WPT Prime Gold Coast Concludes; WPT Prime Cambodia Full Schedule Released

The recently finished World Poker Tour Prime Gold Coast series saw hundreds of local and foreign runners fill its 11-event program. The festival, which took place at The Star Gold Coast from June 9 to 20, 2022, inaugurated its first Mystery Bounty event and included a headlining AU$1,500 Main Event. This season’s major winners are Yang Lei of Australia, who won the Main Event, Steven Hoek and Gavin Best for side event triumphs, and $1,100 NLH champion Romain Morvan, who won Player of the Series.

The next destination on the calendar is WPT Prime Cambodia, which will take place from August 11 to 23 at NagaWorld Phnom Penh. The forthcoming festival features a 24-event program with a massive $500,000 guaranteed Main Event, which is double the size of its previous 2019 iteration. Read on for more details.

Yang Lei Wins WPT Prime Gold Coast Main Event for AU$ 201,755

The WPT Prime Gold Coast Main Event attracted a record-breaking 896 entries over three starting flights this year, with just 112 players cashing in on a minimum payment of AU$ 2,434. The three-day event in collaboration with Star Poker currently has the greatest field in WPT Prime history, as well as a prize pool that exceeds one million dollars – AU$ 1,191,680 (US$ 839,538).

Only nine competitors survived the last day after a total of 125 participants returned on Day 2. Yang Lei, a Queensland grinder, dominated the lead with a massive stack of 158 large blinds, closely followed by Najeem Ajez, who had 91. At the end of the day, it was the two chip leaders that faced off, with Lei’s unwavering lead propelling him to the coveted triumph. Lei’s 5:1 chip lead in heads-up play earned him career-high cash of AU$ 201,755 (US$ 138,901), as well as direct entry into the WPT World Championship (valued at $15,000), which will be hosted in Las Vegas in December, with flights and accommodations included. According to The Hendon Mob, Lei’s career live earnings now exceed $600,000, with all mentioned results recorded in his home country of Australia.

Here are the final table results:

Gavin Best Wins WPT Prime Gold Coast $5K Challenge for AU$ 119,174

The series’ largest buy-in event drew 86 participants and created a prize pool of AU$ 404,200 (US$ 278,277), with only 11 players winning money. During one of the festival’s last events, the Australian Poker Hall of Famer Leo Boxell led the final nine players in search of a trophy and the top prize of AU$ 130,355. Gavin Best, who entered the final table seventh in terms of chip count, wasted little time in sending 8th and 9th place finishers Ken Loong and Qais Shanasa to the rails with his excellent cards.

Earlson Ecobiza finished 9th in the Mystery Bounty event and quickly fell into the clutches of Boxell with top pair versus the legend’s nut flush draw when the board flipped an Ace. Best had strolled to the lead at the first break, having dusted Raph Tenenbaum with yet another premium hand. This time it was pocket Jacks. Tournament flips favored Best and Boxell, who eliminated Sammy Haddad and Benoit Yick in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Best maintained his lead, sending Boxell out with Quad sixes against the Hall of Famer’s rivered two-pair.

Best had a chip lead over his Colombian opponent Lucho Vargas in heads-up play. The pair mutually settled to an agreement in which each were promised AU$ 90,000, with the remaining going to the eventual champion. A big cooler erupted only a few hands later, with Best holding a flopped full boat versus Vargas’ trip fours. Following the triumph, Best claimed the championship and top prize of AU$ 119,174 (US$ 82,047), as well as his career-high earnings.

Here are the final table results:

Steven Hoek Wins WPT Prime Gold Coast $1,000 Mystery Bounty for AU$ 75,466

Mystery Bounty events have begun popping up all throughout the region, with their fun-filled nature providing players with additional excitement and a chance to win larger rewards. The local casino’s inaugural Mystery Bounty event drew 395 entrants, and yet only 50 were rewarded. With the greatest prize up for grabs stated at an amazing AU$ 31,875, the emerging format made it more thrilling for the players.

$330 NLH Freezeout winner Alex Lee approached the final table with a big chip lead, but he couldn’t stop Day 2 overall chip leader Steven Hoek, who stormed through the opening 15 minutes, eliminating three players in seventh, eighth, and ninth place, respectively. Ecobiza, who had the lowest stack, won AU$ 4,892 in rewards but departed with the greatest bounty of all, having won an extra AU$ 31,875 from the Treasure Chest. Following his amazing triumph, Hoek maintained his fantastic run of cards, knocking out everyone else on the table one by one, and concluded with 15 bounties of AU$ 26,550 for a total of AU$ 75,466 (US$ 51,955).

Here are the final table results:

Romain Morvan Awarded WPT Prime Gold Player of the Series

After twelve days of play, France’s Romain Morvan was declared the best Player of the Series with 800 points. Morvan claimed the top slot on the standings after finishing fourth in the Mystery Bounty event and winning the $1,100 NLH tournament. The French champion received the special Player of the Festival trophy as well as a seat in the WPT Australia Main Event (worth $5,400) at Star Poker Gold Coast in September.

WPT Prime Cambodia Full Schedule

The World Poker Tour has officially announced the much-anticipated WPT Prime Cambodia schedule, which will take place from August 11 to 23 at the magnificent NagaWorld Phnom Penh. A 24-game program is planned for the thirteen days, with buy-ins ranging from $200 to $10,000. The $1,100 buy-in Main Event, with a massive $500,000 guarantee, is the festival’s main highlight.

The WPT has been planning its return to Cambodia since its debut edition in 2019, which drew an excellent field of 750 Main Event participants, but the novel coronavirus has put a halt to those preparations. With the restrictions removed, the festival is back on track and ready to host world-class events. Here’s a preview of what’s to come.

WPT Prime Cambodia Main Event with $500,000 Guaranteed

The Main Event begins on August 18 and continues until August 23. The entry fee is $1,100. The guarantee has been increased from $250,000 to $500,000 this year, and the objective, according to WPT Live Events Specialist Danny McDonagh, is to double prior statistics. With the WPT’s global reach, participants may anticipate a multinational field, just as it achieved on its initial visit. Brian Tougias of the United States won the Main Event for $131,430. This year’s victory includes a $10,400 entry for the WPT World Championship, which will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas in December.

WPT Prime Cambodia Opener with $150,000 Guaranteed

The WPT Prime Cambodia Opener, which includes a $150,000 guarantee, will kick off the event on August 11. This event will take place on the weekend of August 14 and will have four starters.

High Roller Events

There will be several opportunities for players with bigger bankrolls to participate in a variety of high-roller events. The schedule includes five high roller events with buy-ins ranging from $2,200 to $10,000:

• NLH Mini High Roller – US$ 2,200 buy in – August 14 to 15
• WPT Prime Cambodia Super High Roller – US$ 5,300 – August 16 to 17
• WPT Prime Cambodia 10K SHR Single Day Challenge – US$ 10,300 – August 18
• WPT Prime Cambodia Short Deck High Roller – US$ 5,300 – August 19
• WPT Prime Cambodia High Roller 3K – US$ 3,000 – August 21

Here is the full WPT Prime Cambodia schedule:

WPT World Championship Satellites and Packages

The brand just unveiled its most ambitious event to date, which will be unlike any other in poker history. From December 1 to December 20, the world-renowned company will host the WPT World Championship, with a $15 million guarantee. This is the highest single event guarantee ever offered for a tournament.

Here is what Adam Pliska, World Poker Tour CEO, had to say about this announcement: 

“This is one of the most ambitious initiatives the World Poker Tour has undertaken in our 20-year history. We expect this to be a highly anticipated festival and are elated to be partnering with Wynn Las Vegas to bring this concept to life.”

The 20-day festival includes a variety of events such as the Prime Championship and the Wynn Mystery Bounty, which pioneered and popularized the bounty format. Both of these tournaments have a $2,000,000 guarantee. The statement indicates that gamers can win up to $100,000 in cash prizes. The event’s main attraction is the $10,400 buy-in World Championship (repechage), which has three Day 1 flights from December 12 to 14. The 20th of December is the crowning day.

The program for the next WPT Prime Cambodia includes a Feeder to WPT World Championship Satellite. On Sunday, August 21, there will be two chances to enter: Flight A and Flight B Turbo. Entry into each flight costs $300. Players that wish to avoid the Feeder can enter the WPT World Championship Satellite straight away for $1,500. Each package is worth $12,500. The satellite will be launched on August 22nd.