DUBLIN, November 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- Last Chance to Qualify Online for Belgium Open Poker Championships 2009; Many Pros Already Registered With More to Follow

This year the Belgium Open Poker Championships is attracting some of the best in the business to Belgium's Casino de Namur from Nov. 21 to 29. The long list of big names already registered for the EUR1,500 + EUR200 buy-in main event includes PokerStars pros such as Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Arnaud Mattern, Johnny Lodden, Noah Boeken, Joep Van Den Bijgaart, Marcel Luske, Pieter De Korver, Thierry Van Den Berg, and Marion Nedellec, plus PokerStars sponsored players Adam Lounis, Kool Shen, Julien Lang Van, Jose Da Silva, and Yohann Azoulay.

Other stars of the felt such as Surinder Sunar, Ludovic Lacay, Davidi Kitai, Marc Naalden, Aurelien Guiglin, Guillaume De La Gorce, and Michel Abecassis will also be in attendance.

The sixth annual main event, which is anticipating a field of up to 1,000 players, is not the only tournament turning heads, another attraction this year is the new heads-up team event. This unique tournament, which kicks off on Nov. 23, will see teams of four battle each other in heads-up matches across two days, with day one split into 1A and 1B.

There are two chances left to qualify online for the prestigious main event via PokerStars.com. On Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. (WET) there is a $25 + $2 buy-in satellite with $1,000 added. This event has one seat on offer for the last $200 + $15 buy-in monthly final satellite for every $215 in its prize pool.

The final takes place on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. (WET) and will give away a Belgium Open Poker Championship package per every $4,500 in its prize pool. As this is the ultimate chance to qualify online for the event, an extra two seats have been added to the prize pool. These satellites can be found in the "Events" section of the PokerStars lobby, under "Special".

Alternatively, there are a few live satellites taking place at the Casino de Namur in the run up to the Championships. Here is the schedule:

    Nov. 18: EUR50 buy-in rebuy at 8 p.m.
    Nov. 20: EUR50 buy-in rebuy at 8 p.m.
    Nov. 21: EUR100 buy-in rebuy at 2.30 p.m.
    Nov. 21: EUR100 buy-in rebuy at 8 p.m.
    Nov. 22: EUR50 buy-in rebuy at 2.30 p.m.
    Nov. 22: EUR210 buy-in freezeout at 8 p.m.
    Nov. 23: EUR100 buy-in rebuy at 2.30 p.m.

Last year Dutch player Sijbrand Maal beat an 843-strong field to take home EUR315,875 for first place. This year, the event is expected to be even bigger and better with bundles of poker action available throughout the nine-day festival.

    The side events on offer at the Belgium Open Poker Championships 2009 are:

    Event 1 - No-Limit Hold'em Heads Up Team Event (Nov 23) EUR10,000+500
    Event 2 - No Limit Hold'em (Nov 26) EUR200+10 freezeout
    Event 3 - No-Limit Hold'em (Nov 27/28) EUR1,000+50 freezeout (plus
    satellites Nov 25/26)
    Event 4 - No-Limit Hold'em (Nov 28/29) EUR500+25
    Event 5 - No-Limit Hold'em Bounty (Nov 29) EUR150+10 freezeout
    Event 6 - No-Limit Hold'em Ladies Event (Nov 29) EUR100+10 freezeout

The main event will take place over nine days including four starting days, and two day 2's. It will be streamed live on the Internet and filmed for broadcast. Sponsors logos are allowed. Hold'em cash games will also be running daily during the festival.

Players can register for the event at http://www.circuspoker.be/en/calendrier-poker-en.php or at Casinos de Namur and Spa. Alternatively email Kenny Hallaert at kh@circuspoker.be or call +32(0)476-80-65-35 to register by telephone. Visit http://www.circuspoker.be/bopc for more information.

Contact: Brendan.murray@pokermediaconsulting.com +353-863057469

SOURCE Belgium Open Poker Championships

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