All Star 2010 WSOP Tournament

According to Harrah’s officials in Las Vegas, the 2010 World Series of Poker annual Tournament of Champions will adopt an all-star format this year.

Twenty-seven players will begin the tournament on June 27 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Vegas and will continue play until there is a final table. A week later, on July 4, the final table will reconvene where a winner will be determined.

One unique element of this tournament is that poker fans from around the world will be able to vote for who will play in the Tournament of Champions. Five of the 27 players will receive automatic bids, similar to the national Heads Up Poker Championship, three winners who have previously won the Tournament of Champions will also gain automatic entry into the event.

Annie Duke, who won the 2004 Tournament of Champions, said in a press release Monday, “Tournaments, like the tournament of champions, help elevate poker to the level it deserves and I am honored to participate. Winning the TOC marks one of the most memorable events in my poker career and I’m ecstatic that the WSOP is hosting this prestigious event.”

Duke, who recently won the 2010 Heads Up Poker Championship, will be seen on NBC in April when the network airs footage from that championship which took place from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The other 20 players at the all-star tournament will be voted on by poker fans. Voting opened Monday and continues until June 15. According to WSOP officials, there will be some requirements before the players voted on can be honored with a spot at the table.

“To qualify as one of the eligible fan-voted 20 participants, players must be a WSOP bracelet holder. All living WSOP bracelet holders are able to receive votes and currently there are 521 eligible players,” a statement read.