Partypoker is taking the World Championship of Amateur Poker (WCOAP) back to Dusk Till Dawn after nine years as part of its new and improved live schedule.
After almost two years in lockdown, Partypoker’s tournament team has come out swinging in 2022. In addition to the return of Live Millions and the launch of the Partypoker Championship tour, live/online hybrid events have been added to the roster.
The WCOAP will join these events on the roster and make a return to the live scene in June. The last time the WCOAP ran in a live setting was in 2019 at Concord Card Casino in Austria. Partypoker took the reins in 2020 and 2021, hosting the series online due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Now, with live tournaments running without restrictions, Partypoker is taking the world’s largest amateur event back to Dusk Till Dawn for the first time since 2013. As always, the series, which will run from June 29 to July 3, will be held in conjunction with the Amateur Poker Association & Tour (APAT).
Live poker’s return spurs revitalized series
Partypoker and the APAT teamed up during the pandemic to keep the amateur association’s low-stakes events running online. Now, this partnership, in tandem with Partypoker’s renewed zest for live events, has resulted in a new incarnation of the WCOAP.
The UK’s largest live poker room, Dusk Till Dawn, will play host to 12 events over the course of five days, including the £150 ($180) WCOAP main event. Other highlights from this year’s World Championship of Amateur Poker are:
- June 29-30: £120 ($145) WCOAP International Team Championship
- June 29: £60 ($75) WCOAP Short Deck Championship
- July 2: £120 ($145) WCOAP Tag Championship
Partypoker and APAT bringing amateurs together
The aim of all APAT events is to provide a professional-level tournament experience for amateurs. Although the definition of what constitutes a professional poker is somewhat subjective, APAT defines an amateur as someone who doesn’t make a living from poker.
“The organization remains dedicated to the development of amateur players, providing an affordable, professionally run tour that enables members to enhance their poker skills in a fun, but competitive, environment,” reads APAT’s mission statement.
As such, WCOAP and events like it have low buy-ins. That makes them affordable for amateurs and, generally, keeps them off the radars of professional poker players. Additionally, every tournament at WCOAP 2022 will be a freezeout, which means well-bankrolled players can’t buy their way to a title.
Add to this a jovial atmosphere and a sense of camaraderie between members of the APAT community, and WCOAP 2022 should be another fun event for recreational players.
