THOUSANDS of poker players are descending on Brighton today to play poker for a chance to win a share of a quarter-million-dollar prize pool.

The Amex Stadium’s conference rooms will be the scene for the three-day Grand Prix tournament run by partypoker where more than 2,000 attendees are expected.

The Texas Hold 'Em tournament boasts a £175,000 prize pool and the winner of the event can expect to go home with a cheque for £25,000 and the GPPT trophy.

And some will have spent less than a penny to take part.

Players have the opportunity to take part in three separate "flights" (on Saturday) at 12noon, 4pm or 7pm.

All those players who reach the end of their respective tournament will then go back for Day 2 tomorrow which again has a midday start.

Play continues until the winner is crowned.

On the Sunday, Melinda Messenger and Georgie Porter will join other celebrities and professional Simon Trumper to play a televised game to raise money for charity.

Tournament organisers expect the top 270 players to receive some kind of payout.

Speaking to The Argus at a preliminary Prix Mini event at the Rendezvous Casino in the Marina last month, seasoned pro and tournament organiser Simon Trumper said: “It’s going to be an opportunity to bring a Grand Prix to a south of England stadium, it’s going to be brilliant.

“It’s a low buy-in, big guarantee. It’s a $109 buy-in but a quarter-million dollar pot.

“It’s giving people the opportunity to play for very little money you can win your entry for one cent online and then spin it up to 35 grand if you win the tournament.”

Five Sussex players got as far as the final table at the Rendezvous event in June, including Steve Jay, 51, from Burgess Hill who was told by wife Paula: “don’t come home early".

When he phoned to say he had finished joint runner-up, she couldn't have been happier.

Steve, 51, from Burgess Hill, who runs his own building firm, says: "Paula knew if I got in the main money it would be a late night - so she didn't want me home early."

Steve shared second spot in the partypoker Grand Prix Poker Tour Mini tournament and shared more than £9,000 - and free entry to the forthcoming event - with Alex Smith from Brighton.

The 26-year-old, who works as a data analyst in the betting industry says it was his biggest win since he started playing the game six years ago.

Now Alex is looking to carry on his success by taking on poker rivals this weekend.

For full details of future events visit: WWW.GPPT.POKER