WSOP 2008 Betting NOW OPEN!

paddypower.com today launches a variety of betting markets on the most important poker tournament in the annual calendar, the 2008 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event in Las Vegas, including “To Make The Final Table”, “Number of Entrants”, “Top English Player”, “Top Irish Player”, “Top Internet Pro” and “Age of Winner” markets.

The biggest stars in the poker galaxy will compete alongside thousands of amateurs at the Main Event, which is scheduled to begin on July 3rd and play down to the final table of 9 players on July 14th. At this point play will be suspended until early November, when the final table will be played out on live television.

In a move that typifies its punter-friendly approach, the bookmaker is offering a money-back special on the “To Make the Final Table” market; paddypower.com will refund all losing bets in this market if any Irish player reaches the final table. With frequent final table appearances by Irish poker players over the past 20 years, this special should prove particularly appealing to the punters.

Defending champion Jerry Yang is available at 300/1 and 2006 champion Jamie Gold is available at 200/1, while some of the world’s most famous players, including Gavin Griffin, Phil Ivey, Patrick Antonius and Gus Hansen, make up an elite group of professionals available at 100/1.

WSOP $10,000 Main Event – To Make the Final Table* – selected odds

Daniel Negreanu 100/1
Allen Cunningham 100/1
Erik Seidel 125/1
Chris Ferguson 125/1
Tony G 150/1
Doyle Brunson 150/1
Jennifer Tilly 300/1

The “Top Irish Player” market will be hotly contested as usual, with Ireland’s top players competing to be the 2nd Irishman (after Noel Furlong) to take home a Main Event bracelet. A collection of the top players on the island makes up the leading group available at 22/1.

WSOP $10,000 Main Event – Top Irish Player* – selected odds
Andy Black 22/1
Ciaran O’Leary 22/1
Marty Smyth 22/1
Roy Brindley 28/1
Padraig Parkinson 35/1
Ken Powell 66/1

The “Top English Player” market is as hard to call as the Irish market, with an especially
strong collection of English players expected to compete at the 2008 WSOP Main Event. Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott is one of the three favorites available at 50/1, with Dave Colclough available at 100/1.

WSOP $10,000 Main Event – Top English Player* – selected odds
Ram Vaswani 50/1
Roland De Wolfe 50/1
Neil Channing 66/1
Jon Kalmar 80/1
Barney Boatman 100/1
Victoria Coren 200/1

*Odds are subject to change. The full list of 2008 World Series of Poker Bets can be found at http://www.paddypower.com.

For Online Poker visit Paddy Power Poker.

Note to editors: paddypower.com does not accept bets from US residents. These markets are non runner-no bet