WPT World Championship’s Record Prize Pool Set for Las Vegas in December

Article ByDavid Weir

September 1, 2023

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Posted in: US Casino News, Nevada Gambling News, US Poker News

The World Poker Tour (WPT) is gearing up to make history when it returns to Wynn Las Vegas in December.

WPT World Championship is set to feature a staggering $40 million guaranteed prize pool, marking a significant leap from last year’s $15 million guarantee.

The WPT’s rival poker series The World Series of Poker, set the record for number of buy-ins with its $10,000 No-Limit Hold ‘Em World championship event earlier in 2023. That event saw a $93.4 million prize pool over the weekend.

With that resurgent showing, the WPT will be hoping some of that carries over to its event in December. CEO Adam Pliska spoke ambitiously in the press release for the event.

“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,” he said.

A Look Back and What’s Ahead

Last year, the WPT World Championship, with its $10,400 buy-in, surpassed its $15 million guarantee by accumulating a prize pool of $29 million. The event saw Canadian Eliot Hudon clinch the title, taking home a whopping $4.136 million, the largest prize in the WPT’s two-decade history.

This year, the championship is scheduled to run from December 12 to 21.

The ambitious $40 million guarantee means the event will need a record number of entrants, surpassing even the inaugural championship’s turnout. Given the success of the 2022 championship, this year’s edition is anticipated to attract an even larger crowd.

Beyond the Main Event

The WPT World Championship is not just about the main event.

The series, kicking off on November 29, boasts more than 30 events. That includes the opening $600 buy-in No-limit Hold’em event guaranteeing $1 million, and there’s a popular $1,000 buy-in ladies only championship with a $250,000 guarantee.

Another highlight is the $1 million buy-in WPT Big One for One Drop, scheduled from December 18 to 19. It will mark the first time this seven-figure charity event is hosted by the WPT and not WSOP.

“The astonishing support and excitement we’ve seen from the poker community after just one year is nothing like I’ve seen before,” said Ryan Beauregard, executive director of poker operations at Wynn Las Vegas.

Facing the Competition

The WPT World Championship will face stiff competition this year. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) recently announced its inaugural WSOP Paradise series in the Bahamas, running from December 3 to 15. This means many of the world’s top players might be shuttling between the Bahamas and Las Vegas – or end up being forced to choose between the two.

The European Poker Tour (EPT) Prague stop is also slated for December, adding another layer of competition.

November will also see the return of PokerStars’ North American Poker Tour at Resorts World Las Vegas in September.

All in all, the world of poker is in a good spot right now. With the record-breaking guarantee and the Big One charity event also attracting interest, WPT’s event will be highly anticipated.

The final table on December 21 will be livestreamed, potentially showcasing players vying for an eight-figure payday, a sum that could even surpass last year’s champion Eliot Hudon’s impressive win.