World Poker Tour Holds Championship Event This Year With Big ChangesEvent Held Outside Of Las Vegas And Features A Cheaper Buy-In |
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For the first time since it’s inception in 2002, the World Poker Tour’s season-ending championship event is not being played at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The event, which kicked off Day 1A on Monday, is now held at the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The move fits in with the WPT’s parent company’s online gaming business in the Garden State. PartyPoker, which is an offshoot of Gibraltar-based bwin.party digital entertainment, partnered with the Borgata for Internet betting, which launched in November.
The Borgata also has the state’s most visited online poker site, according to PokerScout.
New Jersey is one of three states with legalized web gambling—Nevada and Delaware are the other two. The New Jersey market dwarfs the revenue of Nevada and Delaware combined.
Action began at 11 a.m. local time and will run through April 26. Players eliminated on Day 1A can re-enter on Day 1B, which starts on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
The event was once a $25,000 buy-in. It is now $15,000. A prize pool of $5 million has been guaranteed, of which at least $1.35 million will go to the eventual champion.
Just 146 played in the event last year. It was the fewest since Season 1 in 2003.
David “Chino” Rheem won the event last year for $1.15 million, a far cry from the event’s record top prize of $3.97 million, which was awarded to Carlos Mortensen in 2007.
According to Matt Savage, Executive Tour Director of the World Poker Tour, as of Monday morning there were seven online qualifiers and 27 live satellite seats awarded. Three more satellites were still on the schedule.
Both players will be outnumbered by big name pros, as most of the game’s best turn out for the WPT championship year after year. Twitter was buzzing on Monday as the event neared kickoff.
On plane to Atlantic City for @WPT Championship Tourn. Long flt but I've been dreaming about winning this one #TooImportantToMiss #BigOne
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) April 19, 2014
Excited to play my 1st WPT Championship in a few days. #LivingTheDream
— Loni Harwood (@Luscious_Lon) April 18, 2014
On way to play $15k #WPT Championship at its new home @BorgataAC. Final tabled this event the last 2 times I played (2009, 2011). #poker
— Shannon Shorr (@ShannonShorr) April 21, 2014
In Atlantic City for @wpt Championship should be a fun couple of days . #doingwhatILove #fb
— Noah j Schwartz (@noahjschwartz) April 21, 2014
About to play the biggest buy in event of my career…@wpt championship today. Really pumped! #blessed pic.twitter.com/WCTlkypP3F
— Ryan Eriquezzo (@RyanEriquezzo) April 21, 2014
Tried to fly from Mexico to AC via Houston but just woke up in Chicago… Let's try this again! :) @WPT Championship starts in 3h!!!
— Marvin Rettenmaier (@MadMarvin) April 21, 2014
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