Professional Poker Tour Offers Something New

If you have seen any poker television at all, odds are good that it was the World Series of Poker and its little brother, the World Poker Tour. These shows follow a similar format: any player with the money can buy in to a tournament and take a shot at the big-time -- not to mention playing against the real pros on the poker circuit. Another brainchild from WPT Inc., the parent company of the World Poker Tour, is a poker horse of a different color -- the Professional Poker Tour. This poker tournament, that kicks off with a second tour this summer, is by invitation only. As the name implies, only the pros get to play -- or at least, those players who have won a title in a professional tournament event.Players in this 24 week multi-table poker event will include the champions from the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour, and various European poker events. A total of $2.5 million in prize money is up for grabs for the top-level players, and you can catch the action on the Travel Channel starting July 5 at 9 p.m.