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Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas Sets Schedule for World Series of Poker

This is the 31st year for the legendary series of tournaments. The final four-day event attracts top players from around the world, who pay $10,000 each for a seat at the tables.

Top prize for the championship round is a minimum of $1 million. This year, if there are at least 450 entries for the finals, the top prize will be $1.5 million. In 1999, 393 players entered the finals.

Becky Binion Behnen, the daughter of the famous Benny Binion, said the World Series has awarded more than $140 million in prize money since it began. The total will surpass $150 million with this year's tournament, she said.

Although the final event is a Texas Hold 'Em game, the smaller tournaments in the preceding days feature several other games, including Seven Card Stud, Omaha, Lowball and variations of these games. There's a Dealers Tournament, with a $500 buy-in, on April 22. The Women's Championship on May 14 has a $1,000 buy-in, and will be half Hold 'Em and half Seven Card Stud.

The other tournaments have buy-ins ranging from $1,500 to $5,000. There are 25 events this year, up from 16 in 1999. Anyone 21 years old or older can enter.

"For atmosphere, tension and high-voltage pressure, other sports events pale in comparison,'' Mrs. Behnen said. "When Tiger Woods, for example, plays in the Masters, he is not betting his own money.''

The $1 million champion last year was an amateur player from Ireland, Noel Furlong.

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