World Series officials announced on Tuesday that the pinnacle of poker player ambition, the Tournament of Champions will host a 9 player sit-n-go qualifier for two seats entry to the most prestige poker event table in the world. The Tournament of Champions is described as "the premier all-star event in all of poker," on the official World Series web-site. However, the eventual winner could end being neither a world series winner, nor even a major tournament champion at all.

There has been a lot of whispers around the halls of the Rio All-Suite for the last two days concerning the issue. How can it be that the Champion of Champions may never have won any other major event? This news is not going down well with many old school pro's, who feel it will demean the spectacle into a sponsors selection. The qualifier started on Thursday and the line-up is made up from some huge names in the game, but not all have won a Major and some have never been crowned the winner of any tournament of note.

In the 27 player Tournament of Champions sit-n-go so far are:

WSOP( Europe & U.S.) main event winners, Joe Cada, Barry Shulman.

WSOP previous Tournament of Champion winners, Mike Sexton, Mike Matusow and Annie Duke. Another 20 bracelet winners will be put in after a public vote, all very good and quite a fair list of stars there. It is the list of qualifiers for the 9 player sit-n-go to the main event that is raising more discussion.

After having a look through the list, on first glance it looks quite a remarkable field, but when you break it down into a former winners list, it does not make for good reading on the major champion front.

First up is, Don Cheadle, who for all his good work as a Hollywood actor cannot  muster any major win of distinction, More of an invitational player to promote special events such as, Anti up for Africa and NBC heads-up Championship.

Next, we have Tom Dwan, Sorel Mizzi; Andy Bloch, who are all exceptional players in their own right, but so far none have achieved a Major title in the WPT Main Event, EPT Main Event, WSOP Main bracelet mould.

Players with major tournament wins are: Gus Hansen, Liv Boeree; Paul Wasicka, and Betrand Grospellier. All have won least one Major, with Hansen the most successful with three WPT titles. Paul Wasicka won the NBC heads-up tournament and the delectable Boeree took down the EPT San Remo. Grospelier is one of the most well known online and live poker pro's with both EPT, WPT titles under his belt.

Last but, not least is the 'Grinder,' Michael Mizrachi, who already has a WSOP bracelet to his name this year and stands a great chance for a follow-up. In short, the only one fully qualified to take their place in the champions tournament is Mizrachi, but whether he attains it against that quality of a field again is another matter.