For the first time in history, the WPT will head to the renowned Casino Sochi, amazingly located between the Black Sea and the Caucasus mountains.
The festival features seven events and nine satellites for a total of sixteen poker events ranging from $300 (19,800 rubles) satellites to the $9,000 (618,000 rubles) High Roller. The full schedule runs from January 13-27 at historic Casino Sochi.
The major attraction of the festival is the WPT Russia Main Event, offering a great structure starting with 30,000 in chips for 60-minute levels on Days 1, 2, and 3 followed by 90-minutes on Day 4 and 60 minutes levels at the final table.
The Casino Sochi facilities include 569 state-of-the-art slot terminals, 70 gaming tables, including 22 American Roulette tables, 38 tables for Blackjack, Russian Poker, Casino Texas Hold’em, Baccarat and a separate Poker Room with 10 tables for Club Texas Hold’em. The total capacity of the venue is up to 2,000 people.
Outside of the casino, there are great outdoor activities just minutes away from Sochi to enjoy for visitors from around the globe.
Things to do in Sochi:
1. Ride in the Caucasian Mountains
Right next to the casino, the ski resort Gorky Gorod is located in Krasnaya Polyana (Sochi) (Southern Russia, Krasnodar). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 30 km of slopes available. 11 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 960 and 2,300 m.
Gorki Gorod ski resort is adjacent to the two other premier Russian skiing destinations of Rosa Khutor and Gazprom Mountain Resort. The area is often referred to by the name of the closest major town, Krasnaya Polyana.
Gorky Gorod has great skiing for beginners and intermediates, plus tree skiing options and high alpine off-piste for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The ski lift system is the most modern in the valley, with all gondolas and chairlifts built after 2010. The high alpine ski areas (Cirque 2 & 3) are above 2000m elevation and have excellent snow quality.
The Russian Caucasus are blessed with bountiful snowfall due to the combination of topography, favorable weather systems and proximity to the Black Sea. Gorky Gorod reaps this benefit and provides a ski season that can extend well into May.
The first major bungee jumping site in Russia is found here. With a height that exceeds 200 meters, visitors are guaranteed a rush comparable to running deep in a World Poker Tour event. The bridge is also the longest suspension footbridge in the country with a span of 439 meters.
Along with the 207-meter bungee jump, those who visit can enjoy a jump of 69 meters, a 170-meter swing, the Megatroll zip line, the Mowgli rope park, and the Via Ferrata hiking trail tethered to the mountain.
Only 30 minutes from Casino Sochi, the Sky Park is perfect for a day off from play to get some non-poker thrills.
3. Olympic Park
Sochi is a few years removed from the Winter Olympics being hosted in the city and the Olympic Park remains open to visitors. The park is open seven days a week and free to enter. Among the top attractions at the Olympic Park include Adler Arena, The Iceberg (palace of winter sports), The Ice Cube, Ice Arena, Olympic Stadium, Sochi Park, and Grand Prix Formula 1 track.
Visitors can make the trip to the Olympic Park from Sochi using rail, road transport, and private car. Once there, enjoy the variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars while taking in the sights of the top athletic competition in the world.