The guarantee would set a record for any live poker tournament
The World Poker Tour (WPT) recently reported that the guaranteed prize pool for the WPT World Championship will be nearly tripled for December’s season-ending event. In numbers, that means $40 million, a new record for live poker tournaments.
The $10,400 buy-in event smashed the $15 million guarantee and broke the record for the largest guarantee in poker history. There were 2,960 entries, generating a prize pool of over $29 million.
Last year’s huge turnout prompted the WPT to move to the Wynn and place a $40-million guarantee on the event, making it the largest ever for a live tournament. However, it will take a lot more than 4,000 entries to break that record of $94 million set at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event this summer.
WPT CEO Adam Pliska commented, “The WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas is poised to reach new heights, and we wanted to match that expectation with a guarantee that no live poker tournament has ever seen before. The journey to December begins now, and we plan on giving players another unforgettable experience at Wynn Las Vegas.”
“The astonishing support and excitement we’ve seen from the poker community after just one year is nothing like I’ve seen before,” said Wynn Las Vegas Executive Director of Poker Ryan Beauregard.
The Wynn Las Vegas will host the series from November 29 to December 4, featuring several seven-figure guaranteed events and high roller tournaments. The December 12 – 22 Main Event will have four starting flights.
The WSOP announced in July that it’s hosting WSOP Paradise from December 3-14 to compete with the Wynn event, with $50 million in guarantees. The dates make it possible to play in both, which will involve some travel time because of the distance between Las Vegas and The Bahamas.
Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.
