Amateur poker players have the chance to become a world champion thanks to Partypoker. Following the recent glut of elite-level online MTTs, Partypoker is hosting the World Championship of Amateur Poker (WCOAP).
WCOAP is a product of the Amateur Poker Association & Tour (APAT). The British company was founded in 2006 and now hosts amateur events across Europe and North America.
APAT will run its World Championship online for the first time this year. With ongoing lockdowns in the UK, WCOAP’s normal home, Dusk Till Dawn, is closed. Cue Partypoker.
Partypoker Deals a Helping Hand to WOCAP
As it did for all of 2020, Partypoker has stepped into the breach. WCOAP will take place online between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2.
The series will start with the International Team Championship. Non-playing captains will select APAT members to take part in the nation vs. nation contest.
From there, 16 WCOAP bracelet events will take place. The series will conclude with a $150, two-day main event. In addition to scooping the lion’s share of a $150,000 guaranteed prize pool, the main event winner will be declared the 2021 World Amateur Poker Champion.
Partypoker’s involvement means there are some added extras this year.
A “mini” version of the series will run in tandem with the main schedule. Additionally, the top overall performer will win a free seat in Partypoker’s $5,300 Millions Online main event.
Amateurs Can Play Like Pros
The tournaments are open to anyone, but APAT tailors its events to suit amateurs. Buy-ins are kept to a modest level, there are no re-entries allowed, and finish times are early enough that they don’t impact those with day jobs.
These dynamics have allowed APAT to become an international operator over the last 15 years. Moreover, they’ve made WCOAP a huge draw for aspiring pros and recreational players.
This year’s series may be a little different than what’s gone before, but it’s a setup that players are now familiar with.
COVID-19 restrictions remain in place across the UK and, due to a lack of clarity from the government, it’s unclear when things will return to normal. As such, APAT and Partypoker have committed to hosting more online events in 2021.
WCOAP will kick things off in style but, until normal service resumes, you can expect to see more amateur MTTs playing out online.
