One of history's biggest gamblers is to pit his wits against members of the public in a celebrity poker tournament.

Rogue trader Nick Leeson and other famous names will do battle in Brighton for winnings of £120,000.

The celebrities have been lined up by web site Celebpoker.com, which gives internet gamers the chance to win the shirts off the backs of stars while asking them impertinent questions in online game rooms.

Also expected at the tournament at the Rendezvous Casino, Brighton Marina, are snooker players Jimmy White and Ken Docherty, footballer Paul Ince, Avengers star Gareth Hunt and Footballers' Wives actor Jessie Birdsall.

Gamblers can gain access to the televised two-day Celebpoker UK Challenge on August 28 and 29 by playing in a series of online qualifying championships or by paying a one-off entrance fee of £1,000.

They will then be given a place opposite a celebrity player on one of 12 tables.

As each player runs out of chips, the competition will be whittled down to just 40 players, each of whom has the chance to win the big money.

Organiser Pat Keane said: "Whether our celebrities will be good enough to get through to the final is probably doubtful because the standard will be very high. But we have a good line-up and they are all looking forward to it."

Leeson was arrested for his role in the collapse of Barings - Britain's oldest bank - on March 2, 1995, and charged with making risky investments on the Singapore monetary exchange, losing $1.4 billion.