Poker

World Series of Poker Paradise Brings Buzz, Huge Prize Pools and Big Stars to the Bahamas

Published

11 months ago

December 15, 2023

Alan Campbell

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.”

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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.

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Stretch Network Partners with Vivaro.US to Enhance Poker Offerings

Published

2 weeks ago

November 12, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Stretch Network has officially announced a new strategic partnership with Vivaro. US, a social casino platform. This collaboration is designed to bring ingenious poker operations to a wider audience in the USA, reinforcing Stretch Network’s commitment to expanding its reach in the growing digital market.

Ruslan Bangert, Head of Stretch Network, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We’re thrilled to partner with Vivaro. US. This collaboration aligns with our goal to innovate and expand in the dynamic world of poker.

The partnership also marks an important milestone for Vivaro. US, allowing the platform to elevate its poker capabilities. Hovhannes Minasyan, COO of Vivaro. US, shared, “This collaboration with Stretch Network enables us to elevate our poker offerings and provide an even more immersive and secure environment for our players.”

“Our partnership with Stretch Network represents an important step in enhancing our poker capabilities and strengthening our platform’s offerings,” said Artak Basoyan, CEO at Vivaro. US.

With a growing presence in the USA through Vivaro. US, Stretch Network is well-positioned to deliver poker experiences to an even broader audience.

The collaboration is expected to drive player engagement and increase opportunities for both companies, highlighting Stretch Network’s ability to adapt and grow in a competitive digital entertainment market.

Poker

PLAY AND WATCH POKER PROS IN ACTION DURING ACR POKER’S EXCLUSIVE MEET-UP GAME THIS THURSDAY

Published

3 weeks ago

November 5, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Poker players can get ready for a fun experience at the tables as ACR Poker will be hosting a special Meet-up Game this Thursday, November 7th.

Featuring ACR Pros like Chris Moneymaker and Chris Moorman, alongside ACR Ambassadors Rene Nezhoda and Casey Nezhoda, the ACR Pro/Ambassador Meet-up Game will cater to players of all levels with a range of cash games, from micro to high stakes.

On Thursday, November 7th at 2pm ET, poker fans can tune in to catch all the excitement online on ACR Poker’s Twitch channel as the pros battle it out in random matchups throughout the stream.

For a chance to jump in on the action and compete, players can simply grab the password from any of the ACR Pros’ social media channels on the event day. Those who just choose to watch will see many of the Pros sharing their poker wisdom throughout the stream.

“We’ve got something for everyone at this ACR Pro/Ambassador Meet-up Game, from micro to high stakes cash games. Whether you’re there to just watch or beat the pros, it’s going to be an event to remember,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “Be sure to grab the password from any ACR Pro’s social media account, as you won’t want to miss out. And hey, if you’re not at my table, I hope you crush it!”

Poker

ACR POKER ANNOUNCES FINAL 2024 PACKAGES TO URUGUAY FOR THE ENJOY POKER TOUR IN DECEMBER

Published

4 weeks ago

October 29, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Players looking to hit the poker tables and sunny beaches in Uruguay this December are heading to ACR Poker. The popular online poker site is once again running their Punta del Este Satellites in November, guaranteeing 14 full packages and five entry-only packages to the Enjoy Poker Tour’s biggest series of the year.

Through ACR Poker’s Punta del Este Satellites, players have the opportunity to compete in the $1.5 Million guaranteed Final Millonaria and the $500,000 guaranteed Main Event during the Enjoy Poker Tour, all while enjoying a 10-night stay at the luxurious Punta del Este Resort and Casino.

“Looking to escape the cold and win big? Our Punta del Este Satellites are your ticket to sunny Uruguay, where you can play in two major poker tourneys at the Enjoy Poker Tour,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “With stunning beaches, great food, and lots of action, players can look forward to a great poker vacation, both on and off the felt.”

The Punta del Este Satellites are guaranteeing 14 full packages in total during ACR Poker’s Beast Tournament on Sunday, November 3rd and 10th at 6:05pm ET. Players can buy their seat for $95 or qualify for free by ranking on the Beast weekly leaderboard.

Each package is valued at $8,000 and includes a $2,750 entry to the $1.5 Million Final Millonaria, a $1,650 ticket to the $500,000 Main Event, airfare, 10 nights’ luxury accommodation from December 6th-16th, spending money, and more.

Moneymaker added that there will also be a separate satellite on Sunday, November 17th at 3:05pm ET ($165 buy-in) guaranteeing five entry-only packages ($4,400 value each) that will cover the $2,750 buy-in for the Final Millonaria and $1,650 buy-in for the Main Event.

Situated along Uruguay’s beautiful Atlantic coast, the Punta del Este Resort and Casino offers a mix of classic architecture, exciting poker action, stunning beaches, and lively nightlife, where players can enjoy a truly unique experience, on and off the tables.