world poker tour Archives

December 17, 2022December 17, 2022

WPT World Championship Reaches $30 Million; New Schedule Includes Several International Stops

The WPT World Championship rolled into Day 3 Friday, smashing the $15 million guarantee for a $30 million prize pool.

Much of the poker world has an eye on Las Vegas as the World Poker Tour World Championship continues playing out at the Wynn. After guaranteeing $15 million, the tournament ultimately smashed that this week with almost a $30 million prize pool.

The tournament brought in 2,960 entries with only 399 players returning for Day 3 on Thursday. The winner will score a juicy $4.1 million.

In other news, the WPT also released dates for the early part of next season’s schedule. That includes some interesting international stops such as events in Italy, the Netherlands, France, and more.

WPT World Championship earns rave reviews among players

When cards got back in the air on Friday, Romania’s Adrian Sorel State returned as chip leader with 2.4 million. He has $584,614 in career live tournament winnings and significant online poker winnings as well, at just under $1 million.

Among those returning for Day 3 included WPT champions Daniel Negreanu, Mike Del Vecchio, Taylor von Kriegenbergh, Freddy Deeb, and Eric Yilmaz. WPT anchor Lynn Gilmartin and WPTDeepStacks winner Alex Greenblatt also returned for action.

This marked only the second WPT cash for Negreanu since 2019. However, he remains one of the biggest winners on the tour.

Pretty wild I’m still 2nd on @WPT all time money list with just one cash since 2015 that happened in 2019

Carlos Mortensen
$6,738,672
Daniel Negreanu
$5,796,673
Michael Mizrachi
$5,135,734

This @WynnPoker event could shake things up!

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) December 13, 2022

As players continue battling at the Wynn, most players seemed pleased with how the event turned out. There is a packed schedule that includes a WPT Prime event as well as a Ladies Championship. Both of those, along with the main event, will see the final tables live streamed and filmed for television.

The WPT Prime Championship reached the final table this week and also saw huge numbers. The tournament shattered the $2 million guarantee, with a $5.3 million prize pool heading back to players in the money.

The Prime event saw 5,430 entries with the champion scoring $712,650. American Lara Eisenberg leads the final six players with 39.2 million chips. The series saw the $1,600 Mystery Bounty and $200 Ladies Championship also kick off on Friday.

WPT releases events for 2023 season

The World Championship may bring the 2022 season to a close, but the tour already is offering players a look at what to expect for 2023. WPT officials announced the first half of the Season XXI schedule this week.

“Coming off an incredible 20th-anniversary season for WPT, we are looking forward to its progression into 2023,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a news release. “Players have much to anticipate during Season XXI, as we have established some new partnerships and continued our relationships with longstanding staples of the tour.”

The $3,500 buy-in WPT Rolling Thunder kicks off the Main Tour action from April 1-4 at Thunder Valley Casino in northern California. Thunder Valley returns after hosting the final live Main Tour tournament of 2020.

The $3,500 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown follows from April 28 – May 2 in Hollywood, Florida. The event set the WPT record for most Main Tour entries in 2021 with 2,482 and an $8 million prize pool.

The $3,800 WPT Choctaw returns May 5-8 for the property’s eighth championship. Later the same month, The Gardens Casino in southern California hosts the $5,250 Gardens Poker Championship from May 21-25.

The Hard Rock Poker Showdown, Choctaw, and Gardens Poker Championship are all slated for televised final tables.

“It is the pride of WPT to offer such a wide range of tournament festivals when it comes to buy-in and location,” WPT Vice President Angelica Hael said. “We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all of our live partners worldwide and our appreciation for the players for their continued support.”

WPT Prime events also announced with international stops on tap

Beyond the Main Tour, company officials also released part of the WPT Prime schedule. WPT Prime Paris begins the schedule from Jan. 31 – Feb. 5 at Club Circus Paris in France.

Players will find four Prime stops in March and April. The first of those is WPT Prime Gold Coast at The Star Casino from March 2-6 after setting records in the state of Queensland in 2022 with WPT Australia.

WPT Prime Cambodia next plays out March 16-20. That event broke the all-time WPT Prime entries record back in August with 1,050 runners (before being broken in Las Vegas at the World Championship).

The tour then heads to Europe with WPT Prime Amsterdam set for March 29 – April 1. The action also returns to India for the first time in over three years from April 13-17.

The tour’s first-ever stop in Slovakia is next. The Prime tournament is planned for May 11-15 at Card Casino Bratislava. That’s followed by the Prime Vietnam festival May 25-29 at Crown Poker Club. The WPT Prime Sanremo rounds out the first half of the season in Italy from June 5-11 at Casinò di Sanremo.

More stops are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Here’s a look at the 2023 WPT schedule so far.

2023 WPT schedule first half

Event	Date	Location
Prime Paris	Jan. 31– Feb. 5	Club Circus Paris, France
Prime Gold Coast	March 2-6	The Star Gold Coast, Australia
Prime Cambodia	March 16-20	Naga World Integrated Resort, Cambodia
Prime Amsterdam	March 29 – April 1	Holland Casino, Netherlands)
Rolling Thunder	April 1-4	Thunder Valley Casino, California
Prime India	April 13-17	Deltin Royale Casino, India
Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown	April 28 – May 2	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida
Choctaw	May 5-8	Choctaw Casino Resort, Durant, Oklahoma
Prime Slovakia	May 11-15	Card Casino Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
Gardens Poker Championship	May 21-25	The Gardens Casino, Hawaiian Gardens, California)
Prime Vietnam	May 25-29	Crown Poker Club, Vietnam
Prime Sanremo	Jun 7-11	Casinò di Sanremo, Sanremo, Italy

November 28, 2022

World Poker Tour Announces Partnership With Texapoker for Prime Events in France, Italy

The World Poker Tour is heading to France and Italy next year as the company announced three stops in the countries for 2023 last week. The tour is partnering with the Texapoker group to present several WPT Prime festivals in western Europe.

“Even amidst an incredible 20th-anniversary season, we are preparing for our progression into 2023,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a news release. “Partnering with Texapoker provides us with a wonderful opportunity to return the WPT brand to the French market.”

The two-year agreement with Texapoker promises three poker series each of the next two years.

A look at the French, Italian WPT events

WPT Prime kicks off the WPT’s Season XXI live tour schedule on Jan. 22 with a festival at Club Circus Paris in France. The €1,100 buy-in main event runs Feb. 1-5.

“To welcome the WPT in our Circus Club in 2023 is a big triumph for the city of Paris, the poker players, our club, and our group company,” a Club Circus Paris executive said in announcing the series.

“Paris is the poker capital of Europe. The Circus brand, which is in six countries and two continents, continues to develop and this partnership strengthens the Club as a stronghold of Parisian poker.”

The next stop is the WPT Prime Aix-en-Provence from Oct. 9-15 at Pasino Grand. This is the first time the tour has ventured to Aix-en-Provence in southern France. PMU.fr will offer online satellites for French players to win seats to the $1,100 championship events.

The WPT Prime Sanremo festival series runs June 5-11 at Casinò di Sanremo in Italy, near the southwestern border of France. The property also hosted a WPTDeepStacks event in June 2018. That tour has been phased out and now replaced by WPT Prime.

Gearing up for WPT World Championships

As an added bonus to the new partnership, Texapoker will give away seats to the upcoming WPT World Championship. Four French Championship of Poker winners will earn seats.

“Eleven years after my first WPT partnership, I am very pleased and proud to work with this brand and to run three stops in France and Italy,” Texapoker chairman and CEO Apo Chantzis said.

Here’s a look at the three French and Italian WPT Prime stops:

WPT Prime Paris, Club Circus Paris (France) – Jan. 22 – Feb. 5
WPT Prime Sanremo, Casinò di Sanremo (Italy) – June 5-11
WPT Prime Aix-en-Provence, Pasino Grand (France) – Oct. 9-15

July 27, 2022July 27, 2022

Tournament Trail: A Look at International Poker Events to Close Out Summer & Online Qualifiers

Players heading home from the World Series of Poker have plenty of tournament action to look forward to this August and September.

The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas may be over but the action is just warming up for international players. Players heading home from Sin City have plenty of tournaments to look forward to this August and September.

Many also come with numerous opportunities to win a seat in some live action via online poker qualifiers. Operators like PokerStars, PartyPoker, and the WSOP are hosting major events to close out the summer months.

Players can expect big fields and lots of solid guarantees. Here’s a look at some of the international poker tournaments through September.

PartyPoker heads to the Czech Republic

King’s Resort in Rozvadov will play home to the PartyPoker Championship (PPC) Czech Republic Aug. 8-15. Currently King’s is the largest poker room in Europe boasting 160 poker tables.

The event includes multiple tournaments with buy-ins ranging from €150 to €1,000. Highlights include the €300 main event that carries a €500,000 guarantee.

“This event marks the return of PartyPoker to King’s Resort after several years,” PartyPoker head of live events Dan Rose said. “We’re so excited to bring our brand new PPC brand to such a famous, high-quality card room, and it will be a perfect low buy-in, high guarantee event for our players to return to Rozvadov for.”

There are also online opportunities. Players can advance in Day 2 of the Main Event by playing in an Online Day 1. Online starting flights run July 31, Aug. 7, and Aug. 9. For more information on the series, click here.

Road to PSPC continues with PokerStars

PokerStars is running non-stop action in the next few months. The company will be hosting tours all throughout Europe.

The tour will also offer Platinum Passes to the PokerStars Player Championship in the Bahamas, which is scheduled for January. A Platinum Pass includes a tournament and travel package worth more than $30,000.

Some events and locations of Pokerstars official events include:

Aug. 8-21 – EPT Casino Barcelona (Spain)
Aug. 25-29 – Dusk Till Dawn (Nottingham, United Kingdom)
Aug. 31 – Sept.1 – Casino Schenefeld (Hamburg, Germany)
Aug. 31 – Sept. 4 – Casino Admiral Sevilla (Spain)
Sept. 13-18 – Pasino de la Grande (Motte, France)
Sept. 19-25 – Okada, Manilla (Philippines)
Sept. 22-25 – Regency Casino (Thessaloniki, Greece)

For more information on winning a Platinum Pass, click here.

WPT goes international

The World Poker Tour has a few series lined up for the summer. The company has announced two official upcoming events in Asia, Europe, and Australia.

A Main Tour heads down under Sept. 23-27 at the Star Gold Coast for the A$5,300 WPT Australia. From Aug. 11-23, WPT Prime hosts more than 25 tournaments at Nagaworld Integrated Resort in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The $1,100 main event takes place on Aug. 18 with a $500,000 guarantee.

In September, Prime takes over Casino Gran Via in Madrid, Spain. The $1,100 main event runs Sept. 15-19 and includes four flight flights.

For those heading to the Spanish event, cash players looking to jump in some side action will find a unique feature. Cash games at Casino Madrid play the button counter-clockwise compared to the conventional style of play. Tournaments run like normal however.

Triton Series heads to Cyprus

For players looking for the big money events, Triton Poker has it covered. Merit Royal Diamond Hotel in Cyprus hosts the Super High Roller Series from Sept. 5-17.

The festival includes 13 events with buy-ins ranging from $25,000 to $200,000.

“We are excited to host the Coin Rivet Invitational, which will bring together a diverse group of passionate entrepreneurs and poker professionals to create an exciting event that will be streamed globally,” Triton CEO Andy Wong said.

The series will once again offer thorough, high-quality video coverage via Triton’s YouTube channel. For more on this series, click here.

WSOP Europe on the horizon

For players still looking for a gold bracelet, the WSOP Europe is also approaching. The series is set for Oct. 12 – Nov. 3 with King’s Casino once again playing host.

Players will find 15 bracelets up for grabs. The highlights of the series include a €10,000 Main Event and a €50,000 High Roller. Stay tuned to PokerScout for more WSOP Europe updates including a complete schedule.

April 20, 2022

WPT Announces Dates for Australian Gold Coast Events; Main Tour Heading Down Under

Australian poker players can look forward to a few upcoming World Poker Tour events and the tour recently announced dates for those stops.

The company hosts two upcoming series at The Star Gold Coast. The first is a AUD$1,500 WPT Prime event, as part of a complete festival running June 9-20. The main event also runs June 16-20.

Australia’s first Main Tour event then heads to the same casino in September. The complete WPT festival runs Sept. 15-27 with the inaugural AUD$5,400 Main Tour stop planned for Sept. 23-27.

“With interstate and international travelers returning to our shores in search of incredible experiences and entertainment, we’re excited to announce The Star Gold Coast will welcome not one, but two, major poker events later this year,” Star Gold Coast COO Jessica Mellor said in a news release.

“In a real coup for the city, the WPT Main Tour event will make its way to the Gold Coast for the very first time in September, bringing all the prestige of the best poker players in the world. Meanwhile, WPT Prime Gold Coast in June is expected to attract interest from thousands of poker fans across Australia and the Asia Pacific after our 2021 event set a new record with over 1,000 entries.”

More details on the Australia events

WPT Prime brings a new brand to the company. Prime is the company’s newly branded mid-stakes tournament. The series replaces the WPTDeepStacks tour later this year.

The tour is promising an enhanced player experience at Prime events including:

live streaming coverage on the WPT website as well the tour’s YouTube and Twitch channels
the use of Action Clocks
a Player of the Festival leaderboard
Players earning points toward WPT Player of the Year

“With the introduction of WPT Prime at The Star Gold Coast,” WPT Vice President of global tour management Angelica Hael said, “we are thrilled to have the opportunity to further elevate our global players’ experience.”

The WPT announced official dates recently for the tour’s upcoming stops in Australia. (photo courtesy WPT)

Adding to WPT Australia growth

The two new tour events follow up on a couple other recent events in the region. The WPTDeepStacks festival at The Star Sydney boasted an all-time high for most main event entries at 2,023.

The new WPT Asia-Pacific also recently saw records for:

total festival entries – 6,392)
total festival prize pool – $6.6 million
main event prize pool – $2.7 million

Along with the Australian events, the tour also announced this week that the WPT Venetian is heading back to Las Vegas beginning on July 12.

The tour also announced an additional stop heading to the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa in Florida.

March 8, 2022

Online Poker Operators, WPT Schedule Special Events for International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 and poker operators are offering some promotions to celebrate women in the game.

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 and a few poker operators are offering some promotions in the coming days to celebrate women in the game.

The special day has been celebrated since 1914 and offers a day to reflect on gender equality and women’s role in society. In recent years, poker companies have worked to get more women in the game.

Those efforts continue as female players are recognized on International Women’s Day.

PokerStars celebrates with big Sunday event

Sunday is the biggest day of the week for online poker players and PokerStars is using March 13 as part of the Women’s Day festivities.

The Women’s Sunday tournament will feature even more on the line including €11,500 in live tournament packages and qualifier tickets. On top of the usual prize pool, the top 20 finishers win:

1st – €8,500 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event package
2nd – €2,800 France Poker Series Monte Carlo package
3rd and 4th – €55 live event qualifier ticket
5th – 20th – €5.50 live event qualifier ticket

“We know our community is excited to get back to the live felt and that women’s qualifiers to live events are something our players tell us they would like to see,” Stars associate director of consumer engagement and public relations Rebecca McAdam Willetts said in a news release.

“We’ve taken this on board and to celebrate International Women’s Day as one day in many where we want to engage and improve, we’ve given our female players an extra opportunity to win their way to one of our most loved events. Rewarding and giving opportunities to our communities is something we’re passionate about, and this is just one moment in which we plan to do so, with plenty more to come.”

Even more planned for Women’s Sunday

The weekly $22 Women’s Sunday tournaments provide a platform for players wishing to play with other women. A number of satellites are also offered from Thursday to Sunday, starting at just $0.22.

As part of the festivities, PokerStars ambassador GJ Reggie will play and stream the event on Twitch.

A bounty is also on her head in the form of a $215 ticket to the Sunday Million 16th anniversary event. That event runs March 20 with a $10 million guarantee.

“PokerStars is committed to the growth of the game and to supporting women in poker,” the company noted, “encouraging more to sit down and have fun at the tables, as well as ensuring women have a comfortable and safe place to play both live and online.”

GGPoker teams up with FLIP for special event

The Fantastic Ladies in Poker (FLIP) is also again teaming with GGPoker to offer a special event.

The $25 International Women’s Day Bounty Celebration plays out tonight with a $50,000 guarantee.

The event allows the site to recognize women in the game. GG has also run freerolls over the last week for entries into the tournament.

WPT highlights women’s organizations

The World Poker Tour is also getting in the act for International Women’s Day. The company is spotlighting four organizations advocating for women in poker including:

Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS)
Poker League of Nations (PLoN)
Poker Power
Women’s Poker Association (WPA)

LIPS is a nonprofit organization providing greater access to poker for women through live events across the United States.

“LIPS is the first poker tour established for women and expands the game of poker through live and online events across the US,” founder Lupe Soto said.

Poker League of Nations works to increase the participation of women in poker. The organization runs special events, staking opportunities, and an active online community.

“Our community welcomes all who are aligned with our goal of empowering women through the game of poker,” CEO and founder Lena Evans said. “We aim to make women more confident in all facets of life through honing the skills necessary to be successful at the poker table”

Reaching out to players

Poker Power focuses on the connection between lessons present in the game and real-life application.

“Our organizations share a commitment to bring more women to the table and to empower them with game-changing skills,” Poker Power general manager Erin Lydon said.

“The power of poker is that by playing a game of strategy, we learn to master the game of leadership. As more women learn and play, the impact will be transformational for generations to come. It’s time to stop playing not to lose and start playing to win.”

The WPA advocates for women in the poker industry by increasing the exposure of current female poker players. The group also hopes to foster new women players in the game.

“It’s crucial that women, at any stage of their poker journey, always feel welcomed and supported, plus know what resources are available to them within the poker community,” WPA Vice President Tara Windsor-Smith said.

“Through strategic and thoughtful partnerships within the poker industry and purposeful WPA programs, we continue to bring awareness to women in poker within our industry.”

Recognizing women, special tournament

WPT management noted that it was proud to honor the women who have helped build and shape the company. Some of those include:

Angelica Hael – vice president of tour management
Hermance Blum – vice president of marketing
Deborah Frazzetta – vice president of finance
Loc Sondheim – executive director of ad sales and distribution
Cathy Zhao – senior director of tour management
Mandy Glogow – supervising producer
Chelsea McGuire – senior director, business and legal affairs
Lynn Gilmartin – show anchor

The tour’s online subscription poker site, ClubWPT, is also hosting a special event with all those women above participating. The Women in Poker Bounty Tournament is set for Sunday and awards $9,000 in cash prizes and WPT Prime Passports.

The champion receives a $1,000 Passport. Each participating organization will also enter a designated player with a $1,000 Passport bounty.

The tour is awarding an extra $1,000 to the top tournament finishers. The action will stream live with Lynn Gilmartin as commentator, alongside WPT Honors recipient Linda Johnson and other guests.

“As we celebrate our 20-year anniversary, we are grateful to the women and men who continuously strive to increase the number of women in this game we love,” Hael said.

“We continue to be committed to increasing the number of people in our global poker ecosystem, and one of the ways we will achieve this is to energize, encourage, and empower more women to enjoy the game of poker.”

February 24, 2022February 23, 2022

World Poker Tour Launches ‘WPT Prime’ to Replace DeepStacks; Three Stops Heading to Asia

The WPT has announced the launch of WPT Prime to take the place of the WPTDeepStacks. The tour has announced three new Asian stops.

Some big changes have come to the World Poker Tour as the series launches its 20th anniversary season. That included the company announcing a rebrand of the mid-major WPTDeepStacks (WPTDS) on Tuesday.

With that tour’s demise comes the launch of WPT Prime. The new brand “pairs the premier poker tournament experience of a WPT Main Tour stop with affordable buy-ins accessible to more players around the globe,” the company noted in a news release.

What is WPT Prime?

Like WPTDS, Prime allows the tour to reach players with more modest bankrolls. However, the tour appears to be offering these players a more ramped-up experience they might see at a Main Tour event. Some of what Prime players can expect include:

the use of action clocks
winner trophies
in-depth event coverage from the WPT digital content team

Prime events also count toward the Player of the Year leaderboard, which awards $30,000 in prizes. Company senior director of global tour management Cathy Zhao oversaw the transition to Prime.

“Our continued efforts to improve the WPT live tournament experience will benefit more players than ever during Season XX,” Zhao said in a news release.

“WPT Prime is the embodiment of our goal to provide the best possible poker tournament experience to players everywhere, and our strong relationships with our global partners will elevate the WPT experience around the world.”

DeepStacks Tour retired, Asian events planned

The DeepStacks Tour launched in 2014 and was acquired by the WPT in 2017. WPTDS as a brand will now be retired in mid-2022 following the conclusion of events in Amsterdam, Sydney, and Thunder Valley.

WPT Prime then debuts with three of events in Asia. Players can look for some of the first events in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Taiwan.

“In celebration of our 20-year anniversary, we are thrilled to be able to deliver the high-quality WPT Prime experience in the Asia-Pacific region,” Vice President of Global Tour Management Angelica Hael said.

“As we announce more of our Season XX events around the world after a tumultuous period, we are absolutely delighted to be back in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Taiwan.”

A look at the stops in Asia

The first stop for the new brand is in Vietnam at the Crown Poker Club in Hanoi from May 19-30. The series is headlined by the VND25,000,000 ($1,100) main event from May 26-30.

Prime Cambodia then runs Aug. 11-23 in partnership with Connaissance Management Group at the NagaWorld Integrated Resort in Phnom Penh. The $1,100 main event runs from Aug. 18-22.

WPT hosted the largest live poker tournament in Cambodia in November 2019. The $727,500 prize pool nearly tripled the $250,000 guarantee.

Taiwan is the next WPT Prime Asian stop and hosted by the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association in Taipei from Nov. 11-21. The TWD30,000 ($1,077 USD) main event then runs Nov. 17-21.

Additionally, all WPT Prime and Main Tour stops will feature a competition for the Player of the Festival. The company willrelease a scoring system soon. Each winner earns a trophy and additional prizes.

The company will announce more WPT Prime events on the Season XX schedule in the coming weeks.

* Dealer photo and logo courtesy WPT

February 16, 2022September 20, 2022

Expanding Footprint: WPT Partners With New FanJolt Social Media Video Service; More Action Ahead

The World Poker Tour continues branching out in new forms of media distribution and fan engagement. From entering the world of NFTs to expanded streaming platforms, tour management hasn’t shied away from expanding its footprint in recent years.

The tour announced yet another partnership on Friday, teaming up with FanJolt. The company offers “a new interactive fan experience that directly connects users with their favorite faces from the worlds of poker, sports, and entertainment to support their charities and foundations.”

That now includes some of the WPT’s biggest names and most well-known poker players.

“FanJolt is a unique enhancement to our overall fan engagement,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a news release. “We look forward to sharing the opportunity for an exclusive WPT experience with poker players and fans around the world.”

Along with that deal, the tour also recently announced a new agreement for an NFT Poker Club involving online poker. Here’s a look at some of the latest news from the tour.

How does FanJolt work?

FanJolt allows users to join live broadcasts with their favorite celebrities. Each live broadcast includes an opportunity for a participant to be “JOLTED” into personal, one-on-one conversations with the individual celeb host.

The company is a startup and the launch will now include WPT cast members Vince Van Patten, Lynn Gilmartin, and Tony Dunst.

Poker pros Daniel Negreanu, Maria Ho, and Antonio Esfandiari have also joined the FanJolt lineup. Ho and Negreanu make their FanJolt debut with a dual broadcast on Feb. 17.

Broadcast fees start at $1.99. A look at the launch showed upcoming streams with golfing legend Annika Sorenstam, tennis superstar Rafa Nadal, and actor/comedian Chevy Chase.

Other participants include Aaron Judge, Kareem Hunt, Kevin O’Leary, Jewel, Ashanti, and others. As part of the initial launch, all live broadcast fees in February will go to designated charities.

“Through FanJolt, World Poker Tour fans can instantly and easily gain access to their favorite players through a variety of upcoming events,” FanJolt founder and CEO Trevor Short said.

“In addition to bringing fans and their icons together on one platform, FanJolt and The World Poker Tour look forward to not only engaging with the community, but being able to use the platform to benefit a variety of charities and foundations with each interaction.”

We're in cahoots with @FanJoltLive and @LynnGilmartin to prank @tonydunsttv and @VinceVanP_WPT.

Fanjolt is a new platform that connects fans with their favorite faces from the worlds of poker, sports, and entertainment.

Learn more about Fanjolt here: https://t.co/r0Zl7v80qn pic.twitter.com/uFjmXvKRQp

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) February 12, 2022

Media presence expansion continues

Poker continues to see some mainstream interest in recent weeks. 16-time World Series of Poker champion Phil Hellmuth headlined a celebrity event last week for the American Cornhole League.

The event had Hellmuth, who also hosts the WPT’s Raw Deal segment, paired with a pro and playing at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on ESPN.

Actor Laurence Fishburne also recently hit the screen in a television commercial for the free-to-play WSOP mobile game. The WPT now adds some of its own talent and players to a bit of the Hollywood ranks with FanJolt.

The tour also recently announced a deal with GAMAVRS. The company is launching the Poker Heroes Club, the world’s first NFT poker club.

“Club members will be able to use their Poker Heroes as in-client avatars with special abilities such as access to freeroll tournaments, exclusive celebrity tables, and access to WPT live VIP events,” the WPT notes in announcing the partnership.

Poker Heroes owners can upload their NFTs to use as avatars and unlock “poker superpowers.” These can be used as part of a new online poker offering known as WPTGlobal.

The companies are promising plenty of special events from $100,000 freerolls to live VIP events.

Alexander Yen at the Lucky Hearts Poker Open final table. (photo courtesy WPT)

More WPT events on the horizon

In January, the Lucky Hearts Poker Open kicked off the tour’s 20th anniversary season at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.

Alexander Yen came out on top for $975,240 after topping a field of 1,982 entries, which created a $6.4 million prize pool.

The 36-year-old University of Indiana graduate learned how to play in college. He’s now been playing professionally for 15 years.

“(My friends and I) started playing for beer money, and they would all beat me and take my money,” Yen told WPT.com after scoring the biggest win of his career. “By sophomore year, I started playing online poker, and that’s when things really started to click and take off.”

The tour again heads to Florida for the second stop of the season. The $3,500 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown runs from April 8-12 and features a $2 million guarantee. After that is the WPT Choctaw in Durant, Oklahoma, from May 13-16 and also with a $3,500 buy-in.

Tour officials announced earlier this year that WPTDeepStacks events would also qualify for the Player of the Year race this season.

A few of those events are also ahead, including two stops outside the US. The €1,100 WPTDS Amsterdam is set for March 29 – April 1. The WPTDS Sydney heads to The Star Casino in Australia from April 7-11 with a AUD$1,500 buy-in.

The WPTDS then returns to Thunder Valley Casino in California from April 28 – May 1 and comes with a $1,500 buy-in. More WPT events are expected to be announced soon.

February 2, 2022

WPT Announces Three Events Coming to Australia Including Country’s First Main Tour Event

The World Poker Tour announced a major deal with The Star Entertainment Group on Monday that will see three events heading to Australia in 2022.

Details include the first Main Tour stop in the country later this year as well as the first WPT event in Sydney.

“Poker players in Australia have always been passionate about the game and the partnership with The Star Entertainment Group allows us to expand our presence there,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a news release.

“Hosting the first WPT event at The Star Sydney puts us front and center in the largest poker market in Australia, one of the most iconic cities of the world, adding another element to our 20th anniversary celebration.”

WPT heading to Sydney

Players down under can expect a trio of events heading their way this year. The first is a WPTDeepStacks (WPTDS) series at The Star Sydney from March 30 to April 11.

The WPTDS AUD$1,500 Main Event headlines the 12-tournament schedule from April 7-11. The tournament offers three starting flights and unlimited re-entry.

A few highlights from the schedule include a $750 opening event, a two-day $2,000 event, and the $5,000 Challenge. In May, the WPTDS Gold Coast produced 1,113 entries for a AUD$1.5 million prize pool.

Star Sydney features five-star accommodations with excellent dining and entertainment options. Property management is pleased to host the WPT for the first time in Sydney and has big expectations for the event.

“The Star has hosted some of the biggest names in sport, music, and entertainment, and we look forward to welcoming the world’s best poker players,” Star Sydney COO Damian Quayle said. “The Star is the home of poker in Australia, and we are thrilled with our partnership with WPT to host this globally-recognized tournament for the first time ever in Sydney.

“With the WPT celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022, this event will be the first time that WPT sets a footprint in Sydney. This looks set to be the biggest ever staged in Asia Pacific and with the world’s best players here to compete, Sydney and The Star will be showcased as one of the best vacation playgrounds in the world.”

The tour recently announced that both Main Tour and WPTDS championship events will count toward the WPT Player of the Year race.

A look at The Star Casino in Sydney, Australia, that will soon host the World Poker Tour. (photo courtesy WPT)

More highlights from the deal

After Sydney, two more Australian stops will head to The Star Gold Coast. The WPT hasn’t released dates and details on those events yet, but one will be a Main Tour stop.

WPT officials will announce complete details for the series upon regulatory approval.

“I could not be more excited to be bringing a Main Tour stop to my home country,” WPT Vice President Angelica Hael said. “I look forward to greeting every single one of my fellow Aussies at the event and welcoming the world to an amazing host property, The Star.”

All Australian events will be streamed live at WPT.com as well as the WPT’s official YouTube and Twitch channels.