The annual Master Classics of Poker tournament, set to be held in Amsterdam at the start of November, is going great guns with 2,080 entry tickets already sold.

This 16th edition of the Master Classics of Poker will be held at the Holland Casino in Amsterdam, and is one of Europe's largest and best known international poker tournaments.

The world's best poker players from countries such as the USA, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria and Germany and from Scandinavia will play poker for big money prizes from Friday 2 to Saturday 10 November.

In addition to well-known Dutch poker players such as Jorryt van Hoof, Marcel Lüske, Rob Hollink and Noah Boeken, the event has attracted international poker stars, including Erich Kollmann, Martin Vallo, Simon Trumper and Mickey Finn. Last year the total prize fund was over €3.3 million.

Tournament buy-ins for the eight events which include Texas Hold'Em and Omaha variants range from €120 to €5,100.

The main event of the Holland Casino Master Classics of Poker is the Lido Poker Tournament. This tournament will be held from 7-10 November and has a buy-in of €5,000, plus an entry fee of €100.

Last year's winner of the Lido Poker Tournament, Alex Jalali of Germany, received €690,000. Those who make it to the final table this year are assured of participation in the 2008 Lido tournament.

Owing to the great popularity of the tournament, the maximum number of participants has been increased this year to 400. If seats are still available, the racy 'one-hand satellites' will be held on 7 November, from 1.30 p.m. Ten players pay €510 each to play just one hand to decide who wins a ticket for the main tournament.