The WPT Prime Liechtenstein Festival

The WPT Prime Liechtenstein will feature 12 events, including some of the most popular modalities: Mystery Bounty, Ladies, Seniors, Pot-Limit Omaha, High Roller and of course Prime Main Event, which will begin on September 6 and will have six starting flights. Those who wish to qualify for the Main Event for a lower investment will be able to take advantage of one of the nine qualifying satellites.

Below is a chart with details of the 12 festival events:

You can see the full schedule at this link.

The WPT Prime Liechtenstein Main Event

The most important tournament of the festival will begin on September 6 and, as mentioned, players will have six initial days to try to make it through to Day 2. The entry will be CHF 1,100 and will have a guaranteed prize pool of CHF 1,000,000.

The tournament structure will be as follows:

• Buy-In: CHF 1,100
• Re-entry: Unlimited re-entry is allowed until the start of Level 7, when registration ends.
• Guaranteed prize pool: CHF 1,000,000
• Starting stack: 30,000
• Blind Levels: 40 minutes on Day 1 and 60 minutes on Days 2 and 3
• Ante Format: Big Blind Ante
• Late Registration: Registration closes at the start of Level 7
• Action Clock: Will be put in place at the start of Day 2 and will be used until the completion of the tournament
• Payouts: 12.5% of the field

Exciting news! Thrilled to share I'll be heading to WPT Prime Liechtenstein fest in just 2 weeks! With CHF $1 Million GTD for the Main Event, it's bound to be unforgettable. Don't miss out: more info @WPT or https://t.co/hqH7ljo6m4 pic.twitter.com/ysQmTdgjwx

— Ivy Teves (@IvyTeves) August 17, 2023

The Venue: Grand Casino Liechtenstein

The festival will be played at the Grand Casino, which aims to become one of the best poker destinations in Europe. Its poker room has 17 cash game tables and for tournaments they have space for 70 tables.

Those planning to attend WPT Prime Liechtenstein will be able to take advantage of 25% discounts at any of six hotels using the promo code “wpt2023” starting on August 29. You can see the different promotions in this link.

The City: Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a Central European country located between Switzerland and Austria. Its territory is the result of the union of two enclaves: Vaduz and Schellenberg, made up of a total of 11 communities. The capital is Vaduz and the most populous city is Schaan. It is known for being the fourth smallest country in the world behind the Vatican, Monaco and San Marino.

The principality is known to be considered a tax haven. Although it is not a member of the European Union, since December 2011 it has been part of the European area of free movement. Liechtenstein is one of the six micro-states in Europe. It is also, together with Uzbekistan, one of the only two countries in the world that is doubly isolated from the sea, that is, from Liechtenstein you have to cross at least two borders to reach the sea.

The main attractions of the country are:

• Vaduz Castle
• National Museum of Art and History
• Hiking and mountain biking in Malbun
• St. Peter’s Cathedral
• Liechtenstein National Park
• The Postal Museum
• Taste country’s traditional cuisine like fondue, ribel, Käsknöpfle and local wine

With WPT Prime Liechtenstein you can visit a small country, but win big and be the next one to claim the WPT Prime Perpetual Trophy!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

We head back to Taipei in August for #WPTPrimeTaiwan featuring our first ever $1 MILLION GTD Main Event with a TWD 33,000 (~$1,100) buy-in!

Festival: Aug 8 – Aug 21
Main Event: Aug 17 – Aug 21

More Info & Full Schedule: https://t.co/4xevRBalOk pic.twitter.com/tfXRrRKrrq

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) June 22, 2023

The WPT Prime Taiwan Festival

The festival will kick off on August 8 at the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP) and will run through August 21. It will consist of 46 events with buy-ins starting at TWD 6,000 up to the TWD 300,000 High Stakes Challenge. The WPT Prime Main Event will take place from August 17 to 21. It will cost TWD 33,000 ($1,100) to buy-in and have a guaranteed prize pool of $1,000,000.

In addition, a large number of satellites will be played for the most important events. There will also be a freeroll satellite with free entry on August 8th with 10 tickets available to the Warm Up event satellite. So even if your bankroll isn’t too flush, you can still win your way into a seat at the table.

These will be the most high-profile events of the festival:

You can download the Player’s Guide with the full schedule and structures of all tournaments at this link.

The WPT Prime Taiwan Main Event

The marquee tournament of the WPT Prime Taiwan festival will begin on August 17 and will have three starting days, according to the schedule below:

• Day 1A: August 17 at 11:30 AM (Play till field is in the money)
• Day 1B: August 18 at 11:30 AM (Play till field is in the money)
• Day 1C: August 19 at 11:30 AM (Play till field is in the money)
• Day 2: August 20 at 11:30 AM (Play till the Final Table of nine players has been reached)
• Day 3: August 21 at 11:30 AM (Final Table)

The tournament structure will be as follows:

• Buy-In: TWD 33,000
• Re-entry: Unlimited re-entry is allowed until the start of Level 7, when registration ends.
• Guaranteed prize pool: $1,000,000
• Starting stack: 30,000
• Blind Levels: 40 minutes on Day 1 and 60 minutes on Days 2 and 3.
• Ante Format: Big Blind Ante.
• Late Registration: Registration closes at the start of Level 7.
• Action Clock: Will be put in place at the start of Day 2 and will be used until the completion of the tournament.
• Player per Table: Play will start with 9-handed tables where space available and will move to 8-handed as soon as possible when in the money.
• Payouts: 12.5% of field
• Requirement for players: In order to play in the event, each player must sign the WPT Player Release Form and be a Crown Poker Club member.

The Venue

The Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP) was created in 2015 and has nine branches in Taiwan. The largest of all is the one located in the capital of Taipei and the venue can accommodate up to 250 players at the same time. The WPT Prime Taiwan festival will be played there and its location is ideal for getting to know the city center.

As in Brazil, gambling and casinos are illegal in Taiwan. But poker lovers have the possibility to play in legal clubs where tournaments are held exclusively. The only requirement to participate is that you be a member of the club.

The City of Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei is the capital of the Republic of China. It is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. The city has an elevated subway and is connected by high-speed rail to Kaohsiung. It straddles the Tamsui River and is 25 kilometers southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean.

What can you see in Taipei? The most visited attractions are:

• Taipei 101, the eleventh tallest building in the world
• National Palace Museum
• Shilin Night Market
• Longshan Temple
• The Grand Hotel
• Tamsui river

The World Poker Tour in Taiwan

The World Poker Tour visited Taiwan for the first time at the Taipai CTP during December 2020 with its WPTDeepStacks circuit. The tournament featured 526 NT$15,000 buy-ins and the prize pool was NT$6,768,000 ($236,921). The winner was Huang Pu , who collected a prize of NT$1,317,800 ($46,131).

The first WPT Prime Taiwan was played in Taipei in November last year and had 877 entries worth NT$33,000. The prize pool was NT$25,196,600 ($809,133), more than doubling the guaranteed prize pool of NT$10,000,000. The champion was Marc Inizan , who won a grand prize of NT$4,326,600 ($138,939).

Marc Inizan / Photo: Tomas Stacha

If Taiwan is on your list of places to visit and you also want to play a tournament that will distribute a million dollars in prizes, you should head on over to WPT Prime Taiwan.

The Festival

The festival will feature 18 events including qualifying satellites for major tournaments. Tournament buy-ins will range from €200 up to the €2,200 High Roller.

Below is the full schedule of all events:

In just two weeks, the @WPT heads back to France for @WPTPrime Aix-en-Provence featuring an €1,100 Main Event at @Pasinogrand @TexapokerLive!

Festival Dates: Aug 1 – Aug 6
Main Event Dates: Aug 2 – Aug 6

More Info & Full Schedule: https://t.co/TVkRjuVJmy pic.twitter.com/muQHAd4jp6

— WPT Prime (@WPTPrime) July 19, 2023

The WPT Prime Main Event

The WPT Prime Main Event will begin on August 2 and will have three starting days, according to the schedule below:

• Day 1A: August 2 at 1 PM (Play till field is in the money)
• Day 1B: August 3 at 1 PM (Play till field is in the money)
• Day 1C: August 4 at 1 PM (Play till field is in the money)
• Day 2: August 5 at 1 PM (Play till the Final Table of nine players has been reached)
• Day 3: August 6 at 1 PM (Final Table)

The tournament structure will be as follows:

• Buy-In: €1,100
• Re-entry: One re-entry allowed per day.
• Starting stack: 30,000
• Blind Levels: 40 minutes on Day 1 and 60 minutes on Days 2 and 3.
• Ante Format: Big Blind Ante.
• Late Registration: Registration closes at the start of Level 7.
• Action Clock: Will be put in place at the start of Day 2 and will be used until the completion of the tournament.
• Players per table: Play will be 8-handed from start. The Final Table Live Stream will be 8-handed.
• Payouts: 12.5% of field

The Venue

The Pasino Grand Casino is located at Avenue de l’Europe 21 in Aix En Provence. In the casino there are four roulette tables, three Blackjack tables, one Ultimate Poker table, one Omaha table and 17 tables awaiting your action in the Poker Room.

The City

Aix En Provence is the former capital of the historical region of Provence and is located in the south of France, at an elevation of 173 meters above sea level. It is a tourist city, known for its authenticity, its rich architectural heritage and its festivals of lyrical art.

Some of the places that you can visit in the city are:

• The world’s most famous lavender region in Sault
• The village of Luberon and the Senanque Abbey
• The favorite places of Vincent van Gogh and the impressive Roman ruins in Provence
• Sailing along the Mediterranean coast to the steep Calanques and explore the national park
• The Mazarin District
• The Granet Museum
• The Cathedral St. Sauveur

WPT Prime Hits France, Part Deaux

The first visit of the WPT Prime in France during 2023 was from January 22 to February 5 with the nation’s capital of Paris playing host to the events at the Circus Club. The WPT Prime Main Event was a huge success with 1,071 entries and a $1.1 million prize pool. The champion was Fabrice Bigot, who turned the $1,100 buy-in into a $193K grand prize. The top 137 players shared the prize pool, and you can read a summary of the tournament in this article.

Which player will raise the new WPT Prime Perpetual trophy in Aix En Provence? Well, you’ve still got a few days to get there, so if you fancy taking a nice a summer vacation in France and book quickly, it might be you!

Fabrice Bigot

WPT Vietnam was chosen because it was the debut Prime stop in 2022. This year’s WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event begins today, May 25th, and will have three starting flights. The buy-in will be $1,000 and the event will offer a guaranteed prize pool of $511,000.

After months of working with multiple designers and production companies, the WPT chose the “Ballerina” design because of the beautiful flow of its wings, and its uncanny resemblance to the Main Tour cup. The Main Tour Cup, renamed The Mike Sexton Champions Cup in July 2020, is a coveted and well-recognized trophy in the poker community. It was renamed in honor of Mike Sexton, longtime WPT Commentator. Every WPT champion has their name permanently inscribed on the cup along with the winning hand from each player’s victory.

Mike Sexton, of course, was inducted into the Poker Hall of Famer in 2009 and was the WPT Honors recipient in 2017. Sexton recorded $6,708,146 in live tournament earnings during his career. One of his biggest prizes was for the 2006 No Limit Hold’em tournament at the WSOP Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas for $1 million after nabbing first place. In 2009, Sexton along with Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher and Lisa Tenner, created PokerGives.org, a nonprofit organization that provides a way for poker players and the poker industry to give back to various charities.

The Prime Trophy may mirror the Mike Sexton Champions Cup but with one difference. Instead of every player being inscribed on the cup, the trophy will display a QR code at its center, which will link to a Prime Champions page on the World Poker Tour website. The WPT Prime perpetual trophy will travel to every Prime Tour stop, and a replica of that trophy will be awarded to each Prime main event winner to take home.

The WPT Prime Perpetual Trophy’s Evolution and Significance

While the trophy is new, the WPT had always wanted to create something special for their mid-major tour. When it was decided to revamp the entire Tour in 2021, introducing WPT Prime, it provided the perfect opportunity to execute this longtime goal. Cardplayer Lifestyle spoke with Adam Pliska, President and CEO of the WPT about the significance of the new trophy.

Why was the creation of this trophy important to the World Poker Tour?

Considering the significance and recognizability that the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup has embodied over the years, we have always dreamed of creating a similar, iconic piece. With the evolution of WPT in 2021, we saw the revamping of WPTDeepStacks into the WPT Prime as the perfect opportunity to implement another one-of-a-kind trophy to the tour.

Can you elaborate on the significance of the trophy design mirroring the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup but also having its own image?

I could not tell you how many design options we went through before landing on the perfect one. To be honest, we were not necessarily looking to create the Prime trophy in the image of the Champions Cup at first. However, when the ‘Ballerina’ concept was presented to us, we instantly saw the resemblance and knew our heart was set on that direction. The individuality of the design was of course important to distinguish the two tours and the most significant difference is the unique QR code capability that comes with the new Prime trophy.

What are your aspirations for this tour in the future?

The Prime Tour has only just begun. We aspire to continuously expand its reach to bring the WPT experience to all corners of the world. Along with that notion, we would like to foster longstanding partnerships that become staples of the tour, festivals that players look forward to year after year. WPT Prime is a great entry point for players that can lead them toward a deeper journey into their poker aspirations.

Thus, the WPT Prime Trophy will in essence be shared by all poker players, as it travels to each stop on the tour. The hope for many will now become to have their own version of the trophy to bring home.

The WPT Prime Vietnam Festival

The festival offers 38 events with entries ranging from $140 to the Billionaire Club High Stakes Challenge at $9,000. The action will begin on May 16 with an Opener event with a $375 buy-in. This event offers three starting rounds and a $85,000 guaranteed prize pool. Additionally, WPT Prime Vietnam offers a guaranteed prize pool of $1.2 million to be distributed among all tournaments in the series.

The featured events:

You can see the complete schedule and structures of all the WPT Prime Vietnam events in this link.

The Main Event

Schedule:

• Day 1A: Thursday, May 25 at 11 AM (play till field is in the money)
• Day 1B: Friday, May 26 at 11 AM (play till field is in the money)
• Day 1C: Saturday, May 27 at 11 AM (play till field is in the money)
• Day 2: Sunday, May 28 at 11 AM (play till the final table has been reached)
• Final Table: Monday, May 29 at 12 PM

Structure:

• Buy-In: $1,066
• Starting Stack: 30,000 chips (150 big blinds)
• Guaranteed Prize Pool: $511,751
• Ante Format: Big Blind Ante
• Blind Levels: 40 minutes during Day 1 and 60 minutes during Day 2 and Final Table
• First Blind Level: 100/200 with 200 Big Blind Ante
• Late Registration: registration closes at the start of Level 7
• Payouts: 12.5% of the field

The WPT Prime Vietnam Venue

Crown Poker Club is located at 214 Hao Nam, 7th floor of NHS Center, Dong Da in Hanoi. The lounge features 30 poker tables and has its own kitchen offering a wide variety of dishes. It is equipped with the latest table system and the best live streaming devices available.

The WPT Prime Vietnam festival organizers are offering a variety of packages to players that include lodging at the Pullman Hotel, breakfast, a 20% discount on food and beverages for $95 per night. To qualify for this price individuals must play the Main Event, the Warm-Up, or one of the High Roller events. For more information please email [email protected].

We're headed back to Asia for #WPTPrimeVietnam in May featuring a VND25,000,000 Main Event @CrownPokerClub!

Festival Dates : May 16 – May 29
Main Event Dates : May 25 – May 29

More Info & Full Schedule: https://t.co/90zg7EeRbk pic.twitter.com/MZ22sssurN

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) April 21, 2023

The City

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the second largest city in the country after Ho Chi Minh City. It is located in the northern part of the country, on the right bank of the Red River just over 1,000 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City and about 75 miles west of Hải Phòng, Vietnam’s main port.

The ten most popular attractions in Hanoi are: the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Water Puppet Theatre, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, The Perfume Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son, Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi Old Quarter, Ba Vi National Park, Hanoi Opera House, and the Temple of Literature.

Past Editions of WPT in Vietnam

The World Poker Tour visited Vietnam five times, starting in 2014 with the WPT Dragon Series. The most recent edition was last year with the new WPT Prime circuit. Below are all the champions of the Vietnam main events:

Last year’s edition of WPT Prime Vietnam registered a record 777 entries (the largest WPT tournament ever in Vietnam) and distributed $738,020 in prizes among the top 96 players. Two players from India defined the tournament: Ashish Munot took second, winning $87K, while the champion was Zarvan Tumboli, winning the biggest prize of his career: $131,394.

Zarvan Tumboli won his way into the WPT history books by taking down the 777-entry field of the WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event at the Crown Poker Club in Hanoi to become the first-ever WPT Prime champion!

Zarvan takes home the trophy, the glory, and $131,134 USD for first! pic.twitter.com/gRv6gk1PJ1

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) May 30, 2022

Will it be possible to surpass the 777 entries in the Main Event this year? During 2023 the WPT Prime circuit has thus far passed through Paris (1,071 entries), Gold Coast (1,224), Cambodia (1,011), Amsterdam (1,000) and India (857). Will WPT Vietnam Prime top the 1,000 entry mark to become the largest WPT field in Vietnam yet? We will soon find out.

Coming up after #WPTRollingThunder, we head to our #WPTPrimeIndia Festival aboard the @TheDeltinLife @Adda_52 featuring a ₹65,000 Main Event!

Festival Dates : April 12 – 18
Main Event Dates : April 13 – 17

Full Schedule & More Info: https://t.co/PcmNimduHM pic.twitter.com/OsDAiLqHEI

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) April 3, 2023

The WPT Prime India Festival

The festival will have 14 events with different entries and modalities. In addition to the WPT Prime Main Event, there will be a High Roller, a ladies-only women’s event, a team tournament and a Mini Main Event for those of lesser bankroll means.

Below is a listing of the tournaments to be held during the festival:

You can see the complete schedule with the satellites in this link.

WPT Prime India Main Event

Schedule:

• Day 1A: April 13 at 1 PM (Play till field is in the money)
• Day 1B: April 14 at 1 PM (Play till field is in the money)
• Day 1C: April 15 at 1 PM (Play till field is in the Money)
• Day 2: April 16 at 1 PM (Play till the Final Table has been reached)
• Day 3: April 17 at 1 PM (Final Table)

Structure:

• Buy-In: ₹65,000
• Re-entry: Unlimited re-entry is allowed until the start of Level 7
• Starting stack: 30,000
• Ante Format: Big Blind Ante
• Blind levels: 40 minutes during Day 1, 60 minutes during Day 2 and Day 3
• Late registration: Registration closes at the start of Level 7
• Payouts: One in eight entries will be in the money (approximately 12.5%)

The Deltin Royale Ship

The Deltin Royale is considered the best casino in India and is one of the largest in Asia. In addition to the casino games, it offers live entertainment, restaurants and a bar on the deck of the ship that offers a magnificent view. The ship’s poker room is the largest in India.

The City

The ship is located off the west-central coast of India, bordering Maharastra to the north, Karnataka to the east and south, and the Indian Ocean to the west. It was established as a state on May 30, 1987 and is the least extensive state and the fourth least populated. The churches and convents of Goa were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.

What can you do in Goa besides play poker on the Destin Royale? The options are several: visit the Bom Jesus Basilica, enjoy the nightlife, go to the Shree Manguesh Shantadurgai Pradanna Temple, visit the Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary, visit the Dudhsagar waterfall or hang out on the magnificent beaches.

One of the magnificent beaches of Goa

The World Poker Tour’s History in India

The World Poker Tour visited India for the first time in 2017 with its WPTDeepStacks circuit, which had 527 entries and distributed $420,622 in prize money. The winner was Vikash Mantri, who achieved a career-best score by cashing for $92,539.

Another WPTDeepStacks tournament was played in November 2018 and this time the number of entries grew to 697, with a prize pool of $506,237. Nikunj Jhunjhunwala emerged as champion, winning $92,660.

The last time the WPT came through India was in October 2019 and the 630 entries made up a prize pool of $463,464. Ashish Munot took first place and the top prize of $89,576.

Ashish Munot

Who will be the champion this year? Will the 2018 event numbers be beaten? We’ll see in a few days.

Enjoy the Amstel Canal

The Amstel Canal is one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam, and you can enjoy it in many ways.

It would be criminal not to visit the Amstel Canal as you travel through Amsterdam, which for the last half a millennia has been host to arguably Europe’s most beautiful canal route. By day, a stroll up and down the Amstel will provide you with a magical mystery tour of sights, such as bookshops filled with rare treasures (I once found a Roald Dahl first edition on sale a quick hop from the canal’s edge).

When evening descends, taking a planned canal cruise is a really popular activity. A few drinks and the well-lit waterways are transformed into the perfect way to get around his historic city. Food is not something that the Dutch are famed for, but this is perhaps an outdated opinion, with some excellent places to eat dotted along the route of the canal.

One of the most popular ways to see the canal is the All-Inclusive Canal Tour which is presented by ‘Captain Jack’ – a tribute to Johnny Depp from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. You’d be ‘Arrrd pushed to find a better way to spend the day.

The Keukenhof Gardens

Amsterdam, like the Netherlands in general – is well known for its flowers. From the humble tulip to less recognised botanical wonders, there’s no better place to take it all in than the Keukenhof Gardens. You can get a superb, guided tour for less than €100 that lasts a full nine hours with cheese tasting at the windmill village in the Zaanse Schans and a wooden shoe demonstration in the wooden shoe factory.

It’s not only the Dutch national flower that is evident around the grounds, which are visited by 800,000 people every year. Around the 15 kilometers of footpaths and 32 hectares of gardens, millions of bulbs are planted every 12 months. From the tulip to the daffodil and everything in between, the gardens feature regular themed displays and have an English landscape garden and a Japanese country garden along with the historical garden that provides the centerpiece of the attraction.

Bike Around Beauty

If you’ve ever been to Amsterdam before, then you’ll know that bicycles are the dominant vehicle for travel in the city. So much so in fact, that the phrase if you can’t beat them, join them springs to mind. Driving through Amsterdam is — like chasing a runner runner straight — akin to insanity, but biking around the city is something to cherish and it’s much easier to go with the flow.

Booking yourself onto a bike tour of the city is cheap at around €40 for a great one lasting three hours. This will take you around the ring of canals that have been in place since the 17th Century in the capital of the Netherlands, with areas of interest dotted around the route. There are a number of parks and attractions along the route, with a stop near the Royal Dutch Concert Hall digging deeper into the fascinating past of one of Europe’s most historic locations.

The Van Gogh Museum

Masters of many artistic genres are present in the city, such as Rembrandt, and our favorite place to drink in artwork is the Van Gogh Museum. With the largest collection of Van Gogh’s artwork in the world, there are over 200 paintings in place, as well as exclusive drawings and letters from the irrepressible Dutch master’s life.

Van Gogh’s inspiring story will delight any art lovers and this is the second most visited museum in Amsterdam every year. His most popular creation, Sunflowers, is by far the most popular of his paintings on display, but the whole exhibition is exquisite and will provide you with a very different pace to a day off between WPT Prime events.

Honor Anne Frank’s Memory

Anne Frank House is the home of the Anne Frank Museum, which hails the life of the prodigious journalist to be who died aged just 15.

If there’s one thing you should do when you take time away from the poker felt to explore Amsterdam, it’s visit Anne Frank’s house. Now converted into a museum, it is a poignant and tragic location which continues to inspire and comfort millions of visitors every year.

Anne Frank’s diary, which was written in the house before she was taken and killed in a concentration camp at the age of just 15, is one of the world’s most important books and the museum honors that tome with a stunning collection of her life that has been converted into a museum.

Having lived in hiding for over two years during the Second World War before her capture, Anne Frank’s plight is bound to the area and it is a touching tribute that the aspiring journalist’s words have since made her famous as a writer posthumously.

If you’re playing in the 2023 WPT Prime Amsterdam events, then you can read all about what’s happening in on the World Poker Tour next week in Amsterdam here. Split your efforts at the felt with some adventures in Amsterdam and the perfect European poker trip will be yours. Good luck!

The Festival

The festival will feature 11 events with buy-ins ranging from €275 to the €2,200 High Roller. Those who don’t have the bankroll to play the higher buy-in tournaments can take advantage of the satellites that will be played for the Main Event and the High Roller.

WPT Prime Main Event Schedule

• Day 1A: March 28 at 12:30 PM (play till field is in the money)
• Day 1B: March 29 at 12:30 PM (play till field is in the money)
• Day 1C Turbo (20 minutes blind levels): March 29 at 7 PM (play till field is in the money)
• Day 2: March 30 at 12:30 PM (play until final table)
• Day 3: March 31 at 6 PM (final table)

We're just ONE WEEK away from our #WPTPrimeAmsterdam Festival at @hollandcasino featuring an €1,100 Main Event!

Festival Dates: Mar 24 – Apr 1
Main Event Dates: Mar 28 – Mar 31

Full Schedule & More Info: https://t.co/Fy9CKBj88G pic.twitter.com/zhmefi2x3z

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) March 17, 2023

WPT Prime Main Event structure

• Buy-In: €1,100
• Starting stack: 30,000 chips (150 big blinds)
• Re-entry: Unlimited during late registration
• Blind levels: 40 minutes during Day 1 and then 60 minutes
• First level: 100/200 with 200 Big Blind Ante
• Ante Format: Big Blind Ante
• Late registration: Closes at the start of Level 7
• Guaranteed Prize Pool: $500,000
• Action Clock: During Day 2 and final table
• Payouts: 12.5%

You can see the complete schedule of the festival via this link.

The Venue

Holland Casino has a legal monopoly on gambling in the Netherlands and the first one opened in 1976 in Zandvoort. There are 14 casinos in the country and the one in the city of Amsterdam is the largest of them. There are also other venues in Breda, Eindhoven Enschede, Groningen, Leeuwarden, Nijmegen and Rotterdam Scheveningen, among others.

At Holland Casino Amsterdam, in addition to poker, you can play Blackjack, American roulette, French roulette, slots and Wheel of Fortune, to name the most popular games. To enjoy a meal, the Vondel and Brasserie restaurants stand out. And those who wish to have a drink can choose from four traditional bars. Proper attire is strict, so no jeans or tennis shoes are allowed.

The City

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and the Amstel River lies to the southeast. It was founded in the 12th Century as a small fishing village and today is the largest city in the country and a major financial and cultural center of international projection. Having water canals, it is called the “Venice of the North”.

What can you do in Amsterdam during a day off? There are several options and these are the most chosen by visitors:

• Visit Anne Frank’s house that has been converted into a museum
• Take a walk through the Hortus Botanicus, which is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, with many ancient and rare species
• Listen to a concert at the Concertgebouw, home of the famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, which gave its first concert in 1888
• Visit the Heineken brewery, which has its own museum
• There are many internationally renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum, the modern art museum Stedelijk Museum, the Museum het Rembrandthuis which was the home and workshop of Rembrandt, the van Gogh Museum, which has the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world; the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, or the Cinema Museum, also known as Filmmuseum

WPT in Amsterdam

The first time the World Poker Tour was played in Amsterdam was in 2015 with its main circuit. There were 341 entries of €3,300 and the prize pool was €992K. The champion was Farid Yachou, winning a prize of €201K.

After that tournament, the WPT returned to the capital of the Netherlands seven times: four events of the WPTDeepstacks circuit and three tournaments of the main circuit. Now the city will host the fourth event of the second season of the popular WPT Prime. Will you be there?

What can they find in this far-flung location? It would be easier to describe what delights aren’t on offer.

A Market City of History and Beauty

If you’re after action and adventure, Phnom Penh is the city for you. The heart of Cambodia, the city has been the capital of the country ever since 1434 and was re-established as the capital once more in 1865; since then it has been Cambodia’s thriving heartbeat.

Sitting neatly between the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, it is worth exploring Phnom Penh or its stunning river walks, and the city is packed with parks, restaurants and bars that all offer something different.

Indeed, a whole tour guide could be written on each of these aspects alone, but we would point you in the direction of the city’s globally renowned art deco Central Market above any other attractions. If Cambodia is known as the ‘Pearl of Asia’, then the market is the glittering centerpoint of such beauty, with over 2 million people in Phnom Penh alone regularly flooding from their homes to buy anything from food to furniture amid the thousands of stalls.

Such is the vibrancy of the market center, that several offshoots of the main hub are worth dedicating serious time to on their own. The Central Market is where most tourists gravitate towards, but the Night Market (or Phsar Reatrey) is very popular with younger revellers, while there is a thriving Russian Market that has a permanent residency, too.

The Royal Palace is a stunning piece of architecture with pavilions of huge importance to the country surrounding the royal seat.

The Royal Palace

Cambodia has 14 million citizens, and it is often said that if someone hasn’t been to the Royal Palace, then they have not really been to Cambodia at all. The complex of royal buildings is the palatial home of the King of Cambodia, and monarchs have taken their seat at the Royal Palace between the 1860s and the present day, with the structure built on top of an ancient citadel.

Having been demolished and rebuilt by previous monarchs, the palace is now a source of peace and tranquillity, with a stunning gilt-edge throne room that makes the grandest castle seat in Game of Thrones look like it was constructed from Play Doh. The statue of His Majesty King Sisowath holding the Royal Sword sits at the south end of the throne room, with the nine-level classical Khmer-style throne itself one of the most ornate pieces of furniture in the known world.

As well as the Royal Palace itself, there is a Napoleon Pavilion, Moonlight Pavilion, Phochani (Banquet) Pavilion and a stunning Silver Pagoda, which holds many of the complex’s sacred Buddhas. The best of these might be the Maitreya Buddha, which is encrusted with a total of 9,584 diamonds and is dressed in royal regalia just to complete the effect. Warning: It might make that side event trophy you win seem slightly inferior after your visit.

The National Museum

Cambodia’s National Museum houses the country’s largest collection of historical and archaeological artefacts, with Khmer art, sculptures, bronzes and ethnographic objects packed throughout its dense corridors. Over 100 years old, the National Museum of Cambodia is no dusty hall of relics, however, with clean, open interiors that feel more modern than you might expect from the outside of the building.

The National Museum of Cambodia is one of everyone’s must-see places while heading to the country on the World Poker Tour.

Many religious artefacts are inside, with Vishnu and Ganesha models among them. Some of the objects are immaculately kept and date back well into the 17th century, so this is a fascinating place to glimpse Cambodia’s rich and complex history in the form of beauty that was left behind for the generations to come.

Temple Run

No, not the highly addictive escape game on cell phones. Rather we’re talking about Wat Phnom, which roughly translated means ‘Hill Temple’. The most impressive temple in the city has a fascinating story behind it, with the legend going that a widow named Lady Penh saved a tree from the nearby river and wanted to build a house form its wood. Inside the tree trunk, however, she found four statues of Buddha and therefore ordered a shrine to be built and the statues to be revered by future generations.

The Wat Phnom Temple is one of the capital city’s most popular tourist attractions.

Setting aside the obvious GTO questions any poker player might have for Lady Penh, namely why she didn’t instead order her servants to track down the location of these mysterious buddha-filled trees instead, the wealthy lady’s wish has led to a place of humility and peace being in place since 1373, when the site was confirmed as a holy place.

Quite what Lady Penh would have made of the temple’s gardens being used as a site for rock concerts, street festivals and the yearly centerpiece for the New Year celebrations in Cambodia is debatable, but you’ve got to see this stunning location of beauty before getting back to the poker tables and putting yourself in the ‘Prime’ position to leave Cambodia with a trophy of your own.

The Festival

The festival will feature 30 events with buy-ins ranging from $200 to the $10,000 Super High Roller Single Day event. There will be $1,000,000 guaranteed in prize pools in the top tournaments. The WPT Prime Main Event will feature a $1,100 buy-in and will have three starting flights, along with a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.

WPT Prime Main Event Schedule

• Day 1A: March 16 at 1 PM (play until field is ITM)
• Day 1B: March 17 at 1 PM (play until field is ITM)
• Day 1C: March 18 at 1 PM (play until field is ITM)
• Day 2: March 19 at 1 PM (play until final table)
• Day 3: March 20 at 1 PM (final table)

Our #WPTPrimeCambodia Festival kicks off in just SEVEN DAYS from @NagaWorld!

Festival Dates: Mar 9 – 21@TheBradOwen @AndrewNeeme #MUG: Mar 15
Main Event Dates: Mar 16 – 20

Rooms are almost sold out! See here for More Info & Full Schedule: https://t.co/NziYuPEad5 pic.twitter.com/J3F9ueAlH5

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) March 1, 2023

WPT Prime Main Event Structure

• Buy-In: $1,100
• Starting stack: 30,000 chips (150 big blinds)
• Re-entry: Unlimited during late registration
• Blind levels: 40 minutes during Day 1 and then 60 minutes
• First level: 100/200 with 200 Big Blind Ante
• Ante Format: Big Blind Ante
• Late registration: Closes at the start of Level 7
• Guaranteed Prize Pool: $500,000
• Action Clock: During Day 2 and final table
• Payouts: 12.5%

Below is a chart of some events that will surely be festival highlights:

You can see the complete calendar with all the WPT Prime Cambodia events and their structures at this link.

The Venue

Nagaworld is one of the largest 5-Star hotels with 1,658 luxurious rooms and the only luxury premium casino in Cambodia. The complex includes restaurants, nightclubs, a spa, and a theater. Shopping lovers can enjoy the China Duty Free Group, the first underground shopping center in the country, selling luxurious international brands.

You can reserve your place at the hotel by clicking on this link.

MUG with Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen

The famous vlogging duo of Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen will once again hold a Meet Up Game during the festival and this time it will be on March 15. The MUG is set to commence at 1:00 PM with a minimum of 12 tables that will run a combination of $1/$3 and $2/$5 No Limit Hold’em cash games. Following the action, the pair of WPT ambassadors will hold a Meet & Greet from 8:30–10:00 PM, which will include a spread of complimentary food and drinks.

We've got a BIG announcement! #WPTAmbassadors @TheBradOwen and @andrewneeme are headed to Cambodia for our #WPTPrimeCambodia Festival @NagaWorld and hosting a #MUG on March 15th!

Festival Dates: Mar 9 – 21

More Info: https://t.co/nojARN1JMO

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) February 16, 2023

Neeme “had the pleasure of traveling to Cambodia last year, and it was an unforgettable experience with great food, great people, and great poker. I’m happy to have the opportunity to return and excited to run back the Meet-Up Game.”

Owen added that “After hearing about Andrew’s time in Cambodia, I really wanted to make the trip as well. I couldn’t let him have all the fun. The MUG is going to be a great time and I’m also pumped to play some tournament poker in Cambodia for the first time.”

Cash Games Bonanza

Up to $13,000 will be given away to cash game players in daily draws during cash games at WPT Prime Cambodia. $1,000 will be given out in daily draws (10 draws between 7 PM and 9 AM) from the March 9-21.

How does the promotion work? $100 to be given away every tournament day at each of the 7 PM, 9 PM, 11 PM, 1 AM, 3 AM, 5 AM, 6 AM, 7 AM, 8 AM & 9 AM lucky draws. Players can qualify by dropping their same-day tournament receipt into the lucky draw barrel.

The City

Cambodia is a sovereign state located in the south of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is inhabited by some 16 million people, 95% of whom practice Buddhism as their religion. In the last 10 years Cambodia has experienced great economic growth thanks to the good performance of sectors such as textiles, agriculture and tourism, which have attracted foreign investment and international trade.

What to visit in Cambodia? We highlight the ruins of Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Beng Mealea and Preah Khan. You can also go to the Angkor Archaeological Park, Pub Street, Phnom Kulen National Park, Angkor National Museum and Tuol Seng Genocide Museum.

WPT in Cambodia

The World Poker Tour visited Cambodia twice. First it did so in 2019 as part of the WPTDeepstacks circuit. That tournament had 750 $1,100 entries and handed out $727K in prize money, nearly tripling the $250K guaranteed pot. The champion was Brian Douglas of the United States, winning $131,430.

Last year the WPT returned with its brand new Prime circuit and was record breaking, gathering 1,050 entries of $1,100 with a prize pool of $1M. The grand champion was David Erquiaga from the Philippines, who won the biggest prize of his career: $137,008.

Who will lift the trophy this time, and can the number of entries for 2022 be surpassed? We will see soon enough.