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

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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.

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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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SPAIN’S LEO MARGETS HAS CHANCE TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN IN POKER HISTORY TO BECOME WORLD CHAMPION

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Leonore “Leo” Margets is the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table since Barbara Enright 30 years ago.

The final table of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is a historic one, as for the first time in 30 years a woman is among the final nine players competing for poker’s most coveted prize.

Leonore “Leo” Margets, a professional poker player from Barcelona, Spain, will be only the second woman in WSOP history to play at the WSOP Main Event final table since Poker Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Enright finished in fifth place in 1995.

Making the Final Nine of the 2025 WSOP Main Event, Margets has secured at least $1 million in prize money, adding to her over $2 million in recorded live tournament winnings.

Achieving a historic accomplishment that is an overwhelming positive for the game of poker, Margets has an opportunity to make even more history by potentially being the first woman ever to win the WSOP Main Event.

Claiming her lone WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em – The Closer tournament at the 2021 WSOP ($376,850 top prize), Margets’ second career bracelet may be the most prestigious one a poker player can win.

With 16 players remaining during Day 8 of the 2025 WSOP Main Event, nearly the entirety of Margets’ chip stack would enter the pot preflop as she called off a three-bet all-in by Sergio Veloso. Holding pocket jacks to Veloso’s ace-king offsuit, despite an ace arriving on the flop, Margets hit a runner-runner flush to give her not only the chips but the momentum needed to reach the WSOP Main Event final table.

Interviewed by PokerGO sideline reporter Jeff Platt moments after officially reaching the WSOP Main Event final table, Margets, surrounded by adoring supporters, was all smiles as she reflected on her achievement.

“It’s so unreal, it is a dream,” Margets said. “I’m so glad that I’m cheering (with my rail), it means so much. How lucky I am to live this!”

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The final table of the 2025 WSOP Main Event will resume at the Las Vegas Horseshoe and Paris on Tuesday, July 15th with action beginning at 1:30 P.M. local time. Poker fans and players can watch the action on PokerGO, as well as on the PokerGO YouTube channel.

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ACR POKER ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR FIRST-EVER BATTLE OF MALTA ONLINE SERIES AWARDING $5 MILLION GTD PRIZE POOL

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Buy-ins from $5.50 to $630 in packed 68-event schedule  

ACR Poker and Battle of Malta (BOM) have released the full schedule for the first-ever online edition of the beloved European live poker festival, the Battle of Malta Online, guaranteeing $5 million across a 68-event schedule.

Starting this Sunday on ACR Poker, the Battle of Malta Online schedule highlights include the $66 multi-flight event featuring a $500,000 GTD prize pool (flights from July 3rd, Day 2 on July 27th), the $109 tournament with $400,000 GTD (Event 68), and the $630 tournament awarding $600,000 GTD (Event 67). There’s also plenty of lower buy-in events starting at just $5.50, so everyone can join the fun and compete for great prizes.

Players can also compete for one of ten €8,000 packages to the live Battle of Malta festival at Casino Malta from October 28th to November 5th, putting players in the heart of the action at one of poker’s most prestigious events. Five packages are up for grabs each Sunday via the Beast Satellites, which play on July 13th and 20th at 5:05pm ET. All BOM Main Event satellites will also be exclusively on ACR Poker, and players who survive Day 1 online will take their stack to Day 2 live in Malta.

“The full schedule for the Battle of Malta Online is finally here, and it’s everything players could hope for,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “There’s a great mix of buy-ins and formats, alongside big guarantees, so there’s something for players of all skills and levels. The series is just around the corner, so now’s the time to plan the grind and get ready to compete for the first-ever Battle of Malta Online titles.”

What’s more, the Battle of Malta Online will feature a $35,000 Leaderboard Contest, where players earn points in any BOM event across two leaderboards: High Buy-in (over $44) with an $8,000 top prize, and Low Buy-in (under $33) with a $4,000 first prize. Plus, the overall winner will score an €8,000 package to Malta this October.

Battle of Malta Online marks the 10-year anniversary of BOM, which has earned its place as one of Europe’s most iconic poker festivals, celebrated for its electric atmosphere, elite-level competition, and unforgettable player experiences. Last October, BOM reached new heights with a prize pool exceeding €4.7 million and participants from over 60 countries. This year’s BOM boasts a €2 million GTD prize pool, a revamped schedule including the €2,200 buy-in ACR High Roller, and plenty of exciting off-the-felt activities.

For further details on the Battle of Malta Online, visit ACRPoker.eu.

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EDGE Boost Named Preferred Payment Method for World Series of Poker Event Series

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EDGE Boost by EDGE Markets, a financial platform for smart bettors and gamblers, has partnered with World Series of Poker, the premier series of worldwide poker tournaments. The EDGE Boost debit card is now the preferred payment method for WSOP, offering ease of payment, safety, and several exclusive on-site perks for tournament players.

In past tournaments, WSOP players were limited to $10,000 per transaction and had to complete a lengthy approval process, often resulting in frequent cash deposits. Now, those using the EDGE Boost card through PayPal checkout can bypass traditional credit card verification. They can also make entries up to $250,000, which eliminates the need to carry large sums of cash at the event and increases security measures.

“Poker players competing at WSOP events typically face many roadblocks funding their entry at the casino and managing any payout. In the past, players had to bring multiple checks from different accounts which complicated the deposit process and led to security issues of players walking around with large cash rewards. EDGE Boost simplifies this entire process and makes it entirely digital. Now these players can focus on their game without worrying about these extra factors. This partnership lays the groundwork for the future of gaming,” said Seni Thomas, CEO and Founder of EDGE Markets.

This focus complements player safety and strengthens WSOP’s appeal as an attractive event for poker players globally.

“EDGE Boost is going to completely transform the WSOP experience. This partnership immediately enhances our brand and player experience through tangible benefits that make them feel safe and supported. Together, we are setting a new standard for how the rest of the gambling industry should operate. We also hope this improvement attracts more players to our events because of the frictionless financial process made possible by EDGE Boost, leading to a safer and easier-to-use system for all involved,” said Greg Chochon, Chief Operating Officer at WSOP.

“EDGE Boost gives players what we’ve needed for years – seamless access to our money, without hassle or judgment,” said Lexy Gavin-Mather, Professional Poker Player and Coach.

EDGE Boost is also sponsoring an exclusive lounge at the WSOP in Las Vegas through July 11. It offers EDGE Boost cardholders a private space with refreshments, Wi-Fi, and autograph sessions from poker champions like 17-time WSOP Bracelet Winner Phil Hellmuth and WSOP Main Event Champion Jamie Gold.

“EDGE Boost is more than a card; it’s a tech revolution for gaming. Instant access, ironclad security, and flawless control – all designed to let you play your game,” Hellmuth said.

“If you’re still traveling with cash, wiring money, or dealing with silly limits you’re way behind. EDGE Boost is a literal game changer! It’s a Visa debit card built for serious players who want control over their bankrolls. It saves me so much time and keeps me safe! No brainer to sign up ASAP,” Gold said.

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