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"...for a buy-in, a complete unknown can sit down and face off against poker's stone-faced superstars."
-- N. Nichols, Los Angeles New Times
PLAY TO WIN!
In the competitive world of high stakes poker, the "final table" is comparable to the final episode of "Survivor". But, unlike professional sports or reality shows, anyone can enter a poker tournament.
WINNERS RECEIVE ENTRY TO WPT CHAMPIONSHIP
In addition to the millions of dollars in tournament prize pools, the winners of WPT events also receive a $25,000 buy-in to the WPT Championship at Bellagio, Las Vegas. Anyone who pays the $25,000 buy-in can enter this tournament where the WPT Champion will be crowned. Contact the Poker Office at Bellagio for information and registration: (702) 693-7290.
HOW TO ENTER
Come play in some of the most prestigious poker tournaments in the world.
- Check out the WPT Tournament Schedule and choose the tournaments in which you want to play.
- Contact the participating casinos to confirm the dates of the tournaments and to obtain information on the buy-in fee and registration deadlines.
- Register with and provide payment to the host casino to reserve a seat in the tournament.
- Play in the tournament and make your way to the Final Table for a chance to win a share of the prize pool and be a part of the WPT TV show on Travel Channel.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN PLAYING IN A TOURNAMENT
Each tournament requires a player to "buy-in" by paying a fee, usually $5,000 to $10,000 per tournament or by winning a "satellite" tournament where the entry fees are lower.
The size of the prize pool depends on the number of entrants and is shared among the top finishers. Usually 35-40% of the prize pool goes to the winner and smaller amounts go to the top 20 or 30 players. For example, if 150 players buy-in at $10,000 each, the prize pool will be $1,500,000. The first place finisher would take home over $500,000 and the top 20 finishers would share in the remaining million dollars!
Once players register, table and seat numbers are drawn at random and assigned to each player. All players start with an equal amount of chips and play until the winner ends up with all of the chips. Play proceeds in timed rounds. At the end of each round, the "blinds", or forced bets, increase and make the action move faster.
As players go out, tables are consolidated until the final six players remain. The action then moves from the tournament room into the WPT Arena where the Final Table action continues in front of a live audience and television cameras.
Online poker tournaments differ in their structure since the preliminary rounds are played over the Internet, but ultimately the finalists face off in person at the WPT Final Table to determine the winner.
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