Sports stars line up for televised poker contest

THE Sports Stars Challenge, a made-for-television event, will be filmed in London between May 29 and June 1. Sporting personalities, both past and present, will take their seats in what looks the event's strongest and most international line-up.

There will be heats for motorsport professionals, top golfers and an online qualifier. The number of heats increases from six to seven, with seven-handed heats and a seven-handed final table.

The motorsport table will feature Italian F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella,  while the golf heat will include 2008 European Ryder Cup team member Graeme McDowell and Jean van der Velde.

Chelsea legend: Frank Leboeuf

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The international flavour permeates through the other heats. Football's list of legendsincludes former Holland captain Frank de Boer, French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf, Germany's European Championship winner Thomas Helmer, Romania's Florin Radiciou and Denmark and Liverpool legend Jan Molby.

The boxing sees Germany's former unbeaten World Champion Sven Ottke, Northern Ireland's Commonwealth heavyweight and Prizefighter champion Martin Rogan, and Poland's female boxing champ Agnieska Rylik fight it out.

The rugby heat will feature union's former France and Wasps captain Raphael Ibanez and Australian league star Brad Drew, while darts sees living legend Phil Taylor lock horns with the likes of Russia's ladies' champ Anastasia Dobromyslova.

The winner of Sports Stars ChallengeI was former rugby union star Austin Healey, while Irish snooker champion Ken Doherty took the second installment.

Springboard: presenter Kara Scott

Last year's winner was television presenter Kara Scott, who used the tournament as the starting point for a successful year on the circuit that included big cashes at the WSOP Main Event and Irish Open.

Scottwon £20,000 when defeating Manchester United football legend Norman Whiteside heads-up. There is no presenter heat in the new format this year. Coverage of the event will be aired in the UK later this year on Sky Sports and then distributed internationally. Jesse May leads the commentary.