WPT Continues International Expansion with WPT Montreal in Canada; Makes First Trip to Southern Hemisphere for WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic in South Africa
Expanding on its mission to introduce world-class tournament poker to new players and markets around the globe, World Poker Tour is pleased to announce the addition of WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic and WPT Montreal to its Season XI schedule.
Held in partnership with the beautiful Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention Entertainment Resort in Johannesburg, South Africa, WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic marks World Poker Tour’s first-ever trip to the Southern Hemisphere and represents a major milestone in the continued growth of high-stakes tournament poker in all corners of the world. Running from October 22 – 26 and featuring a buy-in of USD $3,300 + $300 with re-entry, WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic will provide players with the full WPT experience by offering a world-class poker tournament coupled with the unique opportunity to meet and interact with WPT cast members at exclusive dinners, parties, and non-poker related activities.
From November 23 – 26, World Poker Tour returns to Canada for the first time since 2008 with the WPT Montreal event at the popular Playground Poker Club in Quebec. With its CAD $3,000 + $300 buy-in and opportunity for re-entry, this new WPT Main Event – sponsored by PartyPoker.net – is expected to draw some of the biggest names in the game, including Playground Poker representatives Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak, and Erik Cajelais.
“We are thrilled to be adding two exciting new events to our Season XI schedule,” said WPT CEO Steve Heller. “As our first event in the Southern Hemisphere, WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic is a ground-breaking step into uncharted territory for World Poker Tour, while WPT Montreal marks a long-awaited return to one of the great poker centers in the world.”
With the addition of these new events, WPT will now make 13 stops on three continents in the first half of Season XI, which runs from August, 2012 through December, 2012.
2012 WPT Season XI Schedule
| Tournament Name | Host Casino / Location | Date | Buy In + Entry Fee = Total |
| WPT Merit Cyprus Classic (NTV) | Merit-Grand Casino, Cyprus | Aug 4 – 9, 2012 | $4,000 + $400 = $4,400* |
| WPT Parx Open Poker Classic (TV) | Parx Casino, Bensalem, Pennsylvania | Aug 10 – 15, 2012 | $3,300 + $ 200 = $3,500* |
| Legends of Poker (TV) | The Bicycle Casino, Bell Gardens, California | Aug 24 – 29, 2012 | $3,500 + $200 = $3,700* |
| WPT Grand Prix de Paris (TV) | Aviation Club de France, Paris | Sep 10 – 15, 2012 | €7,500* |
| WPT Malta (NTV) | Casino at Portomaso, Malta | Sep 16 – 20, 2012 | €3,000 + €300 = €3,300* |
| Borgata Poker Open (TV) | Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
Sep 16 – 21, 2012 | $3,300 + $200 = $3,500* |
| Emperors Palace Poker Classic (NTV) | Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention Entertainment Resort, Johannesburg | Oct 22 – 26, 2012 | $3,300 + $300 = $3,600* |
| Jacksonville bestbet Fall Series (NTV) | bestbet Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida | Nov 9 – 13, 2012 | $3,500* |
| WPT Copenhagen (NTV) | Casino Copenhagen, Denmark | Nov 12 – 17, 2012 | 24,000 DKK + 2,250 DKK = 26,250 DKK* (estimate conversion of €3,500) (Cap of 400 players) |
| WPT Montreal (NTV) | Playground Poker Club, Quebec, Canada | Nov 23 – 26, 2012 | C$3,000 + C$300 = C$3,300* |
| WPT Mazagan (NTV) | Mazagan Casino, Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, Morocco | Nov 26 – Dec 1, 2012 | €3,200 + €300 = €3,500* |
| WPT Prague (NTV) | Corinthia Hotel Prague, Czech Republic |
Dec 3 – 9, 2012 | €3,300* (with 10% withheld) |
| Five Diamond World Poker Classic (TV) | Bellagio Casino, Las Vegas Nevada | Dec 3 – 8, 2012 | $10,000 + $300 = $10,300 |
2012 WPT Regional and National Schedule
| Tournament Name | Host Casino / Location | Date | Buy In + Entry Fee = Total |
| WPT Regional Florida: The STAX Summer Slam (NTV) |
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, Coconut Creek, Florida | Jun 7 – 10, 2012 | $400 + $40 = $440* |
| WPT Regional Florida: Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Bay Open (NTV) |
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa, Florida |
Jun 8 – 11, 2012 | $2,000 + $250 = $2,250* |
| WPT National Series: Madrid (NTV) | Casino Gran Madrid, Spain | Jun 28 – Jul 2, 2012 | €1,500 + €150 = €1,650* |
| WPT National Mazagan (NTV) | Mazagan Casino, Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, Morocco | Jul 12 – 15, 2012 | €1,500 + €150 = €1,650* |
| WPT Regional Florida: WPT Derby Lane Rebound Series (NTV) |
Derby Lane St. Petersburg, Florida |
Jul 13 – 15, 2012 | $1,475 + $125= $1,600 |
| WPT National Series: Venice (NTV) | Casino di Venezia Ca’ Noghera Venice, Italy |
Jul 21 – 25, 2012 | €1,500 + €150 = €1,650* |
| WPT Regional Wisconsin: Mid-Summer Classic (NTV) |
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Jul 29, 2012 | $500 + $50= $550 |
| WPT Regional Florida Stax Poker Lounge Summer Heat Series (NTV) |
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, Coconut Creek, Florida | Aug 3 – 6, 2012 | $400 + $40 = $440 |
| WPT Regional Florida: Seminole Hard Rock Summer Splash (NTV) |
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida |
Aug 24 – 27, 2012 | $2,000 + $200 = $2,200* |
| WPT Regional Florida: Jacksonville bestbet Summer Series (NTV) |
bestbet Jacksonville Jacksonville, Florida |
Sep 7 – 10, 2012 | $1,500* |
| WPT Regional Nevada: Western Poker Challenge (NTV) |
Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Reno, Nevada |
Sep 22 – 24, 2012 | $1,500 + $150 = $1,650* |
| WPT Regional Colorado: Colorado Poker Showdown (NTV) |
Isle Casino Hotel Blackhawk, Colorado |
Oct 18 – 21, 2012 | $1,850 + $140 + $10 = $2,000* |
| WPT National Series: Barcelona (NTV) |
Casino Barcelona, Spain | Oct 25 – 29, 2012 | €1,500 + €150 = €1,650* |
| WPT Regional Florida Stax Poker Lounge Fall Poker Classic (NTV) |
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, Coconut Creek, Florida | Nov 2- 5, 2012 | $500 + $50 = $550 |
| WPT Regional Florida: Seminole Hard Rock ‘N Roll Poker Open (NTV) |
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida |
Nov 23 – 26, 2012 | $2,000 + $200 = $2,200* |
| WPT Regional Florida Seminole Hard Rock Winter Tampa Bay Open (NTV) |
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, Florida | Dec 7 – 10, 2012 | $2,000 + $250 = $2,250 |
*Re-entry event
Dates and buy-ins are subject to change. Please visit www.WorldPokerTour.com for full tournament details.