By Lisa Yiasemides
The WPT World Online Championships has officially begun and last night it was the turn of industry professionals to take to the virtual felt in the WPT Poker Industry Invitational event. A total of 100 players battled it out – many of whom are colleagues and friends, creating a unique atmosphere that was both friendly yet fiercely competitive.
The event featured a $320 buy-in and players started with 100,000 chips. Over the course of a little over seven hours, they were whittled down until just one remained and it was Brazilian Ytarõ Segabinazzi who takes the first victory in this historical series. The Chief Editor at Mundo Poker Brazil secured himself first place and a prize of $7,212.80 after defeating Brit Karim Wilkins ($5,152) following an hour-long heads-up clash.
Anthony Charter ($3,680) and Daniel Beaudry ($2,576) represented Canada and took third and fourth places respectively, and Kamal Khalfane ($1,913.60), Marcelo Augusto Souza ($1,472), Tom Wiesner ($1,177.60) and Hans Kleinsman ($956.80) all made the final table too.
The tournament had a noble goal at its heart and that was to raise funds for 1 Day Sooner, an organisation focused on developing a Covid vaccine, a cause that resonates deeply among people all over the world right now. It is with pleasure that WPT can confirm $2,560 has been donated so far for this important work.
Today’s schedule
With that first event under our belts, it is time to turn our focus to this evening’s schedule, and what a line up we have in store for you. The first of 12 Championship Events will get underway with Day 1a of the $3,200 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo kicking off at 6pm*. There is a huge $500,000 guarantee attached to the three-day event but if the buy-in feels a little steep, there is also a $320 Mini event ($150,000 GTD) and $33 Micro event ($50,000 GTD) running alongside it.
The poker action doesn’t stop there with three Opener competitions to choose from – a $1,050 Main, $109 Mini ($500,000 GTD) and $11 Micro ($100,000 GTD) events all starting at 7pm. The Main offers a whopping $1,000,000 guarantee and all three are No-Limit Holdem two-day events that will continue with Day 1b tomorrow and the final day on Monday, 20 July.
There are also two Mega Sats running at 5pm this evening. One guarantees 50 X $1,050 tickets to the Opener Main, the other guarantees 100 X $109 tickets to the Opener Mini, and registration is already open for both!
Though WPT and partypoker strive to offer variety, this is undoubtedly a PLO8 week and the final three comps on the schedule for tonight are all PLO8 Hyper, featuring fast and furious four-minute blinds. The $530 ($25,000 GTD), $55 ($10,000 GTD) and $5.5 ($2,500 GTD) events are all one-day events and are perfect for those short on time.
Don’t forget to check back in tomorrow when we take a look at the winners and chip leaders that emerge tonight as the festival really starts to heat up!
*All times stated are BST