Online poker players will be competing this March for some serious cash, not to mention serious bragging rights, when Bodog hosts its inaugural tournament series, the Bodog Poker Open (BPO).

Starting on Monday, March 3, the BPO will feature five preliminary events, all leading up to the series' championship, the $500 buy-in BPO Main Event, held on Sunday, March 9. There, the inaugural Bodog Poker Champion will be crowned and walk away with the top cash prize and an engraved Omega Speedmaster watch.

Always eager to sweeten the pot for its online poker players, Bodog Poker will add a total of $75,000 in additional money to the BPO's prize pools, creating a larger prize pool to each tournament and giving players an exceptional value for their buy-ins.

"We're excited to finally give our online players a tournament series where they can battle it out for some major bragging rights and serious money," said Bodog North American CEO Alwyn Morris. "While there will be more Bodog Poker Opens, there will only be one 'first' Bodog Poker Champion, and he or she will have the cash and champion's Omega Speedmaster watch to show for it."

Each of the BPO's preliminary events will feature a different buy-in amount and format of Texas Holdem, including No Limit, Pot Limit, Limit and Six-Handed No Limit. Players can buy directly into any of the events with cash or Bodog Tournament Credits or win their way in through any number of low-cost satellites starting on Monday, Feb. 11. Winners of the preliminary events will win entry to the BPO Main Event in addition to their tournament winnings.