Sports events dominate weekend's casino billing

2008-07-07 16:31:22

Sporting competitions were almost as prominent in Las Vegas over the weekend as the gambling.

Four high-profile events took place in the US gaming mecca, taking in poker, boxing, darts and mixed-martial arts.

The World Series of Poker main event at the Rio All-Suite Casino Resort was the one with the biggest amount of prize money on offer.

Getting underway on Thursday, close to 7,000 hopefuls entered the $10,000 tournament, with the winner - who will be crowned in November - set to receive upwards of $9 million.

This is vastly superior to the estimated $40,000 won by Phil Taylor, who was victorious for the fourth time in the Las Vegas Desert Classic darts competition at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on Sunday night.

Also taking place at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday was Forrest Griffin's UFC match-up with Quinton Jackson.

Griffin won the bout on points to take the company's light-heavyweight title.

Kendall Holt was another fighter winning big on Saturday, as he earned the WBO light-welterweight boxing crown against Ricardo Torres.

The Planet Hollywood Casino provided the venue.