April is a big month in the live poker world. The buzz around the World Series of Poker starts to reach a feverish pitch as everyone makes their plans to be in Vegas for the summer and there are a couple of huge tournaments to be played out as well. Both of the other major poker tours, the European Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour, have their marquee events in the month of April.

PocketFiver Glen “Choron” Chorny just became the title holder of the 2008 EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo and the WPT has its own championship event kicking off on Saturday April 19th. The bastion of poker that is the Bellagio will host the $25,000 buy in event, the largest buy in large field No Limit tournament of the year. Almost all of the top pros turn out for the WPT Championship, and each year the percentage of online pros in the field seems to go up as well. Last year Sorel “Imper1um” Mizzi was the talk of the tournament up until the next to last day when a few bad beats finally sent the young superstar to the rail in 15th place.

Long time online player and representative of the online community as a whole, Jim “KrazyKanuck” Worth had a solid showing in last year’s event as well, finishing in 16th place. Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo (35th), Jared “TheWacoKidd” Hamby (44th), Jason “J FREE” Fretag (90th) and Alvin “alsmooth” Zeidenfeld (93rd) were some of the other notable PocketFivers to make the money in the event.

The Bellagio has an interesting payout structure that, barring an uncharacteristically small turnout, will pay out the top 100 spots. With the large buyin, even 100th place last year was worth over $46,000 so bubble play arrives earlier than usual in the tournament and is for a larger amount than is usually the case, adding yet another unique element to the tournament. Players start with 50k in chips and with the good structure and long levels there is plenty of play in this tournament. Last year the solid structure got the expected results with the cream rising to the top when two of the most respected pros ended up heads up for the title.

Former WSOP Main Event Champion Carlos Mortensen bested Kirk Morrison (who had tied Daniel Negreanu’s record for consecutive WPT main event cashes at 5) heads up for the title and the prize of just under $4 million. Morrison pocketed over $2 million for finishing in second, and third place Paul Lee took home over $1 million. Hybrid player Scott Fischman has earned respect in both the live and online realms, and was able to add to his resume with and 8th place finish, barely missing the televised final table of 6 players, but still banking a quarter of a million dollars.

What is in store this year? Expect more of the same. Big name pros, some just turned 21 online players busting onto the scene, and a strong contingent of online players looking to make a name at one of the biggest live tournaments of the year. Many of the players at the Bellagio for the WPT Championship are making the trip to Vegas and settling in for the upcoming WSOP that starts on May 30th. PocketFivesLive will be covering both the WPT Championship and the all the WSOP events.

If you are playing in the WPT Championship you can Register Here for coverage, and keep an eye out as the site is fine tuned for all the action at the 2008 WSOP.