With World Poker Tour events already returning to the United States, the tour has also announced another international stop. In partnership with partypoker LIVE, the WPT heads to Casino Sochi on Feb. 23-27 for WPT Russia.
The festival is in its third year and the entire series runs Feb. 19-28. The championship event comes with a ₽245,000 ($3,337) buy-in and players can choose from three starting flights.
The event becomes the latest live WPT event to return to the felt. The tour just wrapped up play in the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. The WPT Venetian is also set for March in Las Vegas.
The Sochi event now becomes the latest effort to see the return of live poker.
“As one of my favorite events of the year, I’m proud WPT is returning to Russia where players can not only expect a high quality poker experience,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a news release, “but also some of the best off the felt activities the WPT has to offer,”
A look at the partypoker Russia series
Players in Russia have the opportunity to add their names to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup. The full festival includes 14 events highlighted by the ₽57,750 ($787) buy-in WPT Opener starting on Feb. 19.
The series features various tournament options including Progressive Knockout and Pot Limit Omaha. There is also a ladies event on Feb. 20 and the WPT High Roller on Feb. 22.
Players can expect numerous safety measures while playing at Casino Sochi. Protocols in place at the property include:
mandatory masks
temperature checks for all players at the casino entrance
chips and tables sanitized during breaks
eight-handed play for the entire series
a dedicated cleaning team on staff
Players can qualify for the WPT Main Event via live satellite on Feb. 22 and 23. Players who make the final table can look forward to being featured on a WPT live stream.
The winner not only joins the Champions Club, but also earns a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions, presented by Baccarat Crystal.
WPT Europe Vice President Hermance Blum said: “We’re pleased to be partnering with partypoker LIVE once again for this event and Casino Sochi who is doing their utmost to keep the playing experience as agreeable as possible while looking carefully after everyone’s safety.”
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The month of January brings even more World Poker Tour action to partypoker. The WPT Montral kicks off Jan. 17 and runs through Feb. 1 with numerous six- and seven-figure guarantees.
The newly-released schedule includes a $3,200 Main Event with $2 million guaranteed to kick off the series. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the series has moved online with plenty of action awaiting online poker players around the world.
“The WPT Montreal Online schedule features events for players of all bankrolls,” WPT Europe Vice President Hermance Blum said in a news release. “Another WPT Champion will be made on partypoker and we are thrilled to, once again, honor the memory of Mike Sexton by bringing the event where he won his WPT title online.”
A complete WPT Montreal Main Event experience
As has been the case with other online WPT partypoker events, players can expect a full tour experience. At least the best that can be expected in an online poker environment.
Some big rewards are in store for the champion. Along with a huge cash prize, the champion earns:
a $15,000 seat to the next WPT Tournament of Champions (presented by Baccarat Crystal)
a $2,500 Tournament of Champions travel package
name engraved on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup
a replica of the Sexton Cup
points in the Hublot Player of the Year race
To replicate the live poker experience, the Main Event champion will also walk away with a WPT Montreal championship belt. This has become the signature trophy presented by Playground Poker Club, the host venue for the annual live series.
The final table is also expected to be live streamed for poker fans as have previous WPT partypoker events. The first flight of the Main Event begins the series on Jan. 17. A $320 mega satellite scheduled for the same day, awarding at least 50 seats.
The second Main Event flight is set for Jan. 24. That will be followed by two further days of action on Jan. 25 and 26. The final table will then play out on Jan. 27.
There will also be mini and micro versions of the Main Event. The $320 Mini comes with a $200,000 guarantee and the $33 Micro guarantees $30,000.
Some additional WPT Montreal highlights
With 24 events, the WPT Montreal offers something for all player types. A one-day No Limit Hold’em event will be held every night of the series.
The schedule also includes eight high roller events, including the $25,500 Super High Roller with a $1 million guarantee. As in the Main Event, players will also find mini versions of several events. Here’s a look at a few other highlights:
A special addition this year is the $10,300 Mike Sexton Classic, running the final two days of the festival. The tournament features $1 million guaranteed and each $300 registration fee is donated to the Nevada Partnership Homeless Youth (NPHY) charity.
Mike Sexton celebrates after winning the WPT Montreal in 2016.
The group aims to end youth homelessness in southern Nevada and was been chosen specifically by Sexton’s family. Sexton won the WPT Montreal in 2016 for $317,896.
A phased satellite program will feed into the tournament, starting on Jan. 24. Players can buy into phase events for as little as $0.01. This allows players of all bankrolls a chance to land a seat in the tournament. Here’ a look at the complete series:
2021 partypoker WPT Montreal
Date
Event
Tournament
Buy-in
Guarantee
Re-entries
Jan. 14
WPT Montreal Main Event Satellite - Online 1 Day Event
$30+3
1 RE
Jan. 17
Main Event 1A Mega Satellite: 50 x $3,200 Seats Gtd [Phase Final]
$300+20
1 RE
Jan. 17
#1
WPT Montreal Main Event - Online Day 1A : $2M GTD [3-Day Event + FT Wednesday]
Mike Sexton Classic - Online Day 1 : $1M GTD [2-Day Event]
$10,300
$1,000,000
1 RE
Jan. 31
#20
Playground Closer - Online Final Day : $250K GTD [PKO, 2-Day Event]
-
$250,000
-
Jan. 31
#24
High Roller Turbo - Online 1 Day Event : $150K GTD [1-Day Event]
$3,000+200
$150,000
1 RE
Feb. 1
#23
Mike Sexton Classic - Online Final Day : $1M GTD [2-Day Event]
-
$1,000,000
-
Big month for partypoker
Players will find no shortage of events at partypoker in January. The KO Series is already underway and plenty of action still remains.
That includes three main events on Jan. 16 with the $1,050 version featuring a $1 million guarantee.
The site also recently announced that the World Championship of Amateur Poker (WCOAP) is moving online at the site. That series hosted the Amateur Poker Association and Tour and set for Jan. 23 to Feb. 7 with $750,000 guaranteed.
Players around the world can participate and the festival includes 30 events with 16 championships. Buy-ins range from $55 to $530 with bracelets and medals awarded for championship winners.
There are also mini versions of each championship starting at just $5.50. It should be a fun January for players at partypoker.
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With major live tournament events still on hold, partypoker affirmed its continued partnership with the World Poker Tour on Monday. The two companies plan even more in 2021 with several online festivals already in the works.
Beyond that, the companies are teaming up for two live events as well. WPT Russia will run Feb. 19-28, with the partypoker LIVE event held at Casino Sochi. Online satellites are already underway.
The WPT and partypoker already partnered on live events before the Coronavirus pandemic. That now has expanded even further with co-branded online series.
“Despite ongoing uncertainly with regards to live events, we can promise players a schedule packed full of WPT festivals in 2021,” partypoker managing director Tom Waters said. “We are looking forward to working with the WPT team to produce schedules of the highest quality, both live and online.”
Plenty of online partypoker/WPT events to look forward to
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of numerous WPT events and more live events could be moving online. This means even more action for players in the international online poker market.
To begin the year, the WPT Montreal Onlinewill replace the normal live series and is set to begin Jan. 10. A $2 million guaranteed Main Event is planned with satellites already available starting at $0.01.
The WPT Online Series returns to the partypoker schedule in May and World Online Championships is also back in September.
Both series debuted in 2020 and found success. The Online Series paid out more than $52 million with the three flagship events all topping the guarantees.
The World Online Championships ran from July to September earlier this year and became partypoker’s biggest series ever. That festival paid out more than $100 million.
Partypoker worked to appeal to players of all bankrolls and awarded 45,000 seats via satellites. In the $10,300 Main Event, seven of nine players at the final table qualified via satellites.
Those aren’t the only WPT plans at partypoker. The WPT500Online joins the schedule in March and the WPTDeepStacksOnline debuts in July.
Like the other events, these festivals are designed to replicate the format of a live series. That includes condensing events into a shorter schedule.
Partypoker bringing back WPT live poker to Russia and beyond
It should be a big year for WPT fans online at partypoker, but a couple live events have also been announced. WPT Russia is just the first of two live events on the schedule, with WPTDeepStacksRussia also planned for July.
Players can qualify for the $3,300 WPT Russia Main Event with a buy-in for as little as ₽3 (Russian rubles, equivalent to $0.04). There are four phases of daily satellites each week, feeding into a weekly final.
Satellite buy-ins are restricted to a maximum of ₽3,300/$43, allowing smaller bankroll players the chance to win. Winners earn a ₽300,000/$3,925 ticket and travel package to play the Main Event.
“Casino Sochi is delighted to host the WPT Russia festival again after its success in 2020,” the property’s director of poker Artur Voskanyan said.
“The casino has been thriving in the last few months, setting multiple poker records in the process, and we are sure hosting this WPT event during the winter snow season will be a roaring success.”
Russia will introduce an electronic visa border process in 2021, Voskanyan added. This is expected to make it easier for international travelers to visit the country and play in these events.
“As was the case in 2020, extensive satellite programs will be in place for all our events and it’s great to see such high entry numbers for the online satellites that are currently running for WPT Russia at Casino Sochi and the online edition of WPT Montreal,” Waters added.
“There were so many life-changing stories in 2020, and we are hopeful that 2021 will deliver even more.”
Numerous partypoker series roll on
These announcements are just the latest for partypoker. Like other online operators, the site has offered numerous festivals as prize and players pools continue to soar.
The Caribbean Poker Party is already underway and runs through Nov. 25. That series features 10 championship events and $10 million guaranteed.
The Irish Poker Masters has also been moved online this year. The series kicks offDec. 6 and the €1,100 Main Event brings a €1 million guarantee The site also wraps up the €1 million Monster Series today.
Beyond online events, Partypoker LIVE and WPT plan to grow their live event offerings around the globe in 2021.
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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.
“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.
RIP Mike Sexton- those early seasons of the WPT all over Canadian TV during the hockey lockout were what made me want to pursue poker
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.
A competitor, a friend, a remarkable human being.
RIP Mike Sexton
This pic taken at the start of a 6 hour heads up deal in the TOC that Mike went on to win. He played so well that day I remember being truly shocked and impressed. pic.twitter.com/cKRaqwbWux
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.”
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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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.
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’sJosip 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.
"I’m excited at the opportunity to potentially win 1st prize in the leaderboard, as I have some exciting plans for what I will be doing with any of my winnings." You want @krissyb24poker to win the @WPT Player of The Championship leaderboard. Trust us. https://t.co/mzOvbienDCpic.twitter.com/Ni42gHYOu3
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
Date
Event
Buy-in
Fee
Guarantee
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
$300
None
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
$200
None
Sept. 6
#09 Mini World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$300
$20
None
Sept. 6
#09 Micro World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$30
$3
None
Sept. 6
#10 World Championship Super High Roller Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$25,000
$500
None
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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The $100 million WPT World Online Championships have reached the halfway point at partypoker. There’s been plenty of action and two players have already seen their names etched to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
The series becomes the first time a WPT champion has been awarded online. The series features 12 championship events with five of these champions getting their names engraved on the Sexton Cup.
Winners of those five championship main events also receive:
individual trophies
a $15,000 entry and travel package for the WPT Tournament of Champions
membership into the Champions Club
There remains plenty of action and here’s a complete look at the headlines so far.
Cochrane wins first online WPT Champions Cup title awarded online at partypoker
Gavin Cochrane made some poker history by winning the $3,200 WPT 8-Max Championship on Aug. 4. After reaching the final table of the first championship event (PLO Hi-Lo), he took the title for $540,664.
From St. Albans, United Kingdom, Cochrane beat Belgium’s Thomas Boivin heads-up to become a WPT champion. The event featured a $3 million guarantee, but topped that at almost $3.2 million with 1,062 entries.
Cochrane’s name will be engraved on the Sexton Cup and he’ll receive a replica version as well. He will also receive a Hublot Classic Fusion Titanium watch and a set of Baccarat Crystal tumblers.
The Champions Cup namesake offered plenty of praise for the new champion.
Cheers Mike! Love this WPT online series even before the win!! Hopefully a regular thing now?! https://t.co/GivIkjFFk8
“Becoming a Mike Sexton Champions Cup winner is a truly special achievement, and I congratulate Gavin Cochrane on his victory in a prestigious event,” Sexton said. “There is nothing quite like being a WPT champion, and there are still plenty of opportunities for players to join that list before the end of the series.”
A look at some other partypoker WOC winners
In the second event awarding Champions Club membership, AmericanNick Petrangelo came out on top for his first WPT title. The win in the $3,200 6-Max Championship included a $494,550 payday and Tournament of Champions entry package.
Petrangelo has had a few close calls before at WPT events. He finished runner-up in a WPT Alpha8 in 2015 for $1 million. He also finished second in a WPT High Roller at the LA Poker Classic in 2018 for $425,000.
$3,200 Omaha Championship ($1 million guaranteed) – Alex Manzano (Chile), $76,131
Plenty of side action remains on tap beyond championship events
There may be plenty of hardware and prestige on the line, but the WOCs offer nice side events as well. The WOC features 12 championship events divided into three categories; Micro, Mini, and Main.
Ireland’s Daniel McAulay won the Mini version of the 8-Max Championship for $118,433. Boris Angelov, of Canada, won the Micro version for $44,807.
Some other notable side event winners include:
Gabriele Lepore of Italy won the $1 million guaranteed WPT Opener for $172,000.
Russia’sArtur Martirosian took down the $1 million guaranteed WPT High Roller for $251,000.
Aleksejs Ponakovs of Latvia edged out Team partypoker’s Kristen Bicknell to win “The Big Game” for $219,750.
Bicknell rolls, takes top spot on leaderboard
Speaking of Kristen Bicknell, she’s been one of the hottest players in poker. She currently leads the Player of the Championships leaderboard.
Along with her runner-up in the Big Game, Bicknell won the $5,200 7-Max High Roller for $79,275.
Kristen Bicknell (photo courtesy WPT/Joe Giron)
The big scores haven’t come just at partypoker. In July, she earned her second World Series of Poker bracelet by winning the $2,500 NLHE 6-Handed event online at GGPoker for $356,412.
If she can keep the WPT success going and win the leaderboard title, Bicknell will add another $50,000 to her winnings. Here’s a complete look at the leaderboard ro far.
1st – Kristen Bicknell, 157.94
2nd – Lars Kamphues, 130.62
3rd – Nick Petrangelo, 128.77
4th – Gavin Cochrane, 127.87
5th – Sam Grafton, 122.66
Satellite success means big bucks
There has been plenty of satellite success so far for players in the WPT World Online Championships. Four players at the final table of the 8-Max Championship main event won their places via satellite.
Artsiom Prostak finished runner-up in the 6-Max Championship and qualified via a $320 satellite. That proved a nice option – leading to a score of $388,119.
In total, $1.5 million in seats were awarded for the 8-Max tournaments via satellites. Mega satellites continue running for all championship events. Thousands of dollars in tournament seats are still up for grabs as the series advances.
Looking at upcoming WPT partypoker events
Players looking to get in on the WPT action at partypoker still have plenty to check out. That ranges from Micro buy-in events to the Main category including three more Sexton Cup events.
Those looking for some real WPT glory have three more Sexton Cup events to check out. All these include a TOC package for the winner as well as Hublot watches and Baccarat Crystal.
$3,200 Knockout Championship, Aug. 15 – $3 million guarantee
$3,200 Mix-Max Championship, Aug. 22 – $3 million guarantee
$10,300 WPT World Championship Online Main Event, Sept. 5 – $10 million guarantee
A few upcoming side events should also attract plenty of interest. The $3,200 World Championship 6-Max begins on Aug. 15 and features a $3 million guarantee.
The $320 Mini version comes with a $1 million guarantee and $300,000 for the $33 Micro version.
The $3,200 Heads-Up World Championship is set for Sept. 2 and comes with a $500,000 guarantee.
There is also a $320 Mini version for $320 and a $100,00 guarantee. The $33 Micro version has a $20,000 guarantee.
Here’s a look at the complete schedule of events remaining.
2020 WPT partypoker World Online Championships
Date
Event
Buy-in
Fee
Guarantee
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
$300
None
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
$200
None
Sept. 6
#09 Mini World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$300
$20
None
Sept. 6
#09 Micro World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$30
$3
None
Sept. 6
#10 World Championship Super High Roller Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$25,000
$500
None
Sept. 7
#11 World Championship Super High Roller [2-Day Event]
After announcing the new partypoker WPT World Online Championships in mid-May, players were left wondering what would be on the schedule. That was answered in a big way on Friday.
Partypoker will be paying out its biggest prize pool ever before for one series – a guarantee of $100 million. Running from July 17 to Sept. 8, the series is designed to replicate an authentic live poker experience.
The series also revives the WPT World Championship, which was discontinued as a live event after 2015. Asher Conniff took down that event at the Borgata for $974,000. Partypoker officials are pleased to bring back the event online.
“I’m delighted that we have been able to partner with WPT to revive the WPT World Championships and bring the series online for the first time,” partypoker managing director Tom Waters said in a news release.
“We want to give the festival more of a live event feel, so the tournaments will be structured as such, including single re-entry for all NLHE events, freezeouts, limited late registration, and limited Day 1s. Due to popular demand, players will be able to see each other’s real names at the tables.”
Partypoker offers a chance at WPT championship glory
The series will include 12 championship events divided into three categories; Micro, Mini, and Main.
Winners of five of the championship events will join the World Poker Tour Champions Club and receive individual trophies. These players will also win a $15,000 entry and travel accommodations for the WPT Tournament of Champions, presented by Baccarat Crystal.
These five events will be made up of four $3,200 buy-in tournaments, each with $3 million guarantees. Four of those events include:
8-Max
6-Max
Mix-Max
Knockout
The highlight of the series will then be the $10,300 buy-in WPT World Championship Online. The main event runs Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 with a $10 million guarantee. Here’s a look at the complete championship event schedule.
2020 partypoker WPT World Championships Online
Date
Event
Buy-in
Fee
Guarantee
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
$300
None
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
$200
None
Sept. 6
#09 Mini World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$300
$20
None
Sept. 6
#09 Micro World Championship Mix-Max Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$30
$3
None
Sept. 6
#10 World Championship Super High Roller Day 1B [3-Day Event]
$25,000
$500
None
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
Something for every level of player
Beyond those championship events, WPT and partypoker promise a series appealing to all different bankrolls. Buy-ins range from $33 to $102,000.
That includes a range of satellites throughout the series including satellites for $4.40, $22, and $109. The $109 qualifiers are for the $1,050 buy-in Sunday Final wrapping up the series.
All major disciplines of poker will be included within the championship events: 8-Max NLHE, 6-Max NLHE, Mix-Max NLHE, Knockout NLHE, PLO, PLO8, and Heads Up. There will be at least one micro championship and mini championship event for each of these.
“After the tremendous success of the first-ever WPT Online Championship, the series is back again and trust me, it’s a series you don’t want to miss,” Team partypoker’s Mike Sexton said. “There will be buy-ins for all bankrolls and the series will be massive.”
Players can use their partypoker Live Passport to enter the World Championship and receive the $300 registration fee free.
Series becomes just the latest from partypoker, World Poker Tour
The World Online Championships offer yet another major series from the two companies. In May, the tour and partypoker teamed up for the WPT Online Championships and they continue to make news.
That event featured 94 events and smashed the $30 million guarantee. The series ultimately paid out $52 million. Sweden’s Christian Jeppsson won the $3,200 main event for $6.4 million. That handily beat the $5 million guarantee.
The World Online Championships comes just two days after announcing another big event for US-based players. The new WPT Online Poker Open is forplayers in New Jersey and runs June 21-28.
The series features 12 events plus a $400 championship on June 28 with $300,000 guaranteed. In New Jersey, the network includes BorgataPoker and BetMGM and players can participate on any of the three sites.
With live poker still on ice because of the Coronavirus pandemic, operators including partypoker, PokerStars, GGPoker, 888poker, and WSOP.com continue to ramp up events and promotions.
That’s led to record numbers of players and prize pools. The World Online Championships have a chance to be another massive event.
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