The World Poker Tour (WPT) has unveiled the locations for eight more Season XIV Main Event stops, and included for the first time are Choctaw and Maryland Live!
First Half of Season XIV Announced: Main Tour > http://t.co/vVoOgXl8qk National > http://t.co/kqW8cBPalb WPTDS > http://t.co/MeZZ0oW1T2
— World Poker Tour (@WPT) May 29, 2015
It might not seem like it, but life goes on after the World Series of Poker (WSOP) ends. The WPT bolster most of that responsibility, and their President wouldn’t want it any other way.
Talking to the press, Adam Pliska waxed lyrical about the Season XIII Hublot Player of the Year race that saw Anthony Zinno join Gus Hansen, and Carlos Mortensen, as a three time WPT Champion. The excellent Darren Elias pushing him all the way with two Main Event victories of his own. In all they crowned WPT Champions Club members in 19 different countries, debuted in Nottingham, UK, and entered a new relationship with the Deepstacks Poker Tour.
Great Things Expected on the Horizon
He expects things to get even better.
So proud of @WPT's main man @pliska007 winning the #AmericanPokerAwards Poker Industry Person of the Year award!!! pic.twitter.com/hXb6r8cIgP
— Lynn Gilmartin (@LynnGilmartin) February 28, 2015
“With 40 events already scheduled in 19 different countries on four different continents, we look forward to continued growth and success in Season XIV, and we can’t wait to again host our loyal players and fans at their favorite venues around the world.” Said Pliska.
That Season XIII visit to Dusk till Dawn (DTD), in Nottingham, will be repeated. Europe’s premier card room will host a WPT Main Event and WPT500. There is also a return to South Africa for the WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic, and new stops at Choctaw and Maryland Live!
WPT Season XIV Main Tour Schedule
- WPT Choctaw – July 31 – August 4 – $3,700
- WPT Legends of Poker – August 29 – September 4 – $3,700
- WPT Borgata Poker Open – September 20 – 25 – $3,500
- WPT Maryland Live! – September 25 – 29 – $3,500
- WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic – October 29 – November 1 – $3,600
- Partypoker WPT UK – November 3 – 8 – $3,500
- WPT bestbet Bounty Scramble – November 6 – 10 – $5,000
- Partypoker.net WPT Montreal – November 13 – 19 – (CAD) $3,850
- WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic – December 14 – 19 – $10,400
It’s going to be a huge year for the WPT.
Under the tutelage of Pliska, and thanks to their multi-million dollar sponsorship deals, the WPT are finally operating in the black. At the beginning of the year Pliska told me during an interview for CalvinAyre.com that they were enjoying the ‘best financial year the WPT has ever had.’
The turnaround from red to black could not have come at a more crucial time. The WPT was sold to Partygaming in 2009 for $12 million, and today those prime assets belong to Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, who are currently in the midst of acquisition talks with the likes of 888 Holdings, GVC Holdings and Amaya Gaming Inc.
A deal with be done. The only questions that remain are who will own bwin.party, and what will that mean to the WPT?
Only last week, WPTPoker.com, closed down amid rumors that the company was preparing itself for acquisition.