Poker
World Series of Poker Paradise Brings Buzz, Huge Prize Pools and Big Stars to the Bahamas
First WSOP Paradise eclipses $70 million in total prize pool
Main Event Champion to win biggest $5k tournament of 2023
Historic bracelets, strong fields and memorable appearances by poker’s biggest names and sports legends highlight the first winter series for the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Starting on December 3 at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, WSOP Paradise hosted some of the biggest poker tournaments of 2023 at various buy-in levels and surpassed its promised $50 million guarantee to achieve a total prize pool of more than $70 million.
“From hall of famers winning bracelets to celebrity sightings and a classic Phil Hellmuth entrance to the Main Event, WSOP Paradise exceeded even our own lofty expectations and became the final highlight of an incredible year,” the Senior Vice-President and Executive Director for the WSOP, Ty Stewart, said. “We thank every player who made the trip to the Bahamas to be part of the action and launch our newest tradition, Winter in Paradise.”
Event #1, Mystery Millions, kicked off the poker in paradise action by breaking the record for the largest poker event ever hosted in the Bahamas and things only heated up from there. The winter series saw exceptional turnouts for its high roller events, with many of the tournaments becoming the strongest of the year at their buy-in level. This included Event #3: GGMillion$ High Roller Championship, which was larger than its $25k counterpart at the WSOP in Las Vegas this summer.
All high-roller event entrants and prize pools can be seen below:
Event #3: GGMillion$ High Roller Championship ($25k buy-in)
- 533 entrants
- $13,325,000 prize pool
Event #7: Super High Roller No-Limit Hold’em ($50k buy-in)
- 137 entrants
- $6,850,000 prize pool
Event #9: Ultra High Roller No-Limit Hold’em ($100k buy-in)
- 111 entrants
- $11,100,000 prize pool
The inaugural WSOP Paradise No-Limit Hold’em World Championship, better known as the ‘Main Event’, has solidified itself as the largest $5k buy-in poker tournament of 2023, with 3,010 entrants battling for the top prize. The first WSOP Paradise Main Event champion will soon take home a $2 million first-place prize in addition to the highly-coveted Main Event bracelet hand-crafted by Jostens from yellow gold, weighing nearly 95 grams and 494 genuine blue topaz round stones.
The full payout breakdown for the WSOP Paradise Main Event Final Table is as follows:
- 1st: $2,000,000
- 2nd: $1,200,000
- 3rd: $900,000
- 4th: $685,000
- 5th: $510,000
- 6th: $400,000
- 7th: $300,000
- 8th: $250,000
- 9th: $200,000
Although this is just the first edition of WSOP Paradise, players and fans at Atlantis witnessed a familiar scene for a WSOP Main Event on December 9 as Phil Hellmuth made his grand entrance into the Atlantis Ballroom dressed as Poseidon, joined by choreographed dancers, mermaids and a marching band. Other highlights from the series action include Hall of Famer Erik Seidel taking home his tenth career WSOP bracelet after winning Event #7: Super High-Roller No-Limit Hold’em and Japan’s Masashi Oya breaking through to claim his first-ever WSOP bracelet to go along with a massive $2.9 million first-place prize in Event #9: Ultra High-Roller No-Limit Hold’em.
Familiar faces from the sports world also attended WSOP Paradise including 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Tony Parker, two-time WNBA Champion and Las Vegas Aces’ Head Coach Becky Hammon, Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero, FS1’s Nick Wright and more. Parker finished in the money for the first time in a live poker tournament in Event #4: Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold’em and Aguero competed at the feature table for the Main Event with a seat next to Daniel Negreanu.
The excitement surrounding WSOP Paradise builds on a banner year for the WSOP after the series shattered its all-time attendance record for its Main Event in Las Vegas this summer, 17 years after Jamie Gold defeated a crowd of 8,773 entrants in 2006 to take home the prestigious WSOP Main Event bracelet.
Livestreamed coverage for the Main Event continues on GGPoker’s YouTube channel and three post-produced television episodes will air on CBS Sports Network with commentary from legendary poker analysts Lon McEachern and Norman Chad.
Players should follow @WSOP on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram or check WSOP .com for event news and updates.
MGM Grand to host Moneymaker Tour guaranteeing over $1.3 million in prize pools
Twenty one years after Chris Moneymaker sparked the poker boom, The Moneymaker Tour is heading to Las Vegas, the tour announced today.
An agreement with MGM Grand Hotel & Casino will see the Tour’s first edition in the city that witnessed the original arrival of its founder to the poker scene. The Moneymaker Tour will join the summer poker action in Las Vegas from June 28 to July 6 at MGM Grand with a series guarantee of $1.3 million across six trophy events.
The feature event of the stop will be the $1,700 Main Event which boasts a $1 million guarantee and will run from July 3 – July 6. MGM Grand will host its third Summer Poker festival starting May 29 and feature 39 trophy events and over $3.7 million in total guarantees (including the Moneymaker Tour week).
“Las Vegas is the beating heart of the poker world. It’s where the game’s legends and stories, including Chris’, have been made,” said Tony Burns, Executive Manager. “To host an event in the same city that Chris won the 2003 Main Event in is a full circle moment. We are excited to partner with MGM Grand this Summer and look forward to being a part of their festival on June 28th thru July 6th. The Moneymaker Tour was created in 2023 by 2003 WSOP Champion and ACR Team Pro, Chris Moneymaker and Moneymaker Tour Executive Manager, Tony Burns.”
The Tour was conceived as a way for Moneymaker to give poker players opportunities to have their own ordinary to extraordinary moments as he did. Since its inception, there have been seven events in locations such as Florida, Cincinnati, Houston and Ohio.
Steven Pique, MGM Grand’s Director of Poker, said, “Our 2024 Summer Poker Festival kicks off later this month and we look forward to hosting the Moneymaker Tour in our MGM Grand Poker room. The main event will culminate with a No Limit Hold ‘em $1 million guarantee, one of the highest we’ve offered our tournament players. Chris Moneymaker embodies the spirit of poker through his tireless efforts and positive contributions to this great game.”
partnerships
THE MONEYMAKER TOUR PARTNERS WITH THE CARIBBEAN POKER SERIES TO HOST FIRST INTERNATIONAL MAIN EVENT
The upcoming Moneymaker Main Event will take place at The Casino Aruba, and feature a guaranteed prize pool of $200,000
The Moneymaker Tour has announced a new partnership with The Caribbean Poker Series to host the first international Moneymaker Main Event in Aruba in October 4 – 6, 2024.
Set against the backdrop of Aruba’s stunning beaches and lively culture, The Moneymaker Tour will coincide with the $300,000 guaranteed Caribbean Poker Series, which will take place at The Casino Aruba at Hilton from September 26 to October 6, and offer players of all levels the chance to compete for prestigious prizes.
“A collaboration between Moneymaker Poker Tour and The Caribbean Poker Series will create a synergy that benefits both organizations, as well as poker players and fans around the world,” said Craig Evans, Managing Director of the Caribbean Poker Series.
The Moneymaker Tour Main Event will bring players three days of fun poker action from Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6, 2024. The $1,500 buy-in Main Event, will bolster a guaranteed prize pool of $200,000.
Established by 2003 WSOP Champion and ACR Team Pro, Chris Moneymaker and Moneymaker Tour Executive Manager, Tony Burns in 2023, the Moneymaker Tour was conceived as a way to provide poker players with the opportunity to experience their own ordinary to extraordinary moments, mirroring Moneymaker’s journey.
“Chris Moneymaker’s Main Event win in 2003 not only had an impact on poker in the United States, but around the globe. We are excited to partner with the Caribbean Poker Series to host our first international Moneymaker Tour Main Event”, said Tony Burns, Executive Manager.
The Moneymaker Tour, which saw its inaugural stop in May 2023, has been steadily increasing in popularity. Its second series of 2024 at Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida, drew players from around the globe, where Pavlos Kasselouris seized victory in the $500,000 guaranteed Main Event, claiming $121,485 in prize money and the coveted Moneymaker crystal trophy.
The Tour’s current stop at Daytona Beach, Florida wraps up today, and after paying out over $600,000 in guaranteed prize pools.
Following the event at Daytona Beach, the Moneymaker Tour will return to Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida from May 2-14, 2024.
Above the Felt, the leading poker and gaming marketing and talent agency, has announced a partnership with Potawatomi Casino Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the grand opening of their state-of-the-art poker room this May.
This collaboration marks a significant experiential poker event in the Mid-West US, bringing together top players, personalities, and content creators with regional players for an unforgettable poker room grand opening.
The main poker room grand opening event, scheduled for Thursday, May 2, promises an electrifying atmosphere with the presence of three powerful figures in the poker industry: Matt Berkey, Jamie Kerstetter, and Jaman Burton. Each bringing their unique personalities and expertise to the tables, the group is set to host a special meet-up cash game, offering poker players an exclusive opportunity to engage and play with their poker favorites.
“We are proud to join forces with Potawatomi Casino Hotel to celebrate this occasion. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to enhancing the poker experience for poker players in the region by bringing together top poker talent to interact with players, fans, and followers alike,” Tom Wheaton, Founder & CEO at Above the Felt, said.
Michael Hall, Director of Table Games at Potawatomi Casino, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Above the Felt for the grand opening of our new poker room. This event marks a significant milestone for Potawatomi Casino Hotel, and we look forward to providing an unparalleled experience for poker enthusiasts with Matt, Jamie, Jaman and Tom on-site.”
Matt Berkey, known for his high-stakes poker skill and award-winning Only Friends podcast, said: “I’m honored to be part of the poker room grand opening festivities at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow poker enthusiasts at their typical stakes and share in the competition of the game together.”
Jamie Kerstetter, a prominent broadcaster and player in the poker industry, added: “Events like these are essential for fostering camaraderie and excitement within the poker community. I can’t wait to engage with fans and create memorable experiences together.”
Jaman Burton, an award-winning poker content creator and YouTube vlogger, said: “I’m excited to be partnering with Potawatomi Casino Hotel, one of the leading casinos and newest poker rooms in the state of Wisconsin. It will be a lot of fun to share my passion for poker and connect with fellow players in such an immersive setting.”
Thursday, May 2, attendees can anticipate a fun day filled with poker action, engaging conversations, and unforgettable moments as players experience the fusion of skill, strategy, and entertainment unfold on the felt during the Potawatomi poker room grand opening meet-up game beginning at 12 pm.
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