The World Poker Tour is set to break new ground in Asia as they wrap up play for the WPT National China Final Table and kick off Day 1 for the WPT Korea event. The inaugural WPT Korea stop will begin on December 15, 2014 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel’s WPT Club Phoenix Poker Room located on the island province of Jeju in Korea.
Final Table of the WPT China Event
All of the final table players remaining in the WPT National China event will be flown to Jeju to resume play and determine a winner for the event. The winner of the final table will take home a little more than $254,000 in prize money, as well as the coveted title of WPT National China Main Event Champion. Those that make the final table and are flown to Jeju will also receive a free entry to the WPT Korea event, located in the same casino. The final table of the WPT National China event, in a first, will be live streamed by the World Poker Tour.
First WPT Korea Event
Beginning on December 15, the World Poker Tour will see the start of their first Main Event in Korea with a $2,700+$300 buy-in tournament that will feature two Day 1s with an allowable re-entry. The WPT, in a press release to media, says that they expect to draw a strong field of players from around the world. This marks not just the first time that the WPT will have an event in Korea, but also the first time they will hold a live final table in conjunction with Day 1A of the WPT Korea event.
World Poker Tour President Adam Pliska stated, “After the success of our recent event in China, we’re looking forward to attracting a strong field in Jeju as we expand the WPT brand further into Asia.” He also said, “With two final tables playing out in the same venue just days apart, we’re confident that the launch of WPT Korea will be just the beginning of more WPT events throughout the region in coming seasons.”
Super High Roller Charity Event
A day before the WPT Korea event starts, there will be a two-day $50,000 + $1,000 Super Elite Cup high-roller event. There will be a single re-entry allowed in this tournament, with $2,00 of each tournament buy-in donated to “Incorporated Association Baknyunhwai” which is a volunteer organization that is dedicated to providing living assistance and medication attention to the elderly. For those that do participate in the Super Elite Cup event, each will receive a “free” entry to the WPT Korea Main Event, along with complimentary hotel accommodations.
About Jeju
While Macau is well known in gambling and poker circles, many players would be hard pressed to point out Jeju on a map. The hotel is located near the ocean at “66 Top Dong Ro” in Jeju, South Korea, making it one of the more awesome addresses any casino has in the entire world. The resort is owned by Ramanda and was established on July 1, 2003 with a 100% investment by the Korea Teachers Credit Union. The WPT Club Phoenix is the poker room at the Ramada Plaza Jeju resort, which is internationally renowned as a “resort-style business hotel” that caters to both high-end business clients and tourists.
Other Events at WPT Korea
The Main Event is not the only big tournament taking place in Jeju for the World Poker Tour. There are a total of twelve official events happening, starting with the $110 NLHE Re-buy/Add-on event on Friday, December 13. There is an invitation-only $3,300 “Battle of the Club” tournament (not an official event) taking place on Saturday, December 14. Aside from the Main Event, there is a High Roller $5,250 event taking place on Monday, December 16 as well as the aforementioned $51,000 Super Elite Cup high-roller event.
