The third annual World Poker Congress (WPC) is scheduled for October 29 and 30, 2008, in Budapest, Hungary.

According to event organizers, the WPC will combine a conference of industry professionals with presentations by high-profile speakers to give event attendees “an in-depth look at trends in both the online and live poker industries.”

Among the speakers confirmed for the upcoming WPC are Steven Lipscomb, founder and chief executive officer of the World Poker Tour; Hendrick Knopp, head of poker for online poker room Bwin; Chris Parker, chief executive officer of the Asian Poker Tour; Matt Savage, founder of Savage Tournaments; Niclas Lundqvist of www.pokerevent.se and Jim Tabilio of Poker Voters of America, organizers said.

Other speakers are expected to be added by the time of the event, organizers said.

Lipscomb, Knopp and Parker will each give keynote addresses, organizers said.

The dates for the upcoming WPC coincide with the dates for the European Poker Tour’s Budapest tournament, leading one WPC organizer to remark: “We’ll have a great mix of poker industry figures and players. Hopefully, this will lead to a players’ panel to close the conference unlike any we’ve ever had!”

For more information about the WPC, or to book exhibitor space at the event, visit the WPC website at www.worldpokercongress.com.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)