It was nearly ten years ago at Bellagio when the inaugural WPT final table unfolded. Commentators Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten were on hand to call the action as an unknown and hyper-aggressive player named Gus Hansen went on to capture the very first WPT title. Next Tuesday, World Poker Tour returns to Bellagio for the event that started it all, the Five Diamond World Poker Classic.
Over the years the Five Diamond has become one of the world’s most prestigious poker events, attracting the game’s elite players and never failing to deliver top-notch action. Last year, the high quality of competition created an incredible tournament and produced arguably the strongest final table in WPT history. In the end, it was Antonio Esfandiari who was victorious, claiming his second WPT title on his 32nd birthday.
In the middle of the historic Season X, the first-ever WPT event now readies for its tenth edition. From December 6 – 11, the world’s top poker players will battle inside Bellagio in hopes of becoming a WPT Champion. Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten, poker’s most prominent commentary team, will announce the special Shuffle Up and Deal on Day 1 along with Kimberly Lansing, Tony Dunst and the Royal Flush Girls.
Registration into the $10,300 buy-in tournament will remain open through the opening eight blind levels, giving players the opportunity to enter on Day 2.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since Vince and I first teamed up to commentate the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic,” said WPT’s Hall of Fame commentator Mike Sexton. “Bellagio is such an extraordinary property and it’s an honor to be part of WPT and return for this fantastic event year after year.”
Numerous WPT Champions Club members have already confirmed their attendance including Season X Player of the Year frontrunner Will “The Thrill” Failla, two-time WPT Champions Freddy Deeb, Barry Greenstein, Hoyt Corkins and Jonathan Little, Season X WPT Champions Bobby Oboodi, Matt Waxman, Matt Giannetti, Anthony Ruberto and Christian Harder, and revered WPT Champions Dwyte Pilgrim, Nick Schulman, Erik Seidel and Tommy Vedes. The impressive list of expected entrants also features fan favorites Jason Mercier, Vanessa Selbst, Jeff Madsen, Phil Collins and Ben Lamb among many other highly-acclaimed professionals.
The WPT final table will be streamed live on Sunday, December 11. Beginning at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT on www.WorldPokerTour.com, WPT Live Streaming hosted by The Raw Deal’s Tony Dunst and a special guest commentator features hole cards, rich graphics and expert analysis from one of poker’s brightest young stars. WPT Live Updates will be covering the tournament from start to finish, making it easy for players on-site and fans at home to follow all the action as it unfolds.
The winner of the Five Diamond World Poker Classic will cement their poker legacy by having their name engraved alongside the game’s greats on the towering WPT Champions Cup. In addition, the winner will join the WPT Champions Club, receive the WPT Champions Trophy, the sterling silver Tiffany & Co.® WPT Champions Award, and entry into the $25,000 2012 WPT World Championship at Bellagio, Las Vegas.
Be sure to visit WPT Live Updates when the action gets underway for all the latest from the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic.