Yesterday it was announced that there will be a “Tournament of Champions” at this summer’s World Series of Poker, reviving an event that last officially took place in 2006. The new TOC will be a 27-player freeroll tournament with a $1 million prize pool, $500,000 of which will go to the champions’ champion.

The field will include 20 players voted on via an internet poll. Only “living WSOP bracelet winners” are eligible as candidates. (No dead guys!) In his article about the event, Stephen A. Murphy notes there are currently 521 living bracelet holders.

Only one vote per email address, so ballot-box stuffing will only work to the extent that a person uses multiple emails. Voting is now open and will remain so through June 15. One can track how the voting is going by checking the current “Top 50” vote-getters (presented in random order) on the WSOP site. Should be interesting to watch that list over the next three months to see which players prove most popular.

Five more spots will be filled by the TOC winners from its last incarnation (2004-2006), Annie Duke, Mike Matusow, and Mike Sexton, plus last year’s WSOP Main Event winner Joe Cada and WSOPE Main Event winner Barry Shulman. The last two seats are being reserved for “wild card exceptions” — no word as yet what that means, although Harrah’s VP Ty Stewart has said it could be that those spots will be taken by winners of online tourneys.

Sounds like the TOC, like the Main Event, will have its own delay (of sorts) insofar as the tourney is set to begin on Sunday, June 27 and then conclude on the following Sunday, July 4 (an off-day for the Main Event). This will be a televised event, too (on ESPN, natch).

I’m referring to this as TOC 3.0 because the “original” TOC — the one envisioned by Mike Sexton in the late 1990s and run from 1999-2001 at the Orleans Casino — while not specifically connected with the WSOP, not only shared the same name but had a couple of features not completely unrelated to those of the new TOC.

That original Tournament of Champions lasted for three years (1999-2001). There was an entry fee ($1,500 the first year, and $2,000 the next two), but it was not an open tournament. Rather, one earned the right to enter by various means, including winning a WSOP bracelet, winning a TOC-sanctioned event, winning the TOC itself, or being a member of the Poker Hall of Fame.

Reading about the original TOC online, I’ve encountered conflicting reports on those qualifications, but you get the picture. The idea was to create a “champions” event involving the best of the best — sort of like the “Tour Championship” that comes at the end of the year in golf to which only the top money winners for the year are invited.

One other nifty aspect of the original TOC — it was a mixed-game event that featured different games throughout. The first two days players rotated between limit hold’em, Omaha eight-or-better, and seven-card stud. Then on the final day, the last 27 players played no-limit hold’em.

That first year, 1999, there were 664 entrants, and David Chiu was the winner, with Louis Asmo finishing second and Doyle Brunson third. There was a somewhat famous hand between Chiu and Asmo at the final table, one in which following some preflop action Chiu folded pocket kings face up, and Asmo revealed he held pocket aces. Click here to read Lee Munzer’s description of that hand, along with an interview with Asmo.

In 2000, 440 players entered the event, with a computer programmer named Spencer Sun taking the title. The great poker reporter Andy Glazer participated that year (as he did in ’99, I believe), and finished a respectable 35th. Glazer reported on the event for PokerPages, and you can read what he had to say here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.

In 2001, there were 402 entries, and Brian Saltus won, defeating T.J. Cloutier heads up. Scotty Nguyen finished third, and Miami John Cernuto fourth. Lee Munzer wrote up the first day of action for PokerPages here (giving Andy Glazer a chance to concentrate on playing), then Glazer wrote up Day 2 and Day 3.

The TOC was discontinued, then the name was used again for that one-table, ten-player event won by Annie Duke in 2004. I mentioned this one last week — no entry fee, $2 million prize pool, winner-take-all. Harrah’s had recently acquired the WSOP, and as they donated the prize pool, the TOC became associated with the WSOP.

In 2005, 111 players earned their way into the event by winning either WSOP bracelets or WSOP Circuit events. A bit of a hubbub that year also as three additional players — Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Chan — were allowed to play as “sponsor exemptions,” and in fact all three did well, finishing 13th (Chan), 10th (Brunson), and third (Hellmuth). Mike Matusow won the event and the $1,000,000 first prize. The rest of the prize pool — another $1 million — was divided among the other eight players who made the final table.

In 2006, the TOC was reduced to a 27-player invitational tourney, with the nine WSOP Main Event final tablists and 11 WSOP Circuit event winners all playing along with seven other “exemptions.” Mike Sexton won that year, defeating Daniel Negreanu heads-up. Again, the prize pool — donated by Harrah’s — totaled $2 million, with half of that going to Sexton for winning.

Now, after a four-year hiatus, the TOC is back. Already seeing debates on Twitter and in the forums about the new format. Kind of a popularity contest, really, as far as who will primarily make up the field. But it should prove interesting nonetheless — another good buzz-creator.

I see Dr. Pauly has already shared his voting guide. Who is getting my vote? Billy Baxter FTW!

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French poker pro, David Benyamine, has taken down Party Poker’s Premier League IV tournament held at the M Resort and Casino in Las Vegas after outlasting a final table that featured fellow pros Daniel Negreanu, Phil “The Unabomber” Laak, Roland De Wolfe, Luke ‘FullFlush’ Schwartz and PartyPoker’s online qualifier Giovanni Safina.

After the the preliminary heads up heats between Daniel Negreanu, Team Party pro Ian Frazer and Roland De Wolfe, the final table action began with Phil Laak taking leading the chip count with 480.000 . But after more than three hours of play, Laak became the first eliminated player on the final table when tens were unable to hold against Benyamine’s A-K.

The next to go was British Pro Roland de Wolfe, who was sent to the rail in fifth by Daniel Negreanu. Unfortunatelly for Negreanu, he joined de Wolfe on the rail shortly afterwards. Schwartz and Benyamine entered the final heads up after after Schwartz eliminated online qualifier Giovanni Safina in third place with $120,000.

Schwartz took an early advantage in heads-up play with 1,320,000 chips againts Benyamine’s 580,000. However, it didn’t take long for Benyamine to double his chips and level things up. In the final hand of the night, Schwartz raise with Q-2 spades and Benyamine make the call with Q-8.

The flop came 5-3-Q and Benyamine check-raised, with Schwartz moving all. After a few minutes contemplating the situation, Benyamine called. The turn card was a 7h, reducing Schwartz chances to win the hand and the title. The river came 6 hearts, sealing Benyamine’s victory and sending Schwartz home with $200,000 for his runner-up finish.

“It feels really good winning a title, I’m not used to it. The whole time I never thought about winning, I just wanted to do what I thought was right. I know people always say that when they win but it’s true. I haven’t really been around for a while and I hope this gives me momentum going forward! I really enjoyed the format and competition – I’m sure it will make great TV. Position in these final tables can help and I didn’t do anything special today, I just got hands at the right time and played my own game. Luke (Schwartz) is a very impulsive player but I just stuck to my own game heads-up and it was enough.” said Benyamine after taking the event.

“Congratulations to David - it has been a fantastic week and was such a spectacle at a fantastic location in the form of the M Resort. The story of Giovanni Safina is inspiring, what a dream ticket for 100 euros! Yes, you get an online poker qualifier who wins millions in a big tournament quite frequently but this was different. You had an online qualifier who was thrown in the lions den in a league over seven intense days with players at the top of their game and those who were masters of table intimidation. He did himself proud - he never once shirked and deserves all the acclaim he has already got back in his homeland.” commented a PartyPoker spokesman.

“Bringing the Party Poker Premier League to Las Vegas has taken the world’s best distributed poker show to a whole new level – this is simply must see TV, it has been amazing. Everybody has also enjoyed the fantastic facilities and service of the M Resort. I would like to personally thank Richar Fitoussi and all the team there for being such wonderful hosts.” said Eddie Hearn, Director of Matchroom Sport.

Party Poker Premier League IV Final Table Results:

1st: David Benyamine ($400,000)
2nd: Luke ‘FullFlush’ Schwartz ($200,000)
3rd: Giovanni Safina ($100,000)
4th: Daniel Negreanu ($80,000)
5th: Roland De Wolfe ($70,000)
6th: Phil Laak ($50,000)

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Following days of speculations and rumors surrounding T.J. Cloutier’s 2005 WSOP Bracelet auction on eBay, Cake Poker has announced that they have purchased the item and that they’re now planning to return it its rightful owner.

Players and poker fans have speculated  why Cloutier, who has 6 World Series of Poker titles and almost $10 million in career earnings, pawned off his 2005 $5,000 No Limit Hold ‘em WSOP bracelet, raising questions about gambling debts and possible money problems.

The bracelet was auctioned a few days ago by Plano Pawn Shop for a little over $4000. The auction closed on Sunday on eBay and the item is currently on its way to its new owner. According to a message posted on CakePoker Blog on Wednesday night, Cake Poker Team will hold the bracelet for a couple of days before handing it back to Cloutier.

“As much as we would love to have a WSOP bracelet, or even award it to one of our cherished poker players, we can’t, in good conscience, keep it from the man who rightfully won it; which is why we’ve decided to return it to TJ Cloutier… just as soon as we’re done having some fun with it…there will be no sacrilegious treatment of the artifact.” states the blog post.

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UB.com‘ UBOC 2010 continues this week with a line-up of tournaments offering players a range of buy-ins and events, including a $1 Million Guaranteed UBOC Championship No Limit Hold ‘em event scheduled on Sunday, January 31st at 16:00 ET.

Players have the opportunity to enter the stellar event for a fraction of the buy in $100+ $9 buy in UBOC Championship Super Satellite 100 Seat Guaranteed scheduled on January 31st at 12:30 ET. UB members also have the chance to play their way into the big seat giveaway though the daily satellites available on the site from as little as $5+ $0.50. The top 100 places in the UBOC Championship Super Satellite will earn automatic entry to the $1,000+ $50 buy-in UBOC 18 event later in the day.

Players can participate in the $100+9 UBOC Championship Satellite 5 Seat Guaranteed tournaments running daily at 21:50 ET  and awarding five $1,000+ $50 seat at the UBOC Championship No Limit Hold ‘em event. UB Poker is also offering 1 Seat Guaranteed Satellites about six times per day and even more on the day of the UBOC Championship event.

UBOC 2010 $1 Million Guaranteed tournament prize pool will be hosted by 11-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth and is also expected to attract the best online poker players from across the globe.

“This has got to be not only my favorite UBOC so far, but my favorite online tournament series ever. There’s another $1 million event coming up on Sunday with plenty of satellites to get you into it, and if it’s anything like last Sunday’s big $1 million Guarantee that ended up having a $1.5 million prize pool, it’s going to be huge.” said Team UB Pro Phil Hellmuth.

UBOC 2010, which kicked off on January 20th, is UB’s biggest online poker tournament series yet. The 12-day series Features 18 guaranteed events, 16 Mini-UBOC events, and over $4 million in prize money. For more information, please visit UB.com.

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PartyPoker.com has announced that WSOP bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu, professional poker player Vanessa Rousso and French high stakes cash legend David Benyamine have joined the line-up for PartyPoker.com Premier League IV in Las Vegas from the February 12th – 18th, 2010.

Both Negreanu and Benyamine are among the most popular poker pros on the circuit, with over $12 million in combined career earnings. Rounding up the players lineup is French-American poker talent and Team PokerStars member, Vanessa Rousso, who will add a little glamour as the only female player invited to play this year’s event.

“There was only one target when selecting a female player for the league. Vanessa has become a huge force in poker and her win at the EPT High Rollers event coupled with her runners-up finish at the NBC Heads-Up Championship as well as a string of WSOP cashes has made her, in my opinion, the world’s number one female player right now.” commented Eddie Hearn from Matchroom Poker.

This year’s line up will also feature 2009 Poker Hall of Fame inductee Mike Sexton, J.C. Tran, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, Roland de Wolfe, Luke Schwartz, multiple WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth and the newest member of Team Party Poker, Tony G. With ten players for the $100,000 buy-in Main Event already confirmed, there are now only two seats left for the Premier League IV. One seat will come from a Team Party play-off, while the final seat will go to an online poker qualifier. A total of 16 players who all fly out to Las Vegas to play in a Premier League Poker play-off to see which one of the 16 will  join 11 professional players in Premier League Poker IV. The  online qualifiers will play a short series of play-off sit & go’s in Las Vegas and the eventual winner will win a $100,000 buy-in to take part in the main Premier League event.

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