WPT Expands Main Tour Horizons with Cambodia Championship
Theres a certain amount of pride that comes with seeing best-laid plans come to fruition. An investment in time, energy, and attention that produces results youd been hoping for all along. To some extent thats exactly what is taking place when the World Poker Tour kicks off Season XXII at NagaWorld Integrated Resorts in Cambodia.
Its been roughly five years sinc WPT first planted roots in Cambodia and after a series of successful mid-major events, and a global pandemic, the tours vision of holding a fully-fledged Main Tour stop in Southeast Asia is finally here with the $3,500 buy-in Cambodia Championship that starts on January 25 and will end with an induction of a player into the WPT Champions Club.
Its a different look for the World Poker Tour, which outside of their annual stops in Australia, hasnt held a Main Tour stop outside of North America since 2017. Of course, WPT is more than active in markets all around the world, including its prolific, ongoing mid-major WPT Prime tour. But the opportunity to have your name etched on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup is finally coming to players in and around Cambodia, an opportunity that both WPT and its partners are excited about.
It does feel special to be hosting the first-ever Main Tour poker festival in Southeast Asia, said WPT Live Events Specialist Danny McDonagh. Actually, after our very successful first Cambodian WPT festival under the WPTDeepStacks banner in November 2019, we already had plans for NagaWorld to be a Main Tour stop for the WPT, but unfortunately, COVID put that idea to bed for a very long time.
The 2019 $1,100 WPTDeepStacks drew 750 runners, an early indication that players in the region were eager for more large-field tournaments. Unexpectedly, COVID put a halt to a fast-paced Cambodian Main Tour timeline (as it did for so many other plans in poker), but in the meantime, the relationship between WPT and NagaWorld continued to blossom. Despite travel still being an issue in Asia when WPT returned to NagaWorld in 2022, the newly rebranded WPT Prime broke records for the largest live poker event in the country with 1,050 entries. The very next year, WPT Prime Cambodia nearly matched that same number with more than 1,000 runners. It was back-to-back years of sustained interest that put a Main Tour stop back in play.
What makes these numbers impressive is the fact that in Cambodia, locals cant participate. This showcases NagaWorld, an expansive resort, as a hub of Southeast Asia poker with players from bordering countries, expats, and tourists packing the poker tables.
Thats what makes the poker festival there fascinating as there is no dominant country represented, McDonagh said. In fact for our first WPTDeepStacks event back in 2019, Singapore represented the highest proportion of the field at just 13%. Fast forward to our 2022 and 2023 events, we saw excellent growth in player numbers from India, Korea, and Vietnam while countries such as Australia, France, USA, and UK are also on the rise. Not one country provided over 10% of uniques.
Of course, it didnt hurt that over the past two years WPT Ambassadors Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen made the trek from Las Vegas to Cambodia to meet, greet, and compete with the players. Both exercising the worldwide impact of their poker vlogs to add a personal touch to the 2022 and 2023 WPT Prime Cambodia events.
We were extremely fortunate to have Andrew Neeme attend WPT Prime Cambodia in 2022, and in 2023 it got even better with both Andrew and Brad making the trip to Phnom Penh, McDonagh said. Personally for those guys, I am sure it was a great experience to see firsthand the global reach they have plus the amazing times they experienced.
There was no plan executed to have Neeme and Owen come to Cambodia with the intention of the event becoming Main Tour, but it sure does help when we market WPT Cambodia now that so many players outside the Asia region are already aware of this WPT destination via these two guys.
According to McDonagh, this will be the biggest Championship Event buy-in since the days of tournament poker in Macau last seen in 2018 with a $1 million guarantee that will need just over 300 runners in order to cover. Another investment made in the growth of both the event and the brand in the region.
So this is it, the WPT Cambodia Championship, an event five years in the making is here.
FAQ
What are the different types of WPT?
What are the different types of WPT? Table 1 WPT Technology Frequency Capacitive CPT Laser LPT Radio frequency RFPT Acoustic APT
How does account verification work?
How does account verification work? WPT Global reserves the right to request documents to verify the identity of players and prevent problem or fraudulent activity. The types of documents required are: proof of identity (ID card, passport, driver’s license), proof of address (utility bills or bank statements not more than three months old) and proof of deposit (cards or e-wallet). When requested, players must provide full, clear, color photos or screenshots of verification documents.
Is Chinese poker the same as poker?
Is Chinese poker the same as poker? Chinese poker is a card game in the poker family that plays quite differently from traditional game variants that most poker players are familiar with (like Texas Hold’em). Each player gets 13 cards in a game of Chinese poker, and is tasked with making two five-card hands and a three-card hand.
How has technology influenced the game of roulette?
How has technology influenced the game of roulette, such as with electronic and automated versions of the game? One of the most significant technological advancements in the game of roulette has been the introduction of electronic roulette tables. These tables feature a digital display that simulates the spinning of the roulette wheel, and players can place their bets on a touchscreen interface. This allows for faster gameplay, as the wheel can be spun more frequently than with a traditional roulette table.
Who invented the game of roulette?
Who invented the game of roulette? The exact origins of roulette are a subject of much debate and speculation among historians and gambling enthusiasts. While there is no clear consensus on the game’s inventor, several theories exist regarding its creation. One of the most popular theories is that the game was invented by a French mathematician named Blaise Pascal in the 17th century. According to this theory, Pascal was attempting to develop a perpetual motion machine when he inadvertently created the roulette wheel.
Download and Play WPT Global App: Windows, macOS, Mobile (iPhone & Android)
This site only collects related articles. Viewing the original, please copy and open the following link:WPT Expands Main Tour Horizons with Cambodia Championship
