WSOP Paradise Kicks Off Massive Month of Live Poker; EPT Prague and WPTWC Still to Come
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Move over November Nine, this year it's all about the December Three.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP), European Poker Tour (EPT) and World Poker Tour (WPT) all host major events this month, and all will be vying for the attention — and buy-ins — of players from around the world.
PokerNews will be at all three, bringing you all the latest news, updates, drama and more as the festivals crown their champions, but here we take a closer look at what sets the three apart.
First up to bat? WSOP Paradise.
WSOP Paradise
The year began with a major blow-out festival in the Bahamas, so it feels right that it finishes with one as well. After years of players crying out for a winter Series — 2021 and WSOP Europe notwithstanding — the WSOP finally announced WSOP Paradise in July this year.
The event promised 15 bracelet events from December 3-14, with at least $50 million in prize money to be awarded across all events.
The action is already underway with the first flights of the $1,500 Mystery Millions, which features several GGPoker qualifiers who won their way via the "Road to Paradise" promotion which launched at the beginning of October.
Head to the WSOP Paradise Live Reporting Hub
Each WSOP Paradise package comes with entry into the prestigious $5,000 WSOP Paradise Main Event and a 10-night stay at the luxurious Atlantis Paradise Island resort. Winners include an Ontarian engineer, a Romanian in his first live poker event ever and a casual player hoping to meet Daniel Negreanu and win himself a Porsche 911.
Negreanu isn't the only poker star set to attend the WSOP Paradise at Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas. Several other celebrities and well-known poker pros have confirmed their attendance, including 17-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, former WSOP Player of the Year Shaun Deeb and veteran WSOP commentators Lon McEachern and Norman Chad.
EPT Prague
From a brand new event to a festive fixture in the December poker calendar. EPT Prague was first held in December 2007 and returns for the 15th time this month, running from December 6-17. Prague continues to be a favourite of players on the European circuit, and has already been confirmed to return as part of the 2024 EPT schedule.
Prague has been the setting for some hugely memorable poker moments. From Hossein Ensan's 2015 victory, four years before becoming world champion, to Mikalai Pobal becoming only the second player to win two EPT Main Events in 2019.
Follow All the EPT Prague Updates
Plus with Christmas markets, incredible local cuisine and a PokerStars Live team with plenty of exciting activities planned, it's sure to be a magical festival in the Czech capital.
WPT World Championship
Lastly, and by no means least, we have the The WPT World Championship.
The event forms part of the WPT World Championship Series which got underway last week, but many are eagerly anticipating the $10,400 buy-in showstopper after the success of the last year's inaugural last year's inaugural World Championship, won by Eliot Hudon for $4.1 million.
The WPT were quick to announce the event's return earlier this year, subsequently slapping a staggering $40 million guarantee on the event, the largest single event guarantee in poker history. With over $55 million guaranteed across the entire WPT World Championship Series, which runs until December 23, poker fans are set for a treat that includes a $2 million GTD $1,600 Mystery Bounty and $5 million GTD $1,100 WPT Prime Championship.
The $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop also makes its return to the poker calendar for the first time since 2018, with Phil Ivey, Dan Cates, Jason Koon and Nick Petrangelo among just over a dozen players confirmed to be participating.
Read the Latest WPTWC News from the Wynn
Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.
