PartyPoker.com European Open V starts on Friday - 04/02/2009

The PartyPoker.com European Open V kicks-off on Friday - with 72 runners fighting it out for the $200,000 first prize.

Clark earns Challenge Tour spot with third victory

The total prize pool of $504,000 with a $7,000 buy-in has attracted some of the biggest names in poker to take part in the event at the Three Mills Studios in East London. Liam Flood, Annette Obrestad, Juha Helppi, Neil Channing, Andrew Feldman, Sammy "any two" George, Roland de Wolfe, Ian Frazer, Surinder Sunar, Padraig Parkinson, Vicky Coren, Donnacha O'Dea, John Tabatabai, Eoghan O'Dea, Nik Persaud, Thomas Bihl, Josh Tyler, Ryan Fronda, Marc Goodwin, Tim and Pippa Flanders, Mick McCool, Roberto Romanello, John Magill, Soroya Homam, and Ciaran O'Leary all take their place in the 12 heats, with the winner going through to one of two semi-finals, and the runner-up entering the turbo heats. The final takes place on Friday February 13.

Before the pros take to the table, there will be a celebrity heat with ex-England Rugby Union star Austin Healey, British Olympic athlete Du'aine Ladejo, former Darts world number one Rod Harrington and poker TV presenter Michelle Orpe at the table with the winner making it through to the main draw.

The event will be start airing on Channel 5 in April and will be blogged live on our forum, which you can access by clicking on the link in the top right corner of the homepage.