WSOP Circuit action comes to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area when Choctaw Casino Resort hosts the WSOP Circuit’s first stop of 2011 beginning Thursday, January 6^thth. through Monday, January 24th.

The 8^th of 15 official tour stops scheduled for the 2010/2011 season, the upcoming WSOP Circuit series will be the first-ever held at Choctaw, which is located in Durant, OK, one hour north of Dallas.

“This is a huge poker market that has clamored for high stakes tournament poker and we’re ecstatic to be hosting a WSOP Circuit in this gorgeous property in Durant,” said WSOP vice president, Ty Stewart.

Ten official WSOP Circuit ring events are among the 51 total events scheduled for the 18-day Circuit stop, which concludes with the $1,600 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event starting Saturday January 22^nd.

The schedule, put together by noted tournament director Jimmy Sommerfeld, features a broad selection of poker games that includes variations such as PLO, PLO/2-7 triple draw mixed, H.O.R.S.E., Omaha 8 and Hold’em.

Also scheduled for Choctaw are the $235 buy-in WSOP Circuit Ladies Event, which takes place Sunday, January 9^th and the $235 buy-in Seniors Event to be held Sunday, January 16^th.  Along with first place prize money, the winner of the Ladies Event receives the WSOP Circuit diamond-encrusted gold pendant.

Online registration for any of the 51 events is available through Startickets.com.

Tournament staff and organizers have worked diligently for months in preparation for what will undoubtedly be one of the largest gaming events ever held in the region.

“The vibrant poker markets in Texas and Oklahoma deserve a local to regional WSOP Circuit opportunity and Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant couldn’t be a better choice,” said Choctaw Casino Resort Director of Gaming & Hotel Operations, Steven Loyd.

“The Choctaw Nation is proud to be the newest member of the WSOP Circuit family.”

WSOP Circuit leader board points will be distributed to players based on their performance at Choctaw with the winner of the Main Event earning an automatic entry to the $1 million WSOPC National Championship to be held May 27-29 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

In addition, one more National Championship entry will be awarded to the player earning the most points through Choctaw’s ten ring events.

Special room rates in the resort’s new hotel tower will be available to WSOP participants and start at $69. Players can call 1-800-788-2464 to make reservations or book online. Use promo code WSOP2011.