For 35 years, the World Series of Poker has been an all-Las Vegas affair.  But in 2005, the road to poker's ultimate championship begins in Atlantic City.

From January 7-18, 2005, Harrah's Atlantic City will host the premiere event of the 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament Circuit, a series of five poker tournaments hosted by Harrah's Entertainment.

The tournaments will precede the 36th Annual World Series of Poker at the Rio
All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
   
"In 2005 the World Series of Poker begins its evolution from a month-long special event into a year-round sport," said Ginny Shanks, senior vice president of acquisition marketing for Harrah's. 

"The road to the World Series of Poker Championship will be a challenging and arduous one.  But unlike professional football, basketball, golf or auto racing, even the greenest of amateurs can mount a challenge for the title."

Players will earn points based on their performance in the circuit tournaments and the World Series of Poker.  The top 100 point-earners will receive a free invitation to the 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, where a single winner will take home a top prize of $2 million.

Following the January tournament in Atlantic City, the Tournament Circuit will make stops at Harrah's Rincon near San Diego (February 20-March 1), the Rio (March 12-22), Harveys Lake Tahoe (April 26-May 10) and Harrah's New Orleans (May 21-30).  Each of the events will be taped and aired on ESPN.
   
The 36th Annual World Series of Poker is scheduled to begin June 2, and will run through July 15.  An estimated 5,000 players are expected to participate in the $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas hold 'em Championship, double the number that competed in 2004.

To accommodate the large expected field of participants, most of the 2005 World Series of Poker will be held at the Rio, though the final two days of the championship tournament will be held at Binion's Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas.  The 2005 Tournament of Champions will take place soon after the conclusion of the World Series of Poker Championship event, and will be held at the Rio.

2005 World Series of Poker Schedule of Events

June 2, Thursday
Event 1 Casino Employee No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $500)

June 3, Friday
Event 2 No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 4, Saturday
Event 3 Pot-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 5, Sunday
Event 4 Limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 6, Monday
Event 5 Omaha Hi-low Split (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 7, Tuesday
Event 6 Short Handed (6/table) No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $2,500)

June 8, Wednesday
Event 7 No-limit Hold'em w/re(Buys (Buy-In: $1,000)

June 9, Thursday
Event 8 Seven Card Stud (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 10, Friday
Event 9 No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $2,000)

June 11, Saturday
Event 10 Limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $2,000)

June 12, Sunday
Event 11 Pot-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $2,000)

June 13, Monday
Event 12 Pot-limit Omaha w/re-buys (Buy-In: $2,000)

June 14, Tuesday
Event 13 No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $5,000)

June 15, Wednesday
Event 14 Seven Card Stud Hi-low Split (Buy-In: $1,000)

June 16, Thursday
Event 15 Limit Hold'em Shootout (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 17, Friday
Event 16 No-limit Hold'em Shootout (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 18, Saturday
Event 17 Limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $2,500)

June 19, Sunday
Event 18 Seven Card Stud Hi-low Split (Buy-In: $2,000)

June 19, Sunday
Event 19 Pot Limit Omaha (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 20, Monday
Event 20 Pot-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $5,000)

June 21, Tuesday
Event 21 Omaha Hi-low Split (Buy-In: $2,500)

June 22, Wednesday
Event 22 No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 23, Thursday
Event 23 Seven Card Stud (Buy-In: $5,000)

June 24, Friday
Event 24 No-Limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $2,500)

June 25, Saturday
Event 25 Pot-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $2,500)

June 26, Sunday
Event 26 Ladies No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $1,000)

June 26, Sunday
Event 27 Pot-limit Omaha w/re-(Buys (Buy-In: $5,000)

June 27, Monday
Event 28 Limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $5,000)

June 28, Tuesday
Event 29 No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $2,000)

June 29, Wednesday
Event 30 Seven Card Razz (Buy-In: $1,500)

June 29, Wednesday
Event 31 Short handed (6/table) No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $5,000)

June 30, Thursday
Event 32 Omaha hi-low split (Buy-In: $5,000)

July 1, Friday
Event 33 No-limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $3,000)

July 2, Saturday
Event 34 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $1,000)

July 2, Saturday
Event 35 Pot-limit Omaha (Buy-In: $10,000)

July 3, Sunday
Event 36 Limit Hold'em (Buy-In: $3,000)

July 4, Monday
Event 37 No-limit Hold'em w/re-(Buys (Buy-In: $1,000)

July 5, Tuesday
Event 38 Super satellite day (10a.m./3p.m./8p.m.) (Buy-In: $1,000)

July 5, Tuesday
Event 39 No-limit 2 to 7 Draw Lowball w/re-(Buys (Buy-In: $5,000)

July 6, Wednesday
Event 40 Super satellite day (9a.m./2p.m./9p.m.)

July 6, Wednesday
Event 41 Media/Celebrity Charity Event

No Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship:

July 7, Thursday
Event 42 Day 1A, First 1,000 - 2,200 play to 500-650 (Buy-In: $10,000)

July 8, Friday
Day 1B, Second 1,000 - 2,200) play to 500-650

July 9, Saturday
Day 1C, Third 1,000) - 2,200 play to 500-650

July 10, Sunday
Day 2, Play down to 500-1,000

July 11, Monday
Day 3, Play down to 200-400

July 11, Monday
Event 43 No-limit Hold'em 1-day event (Buy-In: $1,500)

July 12, Tuesday
Day 4, Play down to 100-150

July 12, Tuesday
Event 44 No-limit Hold'em 1-day event (Buy-In: $1,000)

July 13, Wednesday
Day 5, Play down to 27

July 13, Wednesday
Event 45 No-limit Hold'em 1-day event (Buy-In:: $1,000)

July 14, Thursday
Day 6, Play down to 9 (Binion's Horseshoe)

July 15, Friday
Day 7, Final table (Binion's Horseshoe)