UPDATED: WSOP Europe scheduled for September

London will play host to a European version of the World Series of Poker two months after the conclusion of the 39th annual Las Vegas Series.

The WSOP Europe is a three-event series that begins on Sept. 6 and ends with a $19,600 (10,000 pounds) Main Event. London Clubs International will host the events at their Fifty, Leicester Square, and Sportsman casinos.

Each tournament winner will receive the traditional WSOP gold bracelet.

The bracelet carries the same prestige as the Las Vegas awards, according to WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. The bracelet design is not finished, but it will have the word "Europe" prominently displayed. All performances in WSOP Europe will count towards overall WSOP records.

"The World Series of Poker Europe will have a unique identity, style and flair, but will remain true to the 38-year tradition and heritage," WSOP commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said in a press release. "This new tournament has been designed with European players in mind, but registrants from every country are welcome."

The WSOP Europe is intended to compliment the American version by running after the summer's American series, Pollack said. Currently, the plan is to have the WSOP Europe follow the Las Vegas tournament on an annual basis.

Unlike the Texas Hold'em heavy Las Vegas WSOP, the European version will prominently feature H.O.R.S.E and pot-limit Omaha in addition to the Main Event.

The H.O.R.S.E. tournament begins on Sept. 6 in the Leicester Square Casino, which officially opens on April 1 and will be the centerpiece of WSOP Europe.

The Pot-Limit Omaha tournament will be played at the Leicester Square Casino on Sept. 8 and the No-Limit Hold'em Main Event is set to start at all three casinos on Sept. 10.

Pollack said his office is planning to continue expanding the WSOP brand to other parts of the world, but no definite plans have been announced.

"Our goal is to breathe life into the WSOP brand on a year-round basis," Pollack said. "We are not starting a tour. Our thing has been and always will be, staging ultra prestigious poker events."

Ryan McLane

Ryan McLane was a poker reporter for Casino City. Although he has a strong background in reporting, the same can't be said for his poker skills. He has never won a major tournament nor is he a professional player. He applied for this job thinking it was a joke, only to find it out that it's true, people will pay you to write about poker. His favorite word is ridiculous.

After receiving his BA in History from Stonehill College in Easton, MA, he somehow ended up freelance reporting for a couple years before being deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom III with the Massachusetts National Guard. He's back now and is a strong advocate of the phrase "God Bless America."

Currently, Ryan lives in Boston and occasionally makes international treks to cover tournament poker and news. Feature writing is his passion and there is no need to ask for his opinion, he'll probably offer it first - free of charge.