The WPT is heading back to the UK’s Dusk Till Dawn in May for the first time since 2019 before it hosts its first run of One Drop charity events in Las Vegas, including a $10 million guaranteed summer classic.
The 2023 WPT500 UK not only marks the tour’s return to Dusk Till Dawn, it’s the eighth European stop added to this season’s schedule.
Action in the £500,000 guaranteed event gets underway on May 26 and continues through until May 29. Players can buy in directly for £560 and there will be five starting flights, including two turbos, over the course of four days. For those who want in on the action but don’t quite have the bankroll, Dusk Till Dawn will be running live satellites costing £56 from May 20.
Positive omens for WPT500 UK
The WPT has been on a roll in recent months. The WPT World Championship in December surpassed all expectations and, this year, three Prime events have each attracted over 1,000 entries. With Dusk Till Dawn known for hosting large-scale events in Europe, WPT500 UK could be just as popular.
The tournament certainly has history and timing on its side. The WPT and Dusk Till Dawn first linked up in 2014. Interestingly, their first collaboration was also a WPT500 event. There was a £1 million guaranteed prizepool on that occasion, which meant the winner, Eleanor Gudger, took home £140,000 after topping a field of 2,133 entrants.
As well as past successes, the 2023 WPT500 UK is timed to take place over a public holiday. Simon Trumper, Live Poker Director at Dusk Till Dawn, believes this will give players who can’t normally enter live events due to work commitments the ability to ante up.
“We’re very excited to be hosting WPT500 UK. We expect it to resonate with our customers, and we hope the timing of the event over a UK bank holiday gives players an even better opportunity to take part,” Trumper said.
The WPT’s tournament team has been busy adding new events to the Season XXI schedule this year, which is why details of another series emerged this week. Without skipping a beat, the WPT has announced its first wave of charity events in conjunction with the One Drop Foundation.
$10 million WPT One Drop summer classic
The special events will raise money for One Drop and provide players with unique opportunities to play for large prizepools. The first WPT One Drop charity tournaments will take place during the Wynn Summer Classic.
The WPT EveryOne for One Drop at Wynn Las Vegas gets underway on July 9. The $10,500 tournament will have three starting flights and conclude on July 14 when one player will become champion and bank the lion’s share of a $10 million guaranteed prizepool.
That event will be followed by the return of Alpha 8. The WPT’s high roller concept launched in 2013 but only ran for two years. Now, with the tour breaking records and high rollers commonplace, Alpha 8 is back for the first time since 2015.
The 2023 WPT Alpha 8 for One Drop at Wynn Las Vegas will take place on July 14. The buy-in is $111,000, and fans can watch the event play out live from July 15 until the final table concludes on July 16.
