South Africa will host an event on this year's World Series of Poker.

Online poker players who win the chance to play at this year's World Series of Poker (WSOP) may take part in the event's first ever stop in Africa.

WSOP Africa will be held at the Emerald Resort and Casino in South Africa from October 24th-31st 2010.

The event is expected to attract a host of top professional poker players, with playing in Africa for the first time likely to bring in large numbers of entrants.

Emerald Resort and Casino chief executive officer Martin Rice said: "Poker has, over the past half-decade, accelerated in popularity.

"Our Emerald Poker Series, and its growing fields, is testament to the unlimited success of the sport. It was only natural to follow-on its popularity with the greatest tournament on the planet."

Two poker tournaments will be held as part of the WSOP's stop in South Africa, with a three-day Pot Limit Omaha tournament succeeding the main event, a No Limit Texas Hold'em Freeze Out event.

Satellite tournaments for entry onto this year's WSOP have already begun, with online poker players hoping to win the right to share a table with top professionals such as Phill Hellmuth.

Tournament director Jack Effel told the Associated Press that as many people as possible will be allowed to enter a large satellite tournament, which will be held on June 20th 2010 and will offer 200 spots on the WSOP.