Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock and team-mates Lee Smith and Danny McGuire are switching their boots and gumshields for chips and cards over the next few days – to play poker.

All three will be taking part in the biggest poker festival ever to come to the city.

The Great British Poker Tour hits Leeds Gala Casino in the centre of Leeds and until the weekend over £100,000 in prize money will pass across the poker tables.

The Leeds RL trio will be playing against fellow sports stars and top poker players.

Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Darren Campbell and snooker legend Ken Doherty are also competing.

Earned

British poker ace Jon Kalmar – who has earned over £700,000 playing poker – and members of the Hendon Mob, a circle of pro players, will also be at the table.

The festival will culminate in a televised two-day event, starting on Saturday, in which the winner will walk away with almost £21,000.

Gala's Wellington Bridge Street casino will host the festival that runs until Sunday.

David Croft, manager of Gala Casino Leeds, said: "We have some of the best British poker talent in Leeds and this is a fantastic opportunity for all players to prove themselves.

"We're rooting for a local player to go all the way, win the Grand Final and be crowned Great British Poker Champion 2007!"

The winner of the Grand Final in November gets £165,000 and a trip to Las Vegas.

With the main event sold out, interested players can qualify for prized Leeds seats on the Great British Poker Tour by playing online at www.galapoker.co.uk, or at selected Gala Casinos.

For more information about qualification, visit www.gbpokertour.com.