PokerStars poker world tour schedule announced

The first major tournament on New Zealand soil has kicked off in Queenstown. The PokerStars Australia-New Zealand Poker Tour landed amid the glaciers and spectacular South Island views for the penultimate
  stop on the fledgling tour. The NZD$2,500 event, which must rank as one of the most scenic, with Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps just around the corner, will feature Team PokerStars Australia Pros Tony Hachem, Emad Tahtouh, Celina Lin, Grant Levy and Eric Assadourian as well as New Zealander Lee "Final Table" Nelson. That's not to mention the legions of local players and those who qualified on PokerStars. It's the fourth event of the tour and will name its winner on Saturday.

Next up IPT Venice
The World Series may be over for all but nine players this year but there's no need for despondency for poker lovers. PokerStars continues to ensure you're never far from a major international tournament. The PokerStars Italian Poker Tour stop in Venice will take place the Casino Ca'Vendramin, Venezia on July 27 - August 2, 2009. Satellites for the IPT Venice are running now and can be found under the Events Special tab in your PokerStars.com lobby. Check out the PokerStars.com tournament lobby for more details.

Then on to APPT Macau
If you prefer a more Eastern destination for your poker the PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour is on the verge of its third season, set to kick off in Macau in August (24 to 30). The Grand Lisboa Hotel is the venue once again for the HKD$40,000 event which last year was won by 22-year-old Eddie Sabat who took home HKD$3,540,040 after a gruelling 12 hour final table. Satellites for this year's event are, of course, running now on PokerStars.com, with accommodation, spending money and of course your seat all included. Check out the PokerStars tournament lobby for details.

Two down one to go for WPT winner Gomes
Following a World Series bracelet win in last year's World Series, Team PokerStars Pro Alex Gomestoday cemented his place among the best in the game by winning the WPT Bellagio Cup V at Bellagio in Las Vegas. Despite losing the chip lead when heads-up against Faraz Jaka, Gomes, from Curitiba, Brazil, recovered powerfully to take the $1,187,670 first prize and a title that gives him two thirds of poker's triples crown. Gomes overcame of tough field as the World Series main event played to a close along West Flamingo Road at the Rio. His opposition included a final table that included Eric Seidel and Justin Smith.

PokerStars adds Eric Buchman for November final
With the bulk of the main event now complete all eyes turn to November, when the November Nine will reconvene to play first to two and then to one. One player who will be playing under the PokerStars banner is Eric Buchman. The 29-year-old from Valley Stream, New York, finished last week with 34,800,000 chips leaving him in second place ahead of the final table. It will be Buchman's third World Series final table and his biggest payday to date regardless of where he finishes. He'll join Kevin Schaffel in the PokerStars colours at the main event finale.