The inaugural Americas Cup of Poker has been announced, hosted by PokerStars, which will be a team-based poker event that will put players from certain countries up against each other to reaveal the Americas Cup of Poker Champions.

Greg Raymer, 2004 World Series of Poker champ and member of Team PokerStars Pro, says, “What really drives people to poker is the pure competition in the sport. PokerStars has taken that competitive drive one step further by putting country against country. I am truly looking forward to this event, and of course have no doubt that the United States will win.”

PokerStars players from 16 different countries will go up against each other in order to get their country to the live final. The nations that will be represented include USA, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama.

The countries have been separated into groups that will face off against one another week by week. These weekly rounds will include daily freeroll tournaments in which players will play to score points for their country. Players finishing in the top 100 places will win points. Then, the two countries with the most points from each group (eight total) will get to compete in the live final to take place on September 4-6, 2009 in Bariloch, Argentina.

The 8 finalists will compete for a piece of the $250K prize pool with $100K of that going to the five champions. Each team will also have the asset of a Team PokerStars Pro joining their team in the finals.