Big stakes in televised poker show

American viewers will have an opportunity to savour some really high stakes poker action next week when Game Show Network screens its popular television show High Stakes Poker.

Top poker aces will be putting $100 000 each at risk as they pit their skill and experience against some of the world's best players.

This is Season Four of the show, and the organisers have upped the ante by offering seven episodes of poker to the contestants for $500 000 individual buy-ins. That means $5 million on the table in player bets in the cash No Limit Hold 'Em game.

Already on the player roll-call are poker legend Doyle Brunson, French ace David Benyamine, High Stakes Poker veteran Antonio Esfandiari, Sammy Farha, WSOP winner Jamie Gold, Barry Greenstein, Finlands top cash game specialist Patrik Antonius, high profile pro Daniel Negreanu and the only non-professional player, businessman Guy Laliberte