Phil Hellmuth will captain Team USA(credit:
aboutmattlaw)
Despite poker being an inherently selfish game, World Team Poker celebrated its launch on Wednesday at the Bicycle Casino in California.
Exact details of the organisation and its events have yet to be published, although it’s rumoured ’32 teams of five players representing countries from all over the globe in heads-up challenge matches’ will be included, according to Pokerlistings.com
Two events are scheduled – Team USA captained by Phil Hellmuth will pit themselves against Team Vietnam fronted by poker Hall of Fame nominee Men Nguyen in November, and the former will square up against Johnny Chan’s Team China in Macau on an unspecified date.
The concept of team poker is still in its infancy, with ‘Dream Poker’ championed by Jamie Gold and the Party Poker world cup symbolising the only forays into the format. You can check out the World Team Poker home page here.
Meanwhile Phil Ivey is amongst one of the favourites to capture the coveted World Championship bracelet in November, despite starting as a short stack. Betfair have Ivey priced at 7.4, with monster chip leader Darvin Moon favourite at 4.3. British sensation James Akenhead and Antoine Saout are the long shots, at 17.5 and 21.0 respectively.