Some of the
world's best known sports stars are lining up to compete in a $1m
all-star Texas Holdem poker event.
Rookies including former
tennis number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Olympic champion Darren
Campbell will pit their wits against established players like darts
great Phil Taylor and snooker's Matthew Stevens, Jimmy White and Steve
Davis.
"I find it very exciting,"
said Kafelnikov, who retired from professional tennis earlier in the
week to concentrate his efforts on poker.
"You win not with the cards,
but with your skills. With body language you can win a game, but also
you can lose a game.
"You need guts in Texas
Holdem poker, as in tennis. And if you don't believe in your ability,
you don't win. In tennis I believed in myself, that's why I had so much
success."
The former French and
Australian Open champion will have his work cut out to win the first
prize of $500,000 (£270,000), with Davis and White having already made a
name for themselves in the gambling game.
Snooker legend White defied
the odds two years ago when he won the Poker Million event and pocketed
£80,000.
