Bodog Beat

Poker pro J.C. Tran is the defending champion of the World Poker Tour's World Poker Challenge, which gets underway today. (Bodog Beat Image)

There will be a whole lot of "world poker" going down in Reno, Nev., when the World Poker Tour rolls into town for the World Poker Challenge at the Grand Sierra Casino.

The WPT WPC started out in 2001 and was part of the original season of the World Poker Tour back in 2003. However, due to the WPT pruning its schedule for next season, this is the last time the televised final table set will be heading to Reno.

As one of the oldest events on the WPT schedule and partly because of its relative proximity to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the World Poker Challenge has always drawn loaded fields. As this is the last time this event will be part of the WPT schedule, expect this year to be no different.

Last year's final table was a prime example of the talent this event draws, featuring eventual champion J.C. Tran, David, "The Dragon" Pham, Mark Seif and JC Alvarado.

The first day of the $7,500 buy-in championship tournament kicks off in just a few hours and will play through 12 blind levels and WorldPokerTour.com will have the live updates of all the action.

If you want to join Team Bodog at a major international poker tournament, check the Bodog Poker Tournament schedule to see when the daily qualifiers run (some for as little as $1) and get in on your chance to qualify online for an EPT or WPT event or the 2008 WSOP.