WSOP Paradise to Be First Live Event for GGPoker Qualifier Aurel Cotos
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The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise is a winter series held at the Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas. The series runs from December 3-14 and will feature 15 bracelet events across different variants with over $51 million in guarantees. PokerNews will be on hand to provide live coverage of the event, with photos, videos, and player interviews live from the tournament floor in The Bahamas.
For months, GGPoker has been busy qualifying players from all over the world via their “Road To Paradise,” which launched at the beginning of October. Each WSOP Paradise package came with entry into the prestigious $5,000 WSOP Paradise Main Event, scheduled to unfold amid the tropical splendor of Atlantis Paradise Island from December 9, offering an impressive $15 million in guaranteed prizes. But that's not all; winners will also savor a 10-night stay at the luxurious Atlantis Paradise Island resort, celebrated for its lavish amenities and awe-inspiring ocean vistas.
There are several ways to qualify, and PokerNews has been profiling several of the lucky winners who’ll be traveling to the Caribbean island for their shot at poker immortality.
Here’s a look at the qualifiers PokerNews has profiled so far:
- GGPoker Qualifier Robert Parsons Finally Gets His Chance to Play the WSOP
- Ontarian Engineer Matthew Aquino Wins WSOP Paradise Ticket on GGPoker
- Dana Karlson Wins WSOP Paradise Package After Years Away From Poker
- Ontario Player Matthew Silva Wins WSOP Paradise Package on GGPoker
- Canada's Slava Royale Hopes to Buy Porsche 911 Turbo After WSOP Paradise
A Family Affair
Romania’s Aurel Cotos has never played a live poker tournament before, but that will change this month as he’s headed to the Bahamas for the WSOP Paradise thanks to GGPoker.
“I was awarded a $50 tournament ticket on GGPoker, and I registered to the satellite, won a $600 ticket, then registered to the next step and won the package. I had a few good spots where I held kings over queens twice … This will be my first live event that I will play and I am excited.”
While he has never played live, Cotos does have plenty of online poker experience.
“I've had a few decent cashes online,” he shared. “I won a $55 buy-in for $28k, another $21k score, a $12k, and others. I have not played constantly, but I love the game, and the most exciting poker experience so far was winning this package.”
He added: “I'm looking forward to having a good time and living the best poker experience of my life. I would be happy to play a good game and have a little luck for a deep run. I would also like to meet famous poker players and just enjoy everything there.”
Which players would he like to meet?
“I would most like to meet Patrick Leonard, though I don't want to play against him,” said Cotos. “I watched his course and his stories, great content, great guy. I would also like to meet Daniel Negreanu, Martin Jacobson, AllinPav, Elky, and many others.”
Cotos will make the trip across the Atlantic with his wife and two kids, so off the felt there will be plenty of activities at the waterpark.
“We'll do as many things as we can, swim, visit everything around and relax,” he said. And if he’s lucky enough to win some big money? “First, I will focus more on poker, study more, play more, then buy a nice gift for my wife, then pay my house and my car debt, then I will donate some to charity.”
2023 WSOP Paradise Schedule
The 2023 WSOP Paradise shuffles up and deals in the Bahamas on December 3 with the $1,650 buy-in Mystery Millions. It boasts a $5 million guarantee on its prize pool, so will be the perfect curtain raiser for the 11-day festival.
Every bracelet-awarding event promises at least $1 million will be awarded, with the $1,500 Millionaire Maker and the $103,000 Ultra High Roller coming with a $5 million guarantee.
Of course, the biggest tournament of them all is the $5,300 Main Event, which will pay out $15 million to those fortunate and skillful enough to make it into the money place.
| Start Date | Event | Total Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 3 Dec | #1: Mystery Millions | $1,650 | $5,000,000 |
| Mon 4 Dec | #2: Millionaire Maker in Paradise | $1,500 | $5,000,000 |
| Tue 5 Dec | #3: GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship | $26,000 | $10,000.000 |
| #4: Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold'em | $1,100 | $1,000,000 | |
| Thu 7 Dec | #5: High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha | $26,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Fri 8 Dec | #6: No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $3,300 | $1,000,000 |
| #7: Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em | $53,000 | $2,000,000 | |
| #8: Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha | $2,100 | $1,000,000 | |
| Sat 9 Dec | #9: Ultra High Roller No-Limit Hold'em | $103,000 | $5,000,000 |
| #10: Main Event Championship | $5,300 | $15,000,000 | |
| Tue 12 Dec | #11: Flip & Go | $800 | |
| Wed 13 Dec | #12: No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout (Online) | $1,050 | $1,000,000 |
| #13: Pot-Limit Omaha Championship | $10,400 | $1,000,000 | |
| #14: The Closer Turbo Bounty | $2,200 | $1,000,000 | |
| Thu 14 Dec | #15: High Roller No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $10,400 | $1,000,000 |
