The first of two starting days of the World Poker Tour National event in Valkenburg has just kicked off and here are some things to keep in mind.
This tournament is a re-entry event, which means that when you bust you will get the option to re-enter on Day 1b. Because this is a sold out tournament chances are that this will not be optional.
Players that bust on Day 1a have priority on Day 1b to re-enter over new entrants if they choose to do so. The tournament will take alternates/late entries until the end of Level 9 on both days. If you bust out on Day 1b you will not have the option to re-enter.
The current number 11 on the Dutch all-time money list, Steve Wong, has also made his way to Holland Casino Valkenburg. Wong burst onto the scene in 2006 when he finished second in the World Poker Tour Festa a Lago in Las Vegas when he finished second for $542,700.
Wong also has four World Series of Poker final tables under his belt, his best a fourth place in a $1,000 no-limit hold'em event back in 2006 for $215,255. Wong's last live cash dates back to the 2012 Master Classic of Poker when he finished 20th.
One of the first players we've spotted today is poker super star Marcel Luske. Luske's list of results is highly impressive, with $4.3 million in career live tournament earnings including a 10th place finish in the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Luske made his way down to Valkenburg to play in the first ever WPT on Dutch soil, which has been a long way coming since the Dutchman first cashed at the Master Classics of Poker in Amsterdam in 1999.
In total 14 levels of 40 minutes a piece will be played on both starting days. The dinner break will be split in two, and a buffet is provided for all players. There will be a 15-minute break at the completion of every third level.
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Holland Casino Valkenburg, photo courtesy of Holland Casino
For the first time in the history of the game, a World Poker Tour event will be hosted inside the country of cheese, chocolate sprinkles, bicycles, abnormal amounts of pastries and some good old 'gezelligheid'.
It took poker long enough to make it down to the Netherlands, but the day has finally come as the World Poker Tour National Event kicks off today at 2:00 p.m. local time, with the €500 Main Event.
Only weeks after the tournament was announced in June, word came out that the Main Event was sold out and reached its 360-player cap. The tournament, with 40-minute levels, had many reserved seats for both online and live qualifiers and it will be interesting to see which of the famous professional managed to get a hold of a seat.
One of the players that will be there is 'The Flying Dutchman' himself, as Marcel Luske announced on Twitter that he will be present. Luske has $4.2 million in live tournament earnings and sits comfortably atop the Dutch all-time money list, towering over the likes of Pieter de Korver, Rob Hollink, Constant Rijkenberg and Ruben Visser.
The Main Event will have a cap of 180 players per starting day, but alternate seating is available when players get knocked out. After two starting days the field will combine on Saturday, and play down to a final table. The first ever winner of a WPT on Dutch soil will be crowned on Sunday night and PokerNews.com will be right there with you to bring all the live updates.
Besides the Main Event players can also enjoy side events such as the WPTN Valkenburg €1,350+€150 High Roller, starting on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and the €255 WPTN Big Stack on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
