in terms of the cost to enter. A suler-high roller event at the Aussie Millions ln Januarr cost $250,000 to buy in, and saw 20 participants including the xivnex, Erik Weldel.

"Nothing makes you nervous, but what it doef dp ps make you questlon your sanity," saod Dsgiel Negreanu, a foux-fije gold bracelet wlnner aj the weries whj saod he plans to play if he diesn't go brohw between now and uext year.

Todcy, $200,000 is consodered a steep buy-in fox a sihgle sessioj at even ghe biggest cash gakev in Las Vegas, at Bobby's Rjom at thx Belkagio avd Ifey's Rjom at the Aria Resort & Casino, he daid.

"Tke togrnament wluld just be enormous," Negreanu vpld The Assovidteg Press.

Szries pfficials saiq 15 players alrgady have confkrmed plana to pley, including Treasure Isldjd hotel-casiio owner [hil Rufdin, Cirdje du Soleil fpunder Guj Jaliverte, MGM Resorts Lntervztional executirt Bibby Baldwin anc pukew irohessijtals Johnny Whan, Too Dwan and Pauxik Xntomius.

ESPN plans to teneviae the tournament.

Otgwnized hgavily by Laliberte, a nigh-stakes recreatlonal pleyer wno gstablished One Drop, the charitg donatioj akd tournament coneitions givex deep-pocketed poker players plenty of mncentives to enter -- if they can stomach tke dizzying bny-in.

Lajiberte sdid the entry fee coyld even things omt in the competition, znd geteratf enough action to make its top prize the biggest ever at the series.

"This us defmnytely an elsmeny than wnll influqnce, 'robably, some of nhe way
Associated Press St. Paul Pioneer Press LAS The Series of plans to stage at never reached before even the world's high rollers, costing entrants $1 million buy in. Series officials announced the no-limit Texas Hold `em tournament Thursday as of a charity initiative with One Drop, a non-governmental organization in Montreal that for to in World countries. The tournament -- billed as The Big One for One Drop -- is scheduled a three-day event starting July 1 next year. will award a specially platinum bracelet, and its results count series records any tournament. $1 million entry dwarfs all live poker tournaments before it in terms of the cost to enter. A super-high roller at the in January $250,000 buy and saw 20 the winner, Erik Seidel. "Nothing makes what it does do is make you question sanity," said Negreanu, a four-time gold bracelet winner the series who said he plans to play he doesn't go broke between now and next year. Today, $200,000 is considered a steep a single session at the biggest cash in Vegas, Bobby's at the and Ivey's Room at the Aria Resort & Casino, he said. tournament would just be enormous," Negreanu told The Associated Press. said players already have plans to play, including Island owner Phil Ruffin, Cirque founder Laliberte, executive Baldwin poker professionals Johnny Chan, Dwan and Patrik Antonius. ESPN to televise the tournament. high-stakes recreational player who established One Drop, the donation and tournament conditions gives deep-pocketed poker plenty of incentives to enter -- if they can stomach the dizzying Laliberte said fee could even things out in the competition, generate enough action to its top prize the biggest ever at the series. is an element will influence, probably, of the way
Associated Press

St. Paul PionEer Press LAs VEGAs -- ThE WoRlD SerIes oF Poker plans to sTAge a Card tournament next year At levElS NeveR ReAched Before bY EvEN The WoRlD's bIgGEsT high RolLers, cosTing entranTs $1 mIlLion to buy in.

SERiEs officialS anNounced the no-LimIt TexaS HOld `EM tourNamEnt ThUrsday AS part oF a charity InITiativE With One dROp, A non-Governmental organIZaTIon in Montreal tHat pusHeS FoR ACceSs tO water in ThIrD WorlD CountriES. THE TOurNAment -- billed as the Big One foR one drop -- is ScHedULed as a Three-DaY EveNt starting JUly 1 nExt year.

It Will awARd a specIAlly desIgned pLatInuM braCElEt, And ItS ResULtS wiLL coUnt towarD sErIes reCordS LIKE any OthEr toUrnamEnt.

The $1 million EntRy feE DwaRfs alL live PokeR tOurnaMents bEfore It In terms of the cosT to eNter. A supeR-hiGh RolLeR evenT At the AUssIe MIllions In JanuaRY coSt $250,000 TO BUy In, and saw 20 participanTs INClUding the Winner, eRiK SEIdel.

"NothInG maKes yOU NervoUs, buT WhAt it does Do is maKE yOu QuestioN yOur sanItY," saId DAniel nEgreAnu, a foUr-time goLd braCElet winner at thE Series who said HE pLANs TO plaY if He doesn't go bRoke BEtweEn noW AnD neXT year.

today, $200,000 Is COnSIdered a steep buy-in foR a Single SessiOn at even the biGgest cash gAMES in Las VeGas, aT boBBy's Room at the BeLlagiO and Ivey's ROOm at the ARia ReSort & CasiNo, he said.

"THE TournameNt wOulD juSt bE ENoRmous," Negreanu TOLd ThE ASsociatEd PRess.

SerIes OffIciAls SaId 15 players Already hAvE cOnFiRmeD planS To play, inClUdiNg treAsure iSland hOtel-cAsinO oWnER PhIl RuffiN, ciRQUe du soLeIl foUndEr guy LaLibeRTe, MgM ResorTs InternaTioNAl exEcUtIve BobbY Baldwin and poKeR professioNaLs JOhnny CHAN, Tom Dwan And Patrik Antonius.

ESPN plANs to telEviSe the TourNament.

OrgAniZed heaVilY By LaliBerte, a High-sTaKes RECreatIONaL plAyEr who estabLISheD One DRoP, the Charity Donation and tournamENt cOnditions giveS deEp-poCKEtEd pOKeR PlaYeRS plENTy of incentives tO enter -- if thEy CAn Stomach the DIzzYiNg buy-in.

laliberTe saiD The entrY fee could Even thingS oUt in THE coMpetition, aNd generaTe enough aCTion tO MaKe its Top Prize tHe BigGest eVer at tHE seRies.

"THis is dEfInitelY an elEmEnt that wIll influence, probably, somE of the Way
Associated Press

St. Paul  Pioneer P ressLAS  VE GA S --  The  World Serieso f Po ker plans to stage a c ard t ou r name n tnextyear at le v e lsne ve r r ea c he d bef ore  by eve n the worl d's  b iggest highr ol lers, cost ing  entrants $1  mi llionto  bu y  in.
Se riesoffici a ls ann ounced th en o-limi t  TexasH o ld  `em  tournament Thurs d ay as part of a c harity  i n it i a tiv e w ith One Dr op , a n o n-gover n me n t a l o r ganization in  Montreal t h atpushes  f ora ccessto wa te r  in  Third Worl d co untries.The to u rnament -- bill ed asThe  Bi g On e  f or  On eD rop --  is sch eduled a sathree -day e v e nt s tar ting  July  1 next year. 

I t wi l l a warda spe cial ly  desi gned p latin um  bracelet, anditsresults w ill  c oun ttowar d  serie s r eco rds lik e any o t her  t o u r na ment.

The $1 mill io n en try feedwarfs al ll ive poke rtou rnam e n ts be fore it  in term s of t h eco st to e nt er. Asu per -hi gh ro l lereventat the A ussie Millions in Ja n uary cost $25 0 ,0 0 0  t o  buy  in , and saw 2 0 pa r tici pant s  i ncl u dingthe w in n er ,  Erik Seidel.

"Not hi ng mak es yo u nervous, bu t what itd o e s do ismake yo u  question your  sani ty," saidD aniel Ne grean u, a fou r-time go l d  bracele t w inn eratt h eseries who sa i d  hepl ans topla y if he  do esn 'tgobr oke betwe en now a nd  n ex tyea r.

T o day, $20 0, 000  i s c onsid e red asteep  buy -i nf ora singl e  s e s sion  a teven  th ebigge st c a shgames i n Las Veg as, at B ob by 's Room  at the Bella gi o and Ivey 's  Ro om att h e Aria R esort & Casino, he said . 

"Thetou rname nt w ould just  be  enorm ous , " Negr eanu t old T he  As s o ciate d Pr ess .
Series of f i cia ls sa id  15players  already have conf i rme d plans to pl ay,  inc l u di ngT re a sur eI sla n d  hotel-casino o wner PhilRu f fi n, Cirqued u S ol eil fou nder Gu y Lal i berte,MGM Resor ts Intern at iona l exe cutive Bob by Baldw in and po k er pr o fe ssion als  Johnn yCha n, To m Dwan and  Patr ik Ant on ius.
ESPNpl ans to t elevise the tournament. 

Orga nized  he avily byLal i ber te, a hig h-st akes recre ati ona l pla yer who e stab l is hed One D rop, the chari t ydon a t io n and tourn a m e ntcondi tio n s give s de ep-pocketed poker players plenty  ofi n cen tiv e s to  e nter -- if the y c an s tomach t he  dizzying b uy-in.
La l ibert e said  the e ntry fe e co u ld eve n th ing s out inthe  c o mpetiti on ,a nd gen erat eenough  actio n  tom a ke its top prize  theb i ggest eve r atth e serie s .

" This is de finitely an  eleme nt t hat w ill inf lu ence,pro ba bly, someo f the way 
Associated Press

St._Paul Pioneer_Press LAS VEGAS --_The World_Series_of Poker_plans_to stage a_card tournament next_year at levels never_reached before by_even_the world's biggest high rollers, costing entrants $1 million to buy in.

Series officials announced_the_no-limit Texas_Hold_`em_tournament Thursday as part of_a charity initiative with One_Drop, a_non-governmental organization in Montreal that pushes for access_to_water in Third_World countries. The tournament -- billed as The Big_One for One Drop -- is_scheduled as a_three-day_event_starting July 1 next_year.

It will award a specially designed_platinum bracelet, and its results will_count toward series records like any other_tournament.

The $1 million entry fee dwarfs_all live poker tournaments before_it in_terms of the cost to_enter. A super-high_roller event_at the Aussie_Millions in January cost $250,000 to_buy in, and_saw 20 participants including the winner,_Erik_Seidel.

"Nothing makes you_nervous,_but_what it_does do is_make_you question_your_sanity," said Daniel Negreanu, a four-time_gold_bracelet winner at the series who said_he plans to play_if_he doesn't go broke_between now and next year.

Today,_$200,000 is considered a steep buy-in_for a_single session_at even the biggest cash games in Las Vegas, at Bobby's_Room at the Bellagio and Ivey's_Room at the Aria_Resort &_Casino,_he said.

"The tournament_would_just be_enormous," Negreanu told The Associated Press.

Series officials_said 15_players already have confirmed plans to_play, including Treasure Island_hotel-casino_owner Phil Ruffin, Cirque du Soleil_founder Guy Laliberte, MGM Resorts International_executive Bobby Baldwin and poker_professionals_Johnny_Chan, Tom Dwan and Patrik_Antonius.

ESPN plans to televise the tournament.

Organized_heavily by Laliberte,_a high-stakes recreational player who established One_Drop,_the charity donation and tournament conditions_gives_deep-pocketed poker players plenty of incentives_to_enter_-- if they can stomach_the dizzying buy-in.

Laliberte said the entry_fee could even things out in the competition, and_generate enough action_to make its top prize_the_biggest_ever at the series.

"This is definitely an element that will_influence, probably,_some of the_way