It took 22 seasons, but the World Poker Tour announced it will hold a series in China for the first time in June. The WPT brings its Main Tour brand to Wynn Macau in the casino’s namesake city with at least two tournaments June 18-24.
WPT is partnering with Allied Gaming & Entertainment and Wynn Macau to help pull off the inaugural event. Allied Gaming & Entertainment is, according to its website “a global experiential entertainment company focused on providing a growing world of gamers with unique experiences through renowned assets, products and services.”
WPT fans know of them through their HyperX Arena at the Luxor where the WPT tapes and broadcasts final tables of certain events. It’s where Bin Weng started his run to win the 2024 Global Poker Index Player of the Year award.
“Macau has long been a sought-after destination for us, wanting to deliver the WPT experience to the region,” said Adam Pliska, WPT CEO, in a press release. “Thank you to AGAE and Wynn Macau for helping us expand our global footprint. We look forward to an incredible event.”
The WPT Macau festival will run June 18-24 and is headlined by a HK$40,000 buy-in Championship event set for June 20-24. The WPT High Roller event with a buy-in of HK$200,000, which will run June 19-20. So far, those are the only two on the schedule.
Return to Montreal
And for the first time since 2019, the WPT reruns to Montreal for a 14-day poker festival at Playground, the home of some of the biggest bad-beat jackpots in poker history.
The WPT Montreal festival at Playground, featuring $3,500,000 CAD in guaranteed prize money, will run from May 9-22. Headlining the tournament schedule is the $3,500 CAD WPT Montreal Championship that has a prize pool guarantee of $2 million CAD. Day 1 of two starts May 16.
The $590 CAD WPT500, with a $500,000 CAD guarantee, runs May 9-13 and the WPT Prime $1,150 CAD and its $1 million CAD guarantee runs May 12-17, joins the aforementioned Championship.
“We’re buzzing with excitement as WPT Montreal returns to Playground. It’s more than just a tournament; it’s where history is made,” said Phil Sabbah, Playground CEO, in a press release. “Since our landmark inaugural event in 2012, Playground has been the backdrop for groundbreaking moments in poker, including crowning the first female champion in a WPT open event and witnessing the legendary Mike Sexton secure his first WPT Championship. Every time we come together, magic happens, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds this May.”
WPT CEO Adam Pliska added:
“It is a tremendous success to have a Playground festival back on the WPT schedule. We look forward to returning to Canada and have a lot in store with events spanning multiple World Poker Tour levels.”
Both the WPT Prime Montreal Championship and WPT Montreal Championship’s final tables will be live-streamed on May 21 and May 22 on the WPT’s YouTube and Twitch channels.
A Meet-Up Game hosted by WPT Ambassador Brad Owen will take place May 14.
Satellites to all these events will take place on WPT Global. For more information regarding this and all World Poker Tour events, visit WPT.com.
