Poker has become more and more of an international game over the past decade, and with the birth of big tourney series like the European Poker Tour and Europe World Series of Poker players around the world is shouting for river cards.

The fourth installment of the World Cup of Poker sponsored by PokerStars.com began as a series of freerolls on PokerStars and now players find themselves in Barcelona, Spain competing for over $250,000 with the winning team splitting $100,000. Not too shabby for hitting up a few freerolls while online.

Here's a description of the tourney format from PokerStars:

Of the 57 teams in the World Cup of Poker, eight will progress into the live poker event in Barcelona to battle for over $250,000 in prize money as well as the pride of winning the World Cup of Poker for their country.

When the teams reach Barcelona, they will play a live Team Score Round, with the top four teams reaching the semi-finals. From here, the teams play a final, four-handed, tag-team tournament to determine the World Cup of Poker IV Champions. The prize money for this event is substantial, so there is a lot to play for:

• 1st: $100,000 ($20,000 per person)
• 2nd: $60,000 ($12,000 per person)
• 3rd: $40,000 ($8,000 per person)
• 4th: $20,000 ($4,000 per person)

There is also $10,000 in prize money given out on each table in the Team Score Round of the final.

• 1st: $5,000 (50% to the player, 50% split among the rest of the team)
• 2nd: $3,000 (50% to the player, 50% split among the rest of the team)
• 3rd: $2,000 (50% to the player, 50% split among the rest of the team)

And you at home can follow the action with the help of PokerStars' live internet game play and blogcasting courtesy of PokerStarsBlog.com over the four days of the tourney. Go check it out!!