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CASH BASH: WPT Online Championships Award $101 Million, 45,000 Satellite Seats

The WPT World Online Championships awarded $101 million at partypoker.

After more than two months of action, the inaugural WPT World Online Championships wrapped up on Sept. 24 at partypoker. The series attracted more than 34,000 players and paid out a total prize pool of $101 million.

The WOCs were designed to replicate an authentic live WPT experience. That meant using real names, limited starting days for championship events, and only one re-entry per day. Organizers were thrilled with the results.

“The WPT World Online Championships have marked a new milestone for the WPT and partypoker, and the response from the players throughout the series has been overwhelming,” WPT Europe Vice President Hermance Blum said in a news release. “We take a lot of pride bringing the unique feel of the WPT to the online felt.”

Bringing players of all types to partypoker

The WPT and partypoker made reaching players of all bankroll levels a big part of the action. That included numerous satellites throughout the festival awarding 45,605 tournament seats.

Of those, 19,655 were unique players qualifying through satellites. In total, the series attracted 285,846 total entries and 34,811 unique entries.

“We are delighted that the WPT World Online Championships created so many success stories,” partypoker managing director Tom Waters said in a news release. “The focus for the series was delivering quality, well-structured events that would give satellite players great opportunities to compete with the best players in the world and the results speak for themselves.

“We look forward to working with the WPT again and sticking to the values that we believe bring the best live poker events online.” 

The $10,300 Main Event final table is a nice example of the opportunities available to players. Seven of the nine final table players qualified via satellite.

Victor Simionato pulled off a particularly remarkable feat. He started with a $22 buy-in and moved through three satellites to qualify. He eventually took fifth for $391,257.

Phil Mighall beat Teun Mulder heads-up for the title to win $1.6 million after a deal. Mulder scored $1.4 million for runner-up.

Phil Mighall won the WPT World Online Championships Main Event for $1.6 million.
Phil Mighall won the WPT World Online Championships Main Event for $1.6 million.

Other WPT satellite winners score big

Along with the Main Event, other players also came through big after winning seats by qualifiers. In the Mini Main Event, five of the final nine players qualified through value-added seats.

Arturs Balodis finished third but won the most prize money in the event after a deal was reached. He won his seat in a $55 Gladiator and banked $535,269. Nichita Verbitchii finished second for $339,607 after winning a seat in an $11 Terminator. 

On the last day of the festival, Charlotte Godwin pulled off a similar amazing feat. She qualified for the $102,000 WPT Super High Roller Championship after starting in a $109 feeder event. 

Godwin went on to finish third and win $620,000. One moment stood out when she was all in and rivered an Ace to stay alive in the tournament. If not for that river card, Godwin would have been eliminated in seventh on the money bubble.

A few other key highlights from the series include:

  • Five players winning prizes of more than $1 million.  
  • Players from 94 different nationalities cashing in the series.
  • More event winners (19%) came from the United Kingdom than any other country.

A look at the WOC leaderboards

Along with a slate of major events, the series also rewarded consistency. The WPT World Online Championships leaderboards paid out $100,000.

Artur Martirosian won the Player of the Championships for an additional $50,000 on top of his tournament earnings. Players earned points by finishing in the money in any tournament with a buy-in of $320 or more. 

In the Rising Star competition, Luiz Constantino’s victory in the Micro Main Event helped him top the leaderboard. He picked up an extra $10,000 for his efforts. Players earned Rising Star points for any event with a buy-in of $300 or less.

Team partypoker donates to the freeroll cause

As an added bonus to players, Team partypoker pros pledged their own leaderboard winnings to post-series freerolls. Partypoker is hosting a WPT After Party Freeroll in each player’s name.

Freerolls also include bounty prizes, with each Team partypoker player carrying a $22 Predator ticket on his or her head. Here’s a look at the freerolls all set for this week:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 29 (Robert Romanello) –  $2,000
  • Wednesday, Sept. 30 (Patrick Leonard) – $6,000
  • Thursday, Oct. 1 (Mikita Badziakouski) – $1,000
  • Friday, Oct. 2 (Kristen Bicknell) – $1,000

There were many other notable performances throughout the series. Six players increased their bankrolls by seven-figure sums by the end of the festival.

Team partypoker’s Isaac Haxton placed as the top on the earnings list with $2.1 million. He was followed by Mighall with $1.7 million and Martirosian with $1.6 million.

Online poker series around the world continue to surge and partypoker’s WOC events are a testament to that environment. It’s a good bet another big series is around the corner.

Ready to get in the partypoker action? Check out the PokerScout review for some exclusive bonus offers.

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RETURN TO THE FELT: Casinos, Operators, & Players Reviving the Live Tournament Scene

Scene from the WPT Japan in August.

The Coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented online poker boom. Every operator has reported massive turnouts and that has continued for months.

However, many players may be craving the feel of some chips in their hands and the fun of a live tournament. After months of cancellations and postponements around the world, live tournaments seem to be slowly returning.

A full slate of events still may be months away. However, Coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations are declining in many countries and live events are slowly gaining some traction.

888poker hits tournament trail, hopes to lead efforts at returning

One of the first operators to get back in the live tournament game has been 888poker. The company held its first live series since the pandemic on Sept. 1-7 at Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn, Estonia.

The series featured 15 events with an €888 Main Event that  brought in 91 entries for a €71,320 prize pool. Latvia’s Edijs Laugals took the title for €19,982.

Like other events held in a COVID-19 environment, numerous precautions were in place. An 888 executive says all upcoming live events will be in line with scientific advice of local governments.

Company officials are constantly monitoring the health situation in each country, adjusting plans as needed for a safe environment. 888 sees the Estonia series as a good start and hopes this expands to some of its bigger signature events.

“The Tallinn event is an important step toward bringing live poker action back for fans around the world,” an 888poker rep said, “and we are happy that 888poker will be one of the first brands to host such an event.

“It will also be an important milestone for both our brand and our players as we work toward future events like the 888poker LIVE Sochi weekend and London Festival. We hope to run these in the coming months, in full compliance with government guidance.” 

In Estonia, players found a similar experience as past events including brand ambassadors onsite. Buy-ins ranged from €55 to €2,000 with most events in the €55 to €220 range but without guarantees.

“Together with affordable buy-ins and our great structure to assure the best live poker experience for all players,” the 888poker executive said, “we hope that our 888poker Live Tallinn event will be the starting point for getting live poker back in the new-normal state.”

WPT sees nice results with series in Japan

World Poker Tour regulars have had to make due with international events via partypoker in recent months. Events like the World Online Championships have attempted to fill the void and even award official WPT titles, prizes, and Tournament of Champions packages.

In the US, the tour has partnered to promote New Jersey events with the partypoker US Network. However, the company held the live WPT Japan on Aug. 10-16 at the Hotel Gajoen in Tokyo.

The tour considers the tournament series a “Special Event.” Gambling is illegal in Japan, so players are invited or qualify through local events. 

Like other live series have reported recently, demand was high. The main event attracted a record 726 entries, up about 35% from last year.

“It also serves as an excellent example for health and safety standards since it is the first live event in post-COVID era,” WPTDeepStacks director Cathy Zhao said.

The scene at the recent WPT Japan event. (photo courtesy Japan Poker Union)

Numerous safety measures were in place to ensure a safe environment. That included:

  • Thorough cleaning and the use of masks throughout the hotel
  • Mandatory mask usage during the tournament
  • Temperature checks prior to entering the tournament area
  • Disinfection measures at the entrance
  • Acrylic partition dividers and social distancing at registration counters
  • Limited numbers of people in the smoking area
  • “Bring your own” bottled drinks only

Another WPT event is also on the horizon in Asia. The tour and its partner, the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association, plans to proceed with WPTDeepstacks Taiwan in December.

“Taiwan has a thriving local poker market and to date has successfully handled COVID-19,” Zhao said. “So the event can proceed even if international travel restrictions remain in place.”

Despite those events, no US tournament dates have been announced. WPT officials continue to work with partner casinos on when some of those postponed events might return.

Returning tournaments seeing massive numbers

There is still a long way to go for the live tournament scene. The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas was postponed to the fall and no date has been announced.

However, there has been some progress. In the US, the Mid-States Poker Tour became one of the first tours to return to the felt in August. The MSPT held a $1,100 tournament at Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, Iowa.

The event attracted 538 entries, smashing the event’s previous record of 238. That total set a state record for an event priced at $1,000 or more.

In Las Vegas, the Venetian’s Deepstack Showdown is currently running and continues through Sept. 27. The festival features 32 events and a total guarantee of $400,000. Not quite sure what to expect, event organizers lowered normal guarantees for the series.

So far, turnout has been massive with most tournaments easily topping guarantees. For example, the $250 SuperStack on Sept. 13 guaranteed $10,000. However, 254 entries produced a prize pool of $52,070. Other events have seen similar results.

 

The Venetian reopened for business on June 4 with the poker room opening a day later. Like most casinos reopening around the world, the casino has put major safety measures in place.

That includes mandatory mask usage and Plexiglass dividers between players. The new series came after seeing nice turnouts from players and other festivals are already in the works.

“Our one-day poker tournaments have seen tremendous support even with lower guarantees since we resumed on July 24,” tournament director Tommy LaRosa told USPoker.

Casinos reviving live poker festivals

Other operators are stepping up to grow the returning live tournament scene. In the US, the Seminole Hard Rock casinos in Florida have reopened poker rooms in Tampa, Coconut Creek, and Hollywood.

The casinos offer a vibrant poker scene with regular events on the WPT and WSOP Circuit. All three properties reopened in May and June, and have seen nice demand since getting cards back in the air.

Florida has seen greatly declining COVID-related deaths and hospitalizations in recent months. That has been a shot in the arm for live poker players.

Daily tournaments resumed at the Hard Rock properties on Aug. 1. Those events have seen nice results and now the Seminoles are adding some festivals to the mix.

The first of those begin in October, with Hard Rock’s “Safe & Sound” program in place. That includes high cleanliness standards, mandatory masks, and more.

Other online operators also scheduling live events

The live tournament arms of online poker operators have also been slowly moving back to offer live series.

Partypoker LIVE returns to action Sept. 18-27. The Eurasian Poker Tour returns to the Casino Altai Palace in Altai Krai, Russia, with 29 events and more than $120,000 guaranteed.

The series features a $40,000 guaranteed Main Event and also hosts the Russian Poker Championship. Other partypoker LIVE events are currently postponed, but more could be added in the coming months.

Russia will also play host to PokerStars’ return to the live felt. The company hosts the European Poker Tour Sochi event Oct. 2-11 at the Marriott Hotel and Casino.

The festival boasts 25 events and a $1.6 million guarantee. That’s not the only PokerStars Live event in the works. Two events on the PokerStars Spanish Poker Championship series will be held in October and November in Marbella and Peralada.

Many in the industry are watching to see how some of these events turn out. There are certainly some struggles and adjustments ahead. But many players and tournament operators are ready for the challenge.

Lead image courtesy Japan Poker Union

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Phil Mighall Secures WPT Online Main Event Title for $1.6 Million; Satellite Winners Score Huge

Phil Mighall won the WPT World Online Championships Main Event for $1.6 million.

Phil Mighall became the latest player to add his name to the Mike Sexton World Poker Tour Champions Cup and did so in a big way. On Wednesday, this player from the United Kingdom became the inaugural champion of the $10,300 WPT World Online Championships Main Event.

Mighall scored a Herculean payout of $1.6 million on partypoker after topping a field of 1,011. The event built a $10.1 million prize pool and was the highlight of the series. Mighall now sits among the tour’s champions.

Cracking Aces to take the title

When the Main Event reached heads-up play, Mighall battled Netherlands-based Teun Mulder. The two agreed to a deal with an extra $100,000 in prize money to play for.

The final hand saw Mulder’s pocket Aces catch a third Ace on the flop. However, his opponent hit a gutshot straight on the turn. Mighall then moved all in. Mulder called and Mighall secured the title.

For his runner-up finish, Mulder earned $1.4 million. Mighall is the first player to add his name to the Sexton Cup since the trophy’s namesake passed away.

Beyond the online game, Mighall has more than $531,000 in live tournament winnings. Along with a replica version of the Sexton Cup, he receives several other nice extras including: 

  • $15,000 added value entry into the next WPT Tournament of Champions (presented by Baccarat Crystal)
  • a Hublot Big Bang timepiece worth $15,000
  • a set of Baccarat Crystal tumblers

More satellite winners score big in WPT events at partypoker

The WOCs were meant to be similar to a live WPT experience with players’ names used at the tables. Numerous satellites and qualifiers were also offered throughout the series to give lower bankroll players a shot.

That included the Main Event, with seven of nine final table players qualifying via satellite. Argentina’s Damian Salas entered the final table as the chip leader after qualifying in a $1,000 satellite. He went on to finish third for a massive $814,664.

Blaz Zerjav, of Slovenia, qualified through a partypoker LIVE passport and took fourth for $552,006.

Brazil’s Victor Simionato pulled off one of the biggest underdog stories of the entire series. He started in a $22 qualifier and navigated through three satellites to qualify for the Main Event. By the time he was eliminated in fifth place, Simionato earned a life-changing $391,257.

Team partypoker’s Dzmitry Urbanovich, of Poland, also went on an impressive run to the final table. He qualified in a $530 satellite before going on to finish sixth for $277,014.

The final table was streamed live on partypoker’s Twitch and YouTube channels. The WPT’s Matt Savage and Lynn Gilmartin as well as James Dempsey called the action.

“Tournaments this size don’t come around very often,” said Team partypoker’s Jason Koon, who also commented on some of the action. “The final table had a ton of talent and was open for several players to win, which made it really enjoyable to watch.

“It’s got to be an amazing feeling taking down this special WPT, so congratulations to Phil Mighall.”

WPT partypoker WOC action continues 

The Main Event may be over but plenty of events remain at partypoker. The WOCs run through Sept. 24 with $100 million guaranteed for the entire series.

One major event is set to conclude on Thursday. The $3,200 WPT Heads Up Championship is down to the final 16 players after attracting 166 entries in the bracket-style event.

Partypoker will stream those events tonight in a unique setting with four tables at once. Other major events set to wrap up in the next week and streamed online include:

  • Turbo Championship
  • High Roller Championship
  • Super High Roller Championship

For a complete partypoker review including exclusive PokerScout bonuses, click here.

Photo courtesy WPT

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BLASTOFF: WPT Partypoker WOC Players Earn Six-Figure Scores Via Satellite Entries

Several WPT World Online Championships winner have scored-six-figure scores via satellites.

Small buy-in, big results. That was the theme last week at the WPT World Online Championships  at partypoker with several players cashing in with big satellite scores.

In the $1,050 Mini Main Event, five players made the final table – winning a total of $1.5 million among them. Arturs Balodis claimed the most of that, finishing third for $535,269 after players reached a final table deal.

Balodis spun a $55 Gladiator ticket into a massive payday. That was just one of several satellite success stories. Play also shifted to Day 1B of the Main Event on Sunday and more qualifiers are hoping to follow in Balodis’s footsteps.

Satellites bring major scores in Mini Main 

When the Mini Main Event wrapped up, Brazil’s Renan Carlos Bruschi took the title for $504,582. After the final four players reached a deal, play continued for the title and an extra $50,000. Bruschi beat Moldova’s Nichita Verbitchi heads up for the title.

A few other success stories stand out from the final table. Verbitchii won his seat from an $11 Terminator qualifier and took home $339,607 as runner-up. 

Liviu-Rodrig Bartha, of Romania, finished fourth for $472,867 after buying into a $109 satellite. Russia’s Ravil Tlimisov finished eight for $55,425 after qualifying through a $22 Big Bounty Hunter.

Ninth-place finisher Tobias Koerper won a seat via an $11 buy-in Terminator and cashed for $45,600. The tournament attracted 4,600 players and featured a $5 million guarantee.

Other partypoker players go low to win big

Those players in the Mini weren’t the only ones to bag big scores from small buy-ins. Luiz Constantino, of Brazil, took down the $109 WPT Micro Main Event for $148,985.

Liliane Figueiredo, also of Brazil, had been playing $3.30 satellites hoping for some WOC entries.

A Second Chance Freeroll ticket gave her an opportunity. Figueiredo made the best of it,  finishing third in the $109 Six-Max Mini Warm Up for $13,153.

“One of the most memorable moments was when I realized that Team partypoker’s Matthew Staples was broadcasting our table on Twitch,” she told partypoker.com.

“I was a little apprehensive at first, but when I saw the comments made by Matthew and other people watching I felt very happy.”

The cash certainly left her happy as well. In the $3,200 WPT Knockout Championship, Daniel Smyth scored the ultimate satellite dream. This player from the United Kingdom grabbed an entry via a $33 satellite and went on to take the title.

For his efforts, Smyth earned $208,803 plus $204,588 in bouncy cash. He also earned a $15,000 seat to the next WPT Tournament of Champions.

“It feels super,” Smyth told the partypoker blog. “The WPT is the most well known and respected poker tour in my opinion and to become a champion is something I’m very proud of. This victory comes 10 years after my best previous result and certainly trumps my [PokerStars] Sunday Million victory. To beat the best of the best in a high buy-in event gives me great confidence.”

Another big satellite run in Main Event

There is still plenty of action left in the World Online Championships. Day 1B of the Main Event kicked off on Sunday and concludes on Wednesday.

The tournament is the highlight of the festival and features a $10 million guarantee. That flight also featured another interesting satellite story.

The WPT and partypoker are teaming up for the $100 million WPT World Online Championships.

Willyam Esmeril, of Brazil, played after winning his way into the Main Event. Esmeril won a promotional tournament entry while watching the WOCs on the partypoker Twitch channel.

However, he had a play money account and needed to deposit at least $10 to activate the ticket. After making that deposit, Esmeril played some $0.55 WOC qualifiers to work on his skills.

In one of those he won an $11 seat, which led to a $109 seat and then a $1,050 ticket. In the $1,050 satellite, Esmeril then earned his $10,300 Main Event seat after a huge run at the tables.

“Play the same way, keep calm, and let’s go,” he remembers telling himself before the $1,050 event, via an interview on the partypoker Twitch channel.

That run came to an end on Sunday, but it was quite a week for Esmeril. Other satellite winners will be hoping to carry the qualifier banner in the Main Event this week.

WPT partypoker series continues this week with Main Event and more

The WOCs run through Sept. 24 with a total guarantee of $100 million. The WOCs are designed to replicate an authentic live poker experience.

Players’ real names are used and there are a maximum of two Day 1s for championship events. A maximum of one re-entry is allowed per day.

In addition, partypoker and WPT have included some added value for championship event winners including:

  • $15,000 WPT Tournament of Champions entries for each of the five biggest championship events
  • Hublot watches valued at $7,500 and $15,000 for the Main Event
  • Baccarat Crystal awarded to each winner valued at $2,500
  • $5,000 TOC travel packages for each winner

For a complete schedule and preview of the WPT Online Championships, click here. For a complete partypoker review including exclusive bonuses, click here.

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FOND FAREWELL: Poker Community Remembers, Pays Tribute to Mike Sexton

Mike Sexton after winnning

The poker world learned last week that longtime World Poker Tour commentator Mike Sexton had been battling prostate cancer. After a month of hospice care, he passed away on Saturday at age 72.

Remembered as one of the game’s key ambassadors and visionaries, Sexton leaves a long legacy in poker. Beyond his 15 years with the WPT, Sexton was also a cofounder of partypoker and has numerous other accomplishments in the game.

“It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of my friend and the greatest ambassador in poker, Mike Sexton,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska announced on Saturday. “Mike served as a WPT commentator for 15 seasons and spent a lifetime growing the game of poker around the globe.

“His glowing presence resonated with players and fans of poker alike, who will all miss him onscreen and at the table. Mike’s legacy will forever be a part of poker’s history. The WPT Family joins the entire poker community in sending our thoughts and deepest condolences to the Sexton family, including his young son Ty.”

Poker players stunned by news

Players and fans only learned last week of Sexton’s cancer battle. Poker player and friend Linda Johnson was in contact with Sexton and was authorized to release the news via Twitter on Sept. 1.

Johnson noted that the cancer recently spread to other organs.

Many players expressed support and affection for the “ambassador of poker.” That ranged from big-name players to fans of his work on the WPT television show.

Mike Sexton was honored for lifetime achievement at the American Poker Awards in 2016.
Mike Sexton was honored for lifetime achievement at the American Poker Awards in 2016.

“Jan Fisher and I read your tweets to Mike Sexton today and he asked me to thank you all so much for your love and support,” Fisher noted later.

“He is too tired to personally answer emails, texts, and Tweets but he wants you to know he is touched by them.”

A tribute to a poker legend

Just two days after the announcement, Mike Matusow produced a live stream honoring the poker player that meant so much to the industry. Pliska and Sexton’s longtime WPT commentating partner Vince Van Patten appeared on the tribute.

Others offering some words of support included Phil Hellmuth, Jennifer Harman, Jonathan Little, Erik Seidel, Norman Chad, Jennifer Tilly, and numerous others. Hellmuth also penned an article on what Sexton meant to him and the industry.

“Mike’s vision led to where the poker world is today,” Matusow said during the opening of the stream. “I know this from the bottom of my heart, that everyone out there that’s made money in poker would never have made money in poker if it wasn’t for Mike Sexton’s vision of bringing poker mainstream. It means so much to me what Mike has done and how he has touched my heart.”

Harman said Sexton reached so many on a personal level. She described him as a great family man and father.

“He’s always been a complete gentleman and was a wonderful person for the community,” she said. “He has put poker on the map at a different level. Poker wouldn’t be where it is because of Mike Sexton.”

A lifetime of growing poker

While he may have started out as a poker pro in the 1980s, other ventures would come along to help grow the game. Many players remember his effort in the late 1990s with the Tournament of Champions of Poker.

Mike Sexton attends the Eighth Annual World Poker Tour Invitational at Commerce Casino in 2010.

The event almost doubled the number of entries to the WSOP Main Event in its first year in 1998. While it only lasted three years, many consider it a forerunner of today’s big-field events. The tournament attracted some of the biggest names in poker from around the world.

In 2000, partypoker came calling. The company needed a poker expert to help in developing its software. Sexton accepted the offer and retained a 6% ownership stake for his services.

The company remains one of the largest online poker operators in the world. Sexton served as the chairman of the company until his death.

Success for Sexton also came behind a keyboard. His work as a writer began with a monthly column in Card Player magazine in 1996. That lasted a decade and he also wrote two books.

Those included a strategy book and  his popular autobiography, Life’s a Gamble, released in 2016. He went on to add partypoker blogging to his literary resumé as well.

Behind the WPT microphone

In 2002, Sexton landed his biggest role in propelling poker into the mainstream. Along with Van Patten, he broke down the action on the table weekly as part of the WPT television show.

The tour featured some of the biggest poker tournaments in the world.  Seeing hole cards for the first time, and how players played them, fascinated viewers. The massive prize pools also kept fans coming back for more.

Ratings soared and so did poker’s popularity, including the game of No Limit Texas Hold’em. Suddenly everyone from accountants to mechanics to celebrity actors were heading to the tables.

Sexton’s everyman approach to the game made him a favorite. A generation of poker players grew up watching the action with Sexton and Van Patten. The poker visionary served as inspiration for many of poker’s new generation.

Life at the tables

While his commentating duties and other roles occupied much of his time, Sexton also starred at the tables. No stranger to the WSOP, Sexton had $2.7 million in series winnings in a poker career stretching back to the 1980s.

He won a bracelet in 1989, a WPT title in 2016, and accumulated $6.7 million in live tournament winnings. In 2006, he won the WSOP Tournament of Champions for $1 million.

After beating Daniel Negreanu heads-up for the title, he went on to donate half of that to charity. 

 

In 2009, Sexton was elected to the Poker Hall of Fame. When he left the WPT broadcast booth in 2017, Tony Dunst stepped in to take his spot.

They were big shoes to fill and Dunst reflected on how Sexton always looked out for players. Like others, Dunst said Sexton always greeted others with kindness and kept a positive attitude.

“Very sad to hear about Mike’s passing,” Dunst noted on Twitter. “He wasn’t just a champ for winning poker tournaments, but because he always championed for the players. Most of all I’ll miss his incredible stories, and I hate knowing how much of poker history left with him.”

Friends and family were able to watch the streaming tribute with Sexton and reported he had a smile on his face. That’s something friends and poker fans had come to expect.

Van Patten experienced Sexton’s smile and friendliness first-hand for almost two decades.

“The great Mike Sexton is gone,” Van Patten noted in a special WPT tribute video. “My buddy, my partner, what an exceptional human being you were and are.

“The world will not be the same without you. We love you Mike. Rest in peace.”

Montreal championship photo courtesy of WPT

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Big Satellites Planned as WPT Main Event Approaches; POWERFEST Underway in France, Spain

The WPT announced this week that the company’s televised events are now available to millions more players across Europe.

After more than six weeks of action at partypoker, the highlight of the WPT World Online Championships is on the horizon. As part of that, the site has a host of satellites planned for the Main Event, set to finish up on Sept. 16.

The $10,300 tournament features a $10 million guarantee and Day 1A is set for Sunday, Sept. 6. The WPT and partypoker have numerous ways to get in the action and hoping a wide range of players get involved.

WPT Main Event satellite spectaculars running all week at partypoker

For the Main Event, players can enter feeder events to the satellites for as little as $2.20. That small amount can eventually turn into a $10,300 seat.

Several mega satellites also give players chances to enter the tournament, priced at $530 and $1,050 buy-in levels.

Team partypoker’s Richard Dubini has already experienced his own qualifier success. He turned a $109 satellite entry into a $10,300 partypoker LIVE passport.

Dubini will now be using that passport for the Main Event.

“I’m so excited to play in the Main Event, with $10 million guaranteed,” Dubini said in a news release. “I won my seat … which proves there is so much value in these amazing satellites.”

Plenty of added value in WPT Main Event

Partypoker has made it quite an event with some nice extras planned for the Main Event winner. On top of the cash winnings, the Main Event winner will also receive a $15,000 package to the next WPT Tournament of Champions (presented by Baccarat Crystal).

Just like a live WPT event, the champion’s name will be engraved on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup trophy. The winner also receives a replica version of the trophy as well as:

  • joining the exclusive WPT Champions Club
  • winning a Hublot Big Bang watch worth $15,000
  • taking home a set of Baccarat Crystal tumblers

Satellite success stories during WPT World Online Championships

Several lower buy-in players have already found success in WOC satellites. Liliane Figueiredo won $13,153 after qualifying via a Second Chance Freeroll for the $109 Six-Max Mini Warmup.

Last week, Kim Heidemann qualified for the Micro Main Event through a satellite, then finishing runner-up for $104,299.

Team partypoker’s Louise Butler praised the site for running so many qualifiers.

“The satellite schedule for WPT World Online Championships is the best I’ve ever seen for an online series,” he says. “There have been some amazing stories of satellite players who have turned small buy-ins into six-figure scores.

“I’m looking forward to playing in the satellites for the Main Event and I hope they will result in more great stories for lower buy-in players.” 

The WOCs run through Sept. 24 with tens of millions of dollars in guarantees still up for grabs. The series is designed to replicate an authentic live poker experience.

That includes the use of players’ real names and limited Day 1 flights and re-entries.

POWERFEST underway, Benjamin Pollak joins Team partypoker

In addition to the WOCs, partypoker’s POWERFEST is running on the partypoker EU network through Sept. 23. The annual series features a guarantee of €5 million in France and €4.5 million in Spain.

POWERFEST offers something for all types of players in three tiers:

  • High Roller
  • Medium
  • Low

Corresponding with the series is the announcement that French poker pro Benjamin Pollak has joined Team partypoker.

Pollak burst onto the poker scene with a third-place finish in the 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event. That finish landed him $3.5 million and he now has almost $13 million in live tournament winnings. 

Pollak began playing poker in 2006 and then quickly moved up in stakes.

“I immediately felt that I was able to go far,” he says. “With hindsight, it may be because I had spent 10 years in Magic [The Gathering, a card game] and I was therefore used to cards and bluffing. Poker was a revelation. I felt it was made for me.”

For Pollak, it’s important poker remains fun and he enjoys showcasing the human element of the game. He can be found playing at the partypoker tables as “BenjaminPollak.”

“I’m thrilled and very excited to join the partypoker team,” he says. “They’ve supported players from the beginning and see the game as I do. I couldn’t be more happy to support them and be part of this great adventure.”

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BIG FINISH: WPT partypoker Main Events Approach; Thousands of Satellite Tickets Up for Grabs

The WPT Online Championships Main Events kick off this weekend.

After almost seven weeks, the stage is set for the finale of the WPT World Online Championships at partypoker. The Main Event tournaments are approaching and playing out over the next two weeks.

With so much World Poker Tour prestige on the line, party has added even more satellites for the Micro and Mini Main Events. The goal is to get players of all bankrolls involved.

The site will have thousands of guaranteed tickets on the line and satellite events are now underway. The final three weeks promise plenty of poker fun.

WPT Main Events start this weekend

There has been plenty of action for players hoping to attain some WPT glory. The series started on July 16 and included a $100 million guarantee.

The series is the first time a WPT championship has been awarded online. The WOCs feature 12 championship events.

Five of these champions add their names to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup. The winners also receive:

  • $15,000 entry and travel package for the WPT Tournament of Champions
  • individual trophies
  • Hublot watch
  • Set of Baccarat Crystal tumblers

The goal was to make the series feel as much like a real WPT event as possible. Players’ real names are used at the tables with a maximum of two Day 1s for championship events. Only one re-entry is allowed per day.

Here’s a look at the Main Events on tap beginning this weekend:

  • $109 Micro Main Event Championship – Day 1A is set for Saturday, Aug. 29, with $1 million guaranteed.
  • $1,050 Mini Main Event Championship – This event begins Sunday, Aug. 30, with $5 million guaranteed.
  • $10,300 World Championship Main Event – This premier event of the whole series begins Sept. 6 with $10 million guaranteed. Day 1B was recently moved to Sept. 13 to allow more players to compete. Days 2, 3, and 4 on the following days.

Plenty of satellite action in store for partypoker players

Those looking to get in the main event action have plenty of satellites to check out over the next week. More than 3,500 seats await those looking to get in the Micro event.

Qualifiers start at just $3 and continue until the event kicks off on Saturday.

The WPT and partypoker are teaming up for the $100 million WPT World Online Championships.

Players looking to get in the Mini Main Event also have a plethora of opportunities. More than 1,000 guaranteed seats can be won in satellites until the start of the tournament. Players can earn a seat starting at only $33. 

One satellite event stands out. A “Monster Satellite” will award as many as 100 tickets and is set for Aug. 29 ahead of Day 1A.

On top of the Micro and Mini versions, the Championship Main Event offers some qualifying opportunities as well.

Team partypoker’s Josip Simunic recently turned a $109 buy-in into a $10,000 partypoker LIVE passport. Simunic is now using that for the World Championship Main Event.

“I am very happy that there are so many good satellites on partypoker,” he says. “These satellites give so many more players the chance to play in this huge event, as they allow lots of opportunities to qualify from lower buy-ins.”

Big WPT winners so far, plenty of action remains

The WPT World Online Championships have typified the international online poker frenzy of the last few months. Operators have seen huge fields and massive guarantees.

Sites like 888poker and Unibet have major series underway and the World Series of Poker Online continues at GGPoker. Many players are jumping in both the WPT and WSOP events.

So far the winners of the WPT championships adding their names to the Sexton Cup include:

  • Gavin Cochrane – This player from the United Kingdom became the first player to win a WPT event online. He took the title in the $3,200 WPT Eight-Max Championship on Aug. 4 for $540,664.
  • Nick Petrangelo – The American won the $3,200 Six-Max Championship for $494,550 for his first tour title.
  • Daniel Smyth – In the $3,200 Knockout Championship, this player from Ireland took the title for $408,330.
  • Andrey Kotelnikov – The Russian rounder took down the $3,200 Mix-Max Championship on partypoker for $488,508.

Poker superstar and Team partypoker member Kristen Bicknell has won a WPT event as well as bracelet in the WSOP Online. She now sits atop the WOC leaderboard.

The $10,300 World Championship Main Event is the final Cup event on tap. Beyond that, however, there’s still quite a bit left on the schedule before events conclude Sept. 16.

One of those highlights is the $3,200 World Championship Mix-Max, with starting flights beginning on Sept. 5. That event features a $3 million guaranteed prize pool and there are also Micro and Mini versions as well.

The Micro ($33), Mini ($320), and World Championship Heads-Up ($3,200) events should also attract nice fields. Those events are set for Sept. 2 and feature guarantees of $20,000 (Micro), $100,000 (Mini), and $500,000 (Championship).

Here’s a look at all the remaining action.

2020 WPT World Online Championships at partypoker

DateEventBuy-inFeeGuarantee
Aug. 29#07 World Championship Main Event Day 1A [4-Day Event]$10,000$300$10,000,000
Aug. 30#07 World Championship Main Event Day 1B [4-Day Event]$10,000$300None
Sept. 2#08 World Championship Heads Up [No Late Reg, 256 Cap, 2-Day Event]$3,000$200$500,000
Sept. 2#08 Mini World Championship Heads Up [No Late Reg, 512 Cap, 2-Day Event]$300$20$100,000
Sept. 2#08 Micro World Championship Heads Up [No Late Reg, 1024 Cap, 2-Day Event]$30$3$20,000
Sept. 5#09 World Championship Mix-Max Day 1A [3-Day Event]$3,000$200$3,000,000
Sept. 5#09 Mini World Championship Mix-Max Day 1A [3-Day Event]$300$20$1,000,000
Sept. 5#09 Micro World Championship Mix-Max Day 1A [3-Day Event] $30$3$300,000
Sept. 5#10 World Championship Super High Roller Day 1A [3-Day Event]$25,000$500$10,000,000
Sept. 6#09 World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]$3,000$200None
Sept. 6#09 Mini World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]$300$20None
Sept. 6#09 Micro World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]$30$3None
Sept. 6#10 World Championship Super High Roller Day 1B [3-Day Event]$25,000$500None
Sept. 7#11 World Championship Super High Roller [2-Day Event]$100,000$2,000$5,000,000
Sept. 8#12 World Championship Turbo$3,000$200$1,000,000
Sept. 8#12 Mini World Championship Turbo$300$20$300,000
Sept. 8#12 Micro World Championship Turbo$30$3$100,000
*** All events allow one re-entry per Day 1

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Partypoker, WPT Expand WOC Main Events; Mobile App Enhanced with Portrait Mode

The WPT recently detailed the Feeder and Funnel Program, allowing partner casinos around the world to offer live satellites for WPT events.

After receiving player feedback, partypoker and the World Poker Tour have made some changes to the World Online Championships. The Mini and Main Event have been extended with more chances for players to qualify.

The $10,300 Main Event features a $10 million guarantee with Day 1A set for Sunday, Sept. 6. Day 1B has been moved to Sept. 13 with Days 2, 3 and 4 on the following days.

Players will now have more opportunities to qualify for Day 1B, even if they bust on Day 1A. Partypoker will add even more satellite events in the intervening week.

The entire WOC series features a $100 million guarantee and events for all bankroll levels. That ranges from $30 to $100,000 with numerous tournaments left on the schedule.

Changes mean more opportunities in WPT World Online Championships

The $1,050 Mini Main Event also sees a bit of a schedule change, which comes with a $5 million guarantee. Day 1A is Sunday, Aug. 30, with 1B now on Sept. 6 and the final two days afterward.

The $109 Micro Main Event, with a guarantee of $1 million, will keep its original schedule for the whole four days. Day 1A is set for Aug. 29 and Sept. 1 as the final day of action.

This allows for all three main events to be live streamed on partypoker’s Twitch channel. This now gives Micro players a chance to shine in front of live viewers.

Plenty still on the line in WPT events

The WOCs have passed the halfway point but there remains a plethora of action. The Main Event is one of five Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup events held during the series.

On top of the prize money, the winner adds a $15,000 package to the next WPT Tournament of Champions (presented by Baccarat Crystal). The champion’s name is also engraved on the Sexton Cup.

Championship winners also join the exclusive Champions Club and win a Hublot watch and set of Baccarat tumblers. The series comes with almost $150,000 in added value for players.

The series features a $100 million guarantee and tries to replicate an authentic live WPT experience.

Tournaments use players’ real names and allow a maximum of two Day 1s for the 10 championship events. Only one re-entry is allowed per day. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

DateEventBuy-inFeeGuarantee
Aug. 29#07 World Championship Main Event Day 1A [4-Day Event]$10,000$300$10,000,000
Aug. 30#07 World Championship Main Event Day 1B [4-Day Event]$10,000$300None
Sept. 2#08 World Championship Heads Up [No Late Reg, 256 Cap, 2-Day Event]$3,000$200$500,000
Sept. 2#08 Mini World Championship Heads Up [No Late Reg, 512 Cap, 2-Day Event]$300$20$100,000
Sept. 2#08 Micro World Championship Heads Up [No Late Reg, 1024 Cap, 2-Day Event]$30$3$20,000
Sept. 5#09 World Championship Mix-Max Day 1A [3-Day Event]$3,000$200$3,000,000
Sept. 5#09 Mini World Championship Mix-Max Day 1A [3-Day Event]$300$20$1,000,000
Sept. 5#09 Micro World Championship Mix-Max Day 1A [3-Day Event] $30$3$300,000
Sept. 5#10 World Championship Super High Roller Day 1A [3-Day Event]$25,000$500$10,000,000
Sept. 6#09 World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]$3,000$200None
Sept. 6#09 Mini World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]$300$20None
Sept. 6#09 Micro World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]$30$3None
Sept. 6#10 World Championship Super High Roller Day 1B [3-Day Event]$25,000$500None
Sept. 7#11 World Championship Super High Roller [2-Day Event]$100,000$2,000$5,000,000
Sept. 8#12 World Championship Turbo$3,000$200$1,000,000
Sept. 8#12 Mini World Championship Turbo$300$20$300,000
Sept. 8#12 Micro World Championship Turbo$30$3$100,000
*** All events allow one re-entry per Day 1

Partypoker adds to mobile app allowing portrait mode for tournaments, SNGs

Partypoker has made some other news recently. Mobile players will now find a bit more comfort at the virtual tables. The site’s app now lets players compete in multi-table tournaments (MTTs) and Sit & Go tournaments (SNGs) in portrait mode.

This means players can now take part in major tournaments like the WOCs while on the go. The change makes it simpler to play in events like this. A big part of that is the ability to play multiple games at the same time.

“This marks a very important milestone for us, with all games now being available in portrait mode,” said Ross McQuater, partypoker head of poker product. “Tournament play presented a number of interesting challenges, and the team have done a great job in overcoming them.

“The result sees a significant overhaul for tournaments that extends to the game lobbies too, not just the portrait game table. We have an exciting raft of new features that we will continue to add in the coming months, as we also work to improve the portrait experience for our other labels. We are confident our players will enjoy the latest experience.”

Partypoker began making major improvements to its app in 2019, including a much more user-friendly experience. There are now several extra features to make tournament play more enjoyable as well.

As part of the new release, the “diamonds” virtual currency and “rabbit hunt” features are available in portrait mode. Party also revamped portrait lobbies  for tournaments and SNGs. These improvements include:

  • new game listings
  • filters
  • improved tournament detail pages

More details and a clearer design has refined the mobile experience to replicate the quality of a desktop lobby.

Social gaming aspects continue to grow

Diamonds are part of a shift toward introducing some social gaming-type features to the mobile app. These are rewarded based on the number of hands played.

A player can then use those diamonds to spend on animations or the opportunity to rabbit hunt. Rabbit cards give the full picture of hands, allowing a player to see the remaining cards not dealt. The feature adds some extra excitement and fun.

The moves come after the company enhanced the mobile offering earlier this year. Portrait table mode was extended to cash games, with single-handed play spread across heads-up and six-handed games.

Last year, party launched a new SPINS interface with a selection of new social game features. Some of those included bubble chat, emojis, animations, and enhanced dialogues.

Mobile gaming continues to be a major focus for the online poker industry.  The sites hop the efforts expand the player pool and grow the industry.

Operators are adapting to those prefer their gaming more on the go. Partypoker has been a big part of that and continues to enhance its mobile product.

Champions Cup photo courtesy WPT/Joe Giron