Hellmuth joins Brunson in supporting WSOP Europe

Hall of Poker Famer and 11 WSOP bracelet holder and champ Phil Hellmuth will be joining the legendary Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson when the World Series of Poker hits the UK this September

Business Wire reports that pre-registrations officially opened this week for the World Series of Poker Europe with Betfair as the presenting sponsor, and Hellmuth has made an official commitment to play.

"I’ve played all over the world and particularly enjoy playing in Europe,” said Hellmuth, who this year won his record 11th bracelet before being inducted to the Poker Hall of Fame. “I’m going to London to make history again by winning the first WSOP bracelet ever awarded outside of Las Vegas.”

Reigning World Champion Jamie Gold also announced plans to play in the inaugural WSOP Europe, which debuts in London September 6-16, 2007. Although Gold has already been eliminated from the 2007 Main Event in Las Vegas, he remains the all-time biggest dollar win in poker following his victory in last year's main event.

The first World Series event to be held outside North America, it will be hosted at three casinos operated by London Clubs International – Fifty, in St James; The Casino at the Empire, in Leicester Square, and The Sportsman, at Marble Arch.

The WSOP Europe will consist of three events. The largest of these is the Main Event, a GBP 10 000 buy-in, 750-player, six-day tournament spread over three casinos with a prize pool of roughly GBP 7.5 million. The winner will take home cash and a WSOP gold bracelet, the most coveted prize in poker.

Players can pre-register for the WSOP Europe at www.worldserieofpoker.com.