The two poker tournament series are in a heads-up battle for players this December
The poker world is gearing up for another high-stakes December showdown, with the World Poker Tour (WPT) and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) once again hosting major events in the same month. The WPT has confirmed that its 2025 World Championship festival will return to Wynn Las Vegas from December 2–22, running in direct competition with the WSOP Paradise series in The Bahamas for the third consecutive year.
The centerpiece of the WPT festival is the $10,400 World Championship Main Event, which features three starting flights beginning December 13. Last year, the event drew 2,392 entries and awarded over $23 million in prizes, with Scott Stewart taking home $2.56 million for the win. While this year’s prize pool guarantee hasn’t been announced, the WPT is clearly aiming to match or exceed last year’s impressive numbers.
WPT CEO Adam Pliska described the event as “a true celebration of poker,” emphasizing Wynn Las Vegas as a world-class venue that draws a global field of players. The festival will also feature the $1,100 WPT Prime Championship beginning December 7, and while details on the WPT Ladies Championship remain under wraps, more announcements are expected in the coming months.
Meanwhile, WSOP Paradise is looking to lure players to warmer weather with 15 bracelet events at the Atlantis Resort. The Bahamas-based series offers players not only the chance to compete for major prizes but also the appeal of a tropical poker vacation. With WSOP Paradise offering a distinct experience, players may face tough decisions about where to compete this winter.
Both tours are sticking with their strategic December timing, setting up another direct rivalry in what’s becoming a December tradition. The success of the WPT’s Las Vegas event could play a major role in defining its standing against its longtime competitor.
