The end of 2023 is fast approaching but, before the year is out, we’ve got some major poker tournaments to keep us entertained.
December hasn’t always been the best month for poker tournaments. However, with the WPT making waves with its World Championship in 2022 and the WSOP launching a new series, there’s plenty of action ahead of the festive season this year.
In fact, no matter where you are in the world, there are tournaments to suit all budgets, including ways to win some of poker’s most coveted titles.
WPT kicks off big month of poker tournaments
Kicking off an action-packed schedule is the WPT World Championship. Following a successful first run at the Wynn Las Vegas in 2022, the organizers have upped the ante. The festival gets underway on November 29 and, as among the dozens of poker tournaments on the docket, is a $40 million guaranteed main event.
WPT World Championship highlights
| Start Date | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
| December 6 | WPT Ladies Championship | $1,100 | $250,000 |
| December 7 | WPT Prime Championship | $1,100 | $5 million |
| December 12 | WPT World Championship | $10,400 | $40 million |
| December 18 | WPT Big One for One Drop | $1 million | TBD |
| December 20 | WPT Alpha 8 | $50,000 | TBD |
The main event’s guarantee alone makes the WPT World Championship 2023’s biggest year-end festival. Indeed, when you factor in the plethora of side events, including the $1,100 WPT Prime Championship, which has a $5 million guarantee, this is likely to be the series to watch in December.
WSOP Paradise to offer some festive sunshine
However, that doesn’t mean the WPT will be the only series spreading some festive cheer. The inaugural WSOP Paradise is the proverbial new kid on the block. Inspired by rival events, including the WPT World Championship and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, WSOP Paradise gets underway on December 3.
The 14-event series has a $51 million guarantee and players will be competing for WSOP bracelets within the tropical surroundings of Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Topping the bill is a $5,000 WSOP Paradise Main Event. The $15 million guaranteed tournament gets underway on December 9 and brings the series to a conclusion on December 14.
WSOP Paradise Schedule
| Start Date | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
| December 3 | Mystery Millions | $1,500 | $5,000,000 |
| December 4 | MILLIONAIRE MAKER in Paradise (Final 100 Players) | $1,500 | $5,000,000 |
| December 5 | GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship | $25,000 | $10,000,000 |
| December 5 | Mini Main Event | $1,000 | $1,000,000 |
| December 7 | Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller | $25,000 | $2,000,000 |
| December 7 | No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed | $3,000 | $1,000,000 |
| December 8 | Super High Roller | $50,000 | $2,000,000 |
| December 8 | Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha (Online) | $2,000 | $1,000,000 |
| December 9 | Ultra-High Roller | $100,000 | $5,000,000 |
| December 9 | Main Event No-Limit Hold’em Championship | $5,000 | $15,000,000 |
| December 12 | Flip & Go | $800 | — |
| December 13 | No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout (Online) | $1,000 | $1,000,000 |
| December 13 | Pot-Limit Omaha Championship | $10,000 | $1,000,000 |
| December 13 | The Closer Turbo Bounty | $2,000 | $1,000,000 |
| December 14 | No-Limit Hold’em High Roller 6-Handed | $10,000 | $1,000,000 |
Also on the schedule are super high rollers, bounty events, and a special winter edition of the Millionaire Maker. Players can enter the $1,500 event on GGPoker and the final 100 win a seat in the live finale where one will walk away with the bracelet and the lion’s share of at least $5 million.
EPT Prague: one for the Europeans
Anyone who doesn’t want to fly across to the US or Bahamas can opt for the snow-covered streets of Prague. The Czech capital has long been home to one of the biggest EPT festivals of the year and, in 2023, there’s going to be a heady mix of high, medium, and low stakes events.
EPT Prague highlights
| Start Date | Event | Buy-in |
| December 6 | Eureka Main Event | €1,100 |
| December 9 | Eureka Cup | €550 |
| December 10 | Eureka High Roller | €2,200 |
| December 10 | EPT Super High Roller | €50,000 |
| December 11 | EPT Main Event | €5,300 |
| December 13 | EPT Mystery Bounty | €3,000 |
| December 15 | EPT High Roller | €10,300 |
The action kicks off on December 6 with the €1,100 Eureka main event. From there, more Eureka poker tournaments provide the perfect prelude to a selection of European Poker Tour (EPT) favorites. The main event will almost certainly be one of the biggest EPTs of the year, while many of PokerStars’ finest will be doing their thing in the €50,000 super high roller on December 10 and 11.
Overall, there’s plenty to look forward to in December, regardless of whether you’re a player or a spectator. The biggest events at WSOP Paradise and the WPT World Championship will be shown on YouTube, while CardsChat will be at EPT Prague bringing you interesting stories from behind-the-scenes.
