PokerStars, already the largest online gaming site in the world, is expanding their reach into the Asian market. Starting next year, the company is planning to host one of the largest poker tournaments in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Known as the Asia Championship of Poker, the inaugural event is set to take place in November of 2012, says PokerStars Macau. Players who wish to be part of this historic tournament will pay HKD $100,000 for their seat, according to MacauBusiness.com. After a little currency conversion, this figure works out to around $13,000 in U.S. funds.

“The official schedule for the ACOP will be announced at a later time,” reads a company press release, “but confirmed are 13-15 Official Asia Player of the Year Events. Serving as the grand finale for the Asia Player of the Year race, the ACOP side events will be evenly divided between high buy-ins of HKD $8,000-25,000 to low buy-ins ranging from HKD $1,000-4,000.”

The guarantee here is set at HKD $10 million or $1,300,000 U.S. Said Team PokerStars Pro Raymond Wu, “I’m always looking for the biggest challenges and that’s sent me to PCA and several EPT stops in the past. The ACOP will be a great addition for Asia and I’m extremely excited about this announcement!”

“A big buy-in event like the Asia Championship of Poker will attract a different level of poker player,” said Fred Leung, the Country Manager for PokerStars, “and that will mean players coming to Macau for the very first time. Obviously that’s one of our goals.”