The annual mega-series of poker tournaments known as the PokerStars "World Championship of Online Poker" (WCOOP) came to its conclusion with the big final event, the $3 million guaranteed no-limit tournament on Sunday, October 1st. Over 2,500 players threw $2,600 into the prize pool bringing it to $6,275,000 - easily the biggest tournament in online poker history! In the end the big winner was poker pro J.C. Tran (known onlin as "area23JC"), who now owes the IRS even more money after winning $670,194!

Congratulations to all the 2006 WCOOP bracelet winners:

1. "Nabokov" - Razz ($215 buy-in)
2. "Rambo5" - NLHE ($530)
3. "thegiant" - PLO w/rebuys ($320)
4. "spawng" - NLHE match play ($215)
5. "kwob20" - Omaha hi/low ($530)
6. "austinlewis" - NLHE w/rebuys ($215)
7. "yaaaflow" - LHE ($215)
8. "F.Briatore" - HORSE ($215)
9. "uncforte" - PLHE ($530)
10. "strassa2" - NLHE ($1,050)
11. "nikstar" - 7-card stud ($320)
12. "Mr.Shhhhhh" - PLO 8 or better ($320)
13. "dnKid" - PLHE ($320)
14. "kwob20" - 7-card stud hi/low ($530)
15. "Trabelsi" - PL Omaha ($530)
16. "stelladora" - HORSE ($5,200)
17. "laurentia" - limit HE ($1,050)
18. J.C. Tran ("area23JC") - NLHE ($2,600)

The PokerStars weekly $1 million guaranteed no-limit hold-em tournaments returns on Sunday October 8th. Satellites are available 24 hours a day, including a whole bunch of the popular $11 "shootout" style tournaments that award 2 spots in the $215 events "big one".

PokerStars recently announced the "Moneymaker Millionaire" tournament, a series of freeroll tournaments leading to a $1 million first prize package! EVERYBODY with a PokerStars account gets at least one shot at the first level qualifiers held several times each day. Finish in the top 50 at the first level and you get to play in the weekly second level. Finish in the top 240 at level 2 and you're on your way to the monthly round 3 tournament. The top 120 finishers in the third round each month get payouts ranging upwards from $100. The top 5 or 6 spots each month win entries in the big (and LIVE) final round at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino! The rest of the monthly final table gets an entry into the annual PokerStars Caribbean Adventure live tournament! And best of all - it's all FREE to everyone who signs up at PokerStars!

And if you're someone who plays a LOT of poker, you might want to consider moving your operations to PokerStars. Their new VIP program has some pretty lucrative benefits for (very) frequent players.