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Los Angeles, CA (July 2, 2018) – World Poker Tour® is pleased to announce enhancements across its global offering of industry-leading poker events, including added prizes for WPT® Player of the Year and improved structures that feature a big blind ante format.
Hublot, official timekeeper and official watch of the WPT, will once again present the Hublot WPT Player of the Year award for Season XVII of the WPT Main Tour. In addition to a custom Hublot timepiece and complimentary accommodations at all WPT Main Tour events in Season XVIII, the Season XVII Hublot WPT Player of the Year will receive $15,000 in WPT tournament buy-in credits. Prizes have been added for the second- and third-place finishers in the race, as well. The runner-up receives $7,500 in WPT tournament buy-in credits and third place receives $2,500 in WPT tournament buy-in credits.
The Hublot WPT Player of the Year award isn’t the only award receiving an upgrade. Similar prize structures will take shape across other tours under the WPT umbrella, including WPTDeepStacks™ in both North America and Europe, WPT events in the Asia-Pacific region, and WPT and Deltin Poker Tour events in India. All WPT Player of the Year competitions will award prizing to not only the winner, but the top three finishers on the leaderboard.
WPT tournament buy-in credits can be used in any global WPT event, including WPT Main Tour, WPTDeepStacks, WPT500™, and WPT Special Events. For more information on each of the WPT and WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year awards, visit WPT.com.
“The WPT is coming off a truly historic season that saw record-breaking numbers, new regions for our global live events, and the awarding of our one-billionth prize dollar,” Angelica Hael, VP of Global Tour Management, said. “With enhanced WPT and WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year competitions to award more prizes to more players, a spectacular new WPT televised final table home at Esports Arena Las Vegas, and more, we look forward to the World Poker Tour’s best season yet.”
In addition to the enhancements made to WPT and WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year awards, both tours have received upgrades to their tournament structures. The WPT Main Tour will adopt a big blind ante format across all events, and the starting chip stack has been increased to 40,000 to best accommodate the new structure. All WPT Main Tour events will feature a 1-in-8 payout structure, paying approximately the top 12.5 percent of the field. WPTDeepStacks events will soon follow suit and implement the big blind ante format as well, with an increase to 30,000 chips for the starting stack.
The Action Clock, provided by Protection Poker, returns for Season XVII of the WPT Main Tour. The Action Clock will again be implemented once the tournament field reaches one table outside of the money.
Matt Savage, WPT Executive Tour Director, added: “The World Poker Tour prides itself on its ability to evolve, and we strive to put forth the best product for our players. We are confident that we have created the most player-friendly events in the world which have only been made better with more prizes in the WPT and WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year competitions and upgraded tournament structures that feature big blind ante and a 1-in-8 payout.”
WPT Media Contact
Donnie Peters – [email protected]
About World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour (WPT) is the premier name in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in more than 150 countries and territories, and is currently producing its 16th season, which airs on FOX Sports Regional Networks in the United States. Season XVI of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com. ClubWPT.com is a unique online membership site that offers inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club available in 35 states across the United States. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities. WPT Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of Ourgame International Holdings, Ltd. For more information, go to WPT.com.
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