WatchWPT is a way for WPT Enterprises to bring the World Poker Tour to poker fans at their convenience. Making it an app allows it to fit into the busiest of lifestyles, but its availability as a website (worldpokertour.tv) gives viewers even more options.

The new and improved #WatchWPT app is here — and IT'S FREE!

Dive into our extensive library of past livestreams, TV Final Tables, and more!

Check it out here – https://t.co/maW705XHTu
Also available in the App & Google Play Stores pic.twitter.com/lJgaCha9Zj

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) August 2, 2023

I’ll admit that I didn’t know the WPT had an app that needed to be improved. The “new and improved” WatchWPT has a new user interface and more content.

Reason for WatchWPT App Relaunch

According to the World Poker Tour, the relaunch of WatchWPT was to broaden its reach, taking it to the level of an app that poker fans can access from their mobile devices. At the same time, they launched the product for availability on Vizio and LG Smart TVs. Soon to follow will be Samsung and Philips TVs.

More than that, the relaunch is a part of the rebranding efforts that began last year for the World Poker Tour. With the Season XX changes, WatchWPT was slated for upgrades as well. It now has an improved interface and provides a more user-friendly experience.

What to Watch on WatchWPT

The vast library of World Poker Tour events is on the WatchWPT app and website. Check out everything from old Grand Prix de Paris and Legends of Poker final tables to Alpha8 and celebrity specials. There are also collections of the most memorable WPT final tables from the past as well final tables and livestreams from the 2022 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.

Currently, the categories by season includes everything from Season 8 of the World Poker Tour through Season 18. All three seasons of Alpha8 high rollers are available as well.

More episodes are being added, however, including that 20th season finale at Wynn last year and the livestreamed cash games from that event.

It appears that the team behind WatchWPT is still uploading additional episodes and footage. According to the WPT, this will continue through next year as the library becomes home to more classic content to complement new footage.

Free Registration

There is a registration feature, which simply requires a login name, password, and email. This allows viewers to use extras like the “continue watching” feature, so you can stop watching an episode or stream at any point and resume at that place when you return.

You can also “favorite” certain episodes to rewatch later. This is an especially helpful feature if you see poker hands that you want to watch again to improve your own poker game.

There was a downside to my experience with the app though, namely a lot of ads. Before watching a video, there are six ads, though some of them are very short.

The upside, however, is that the app and content is free. In a world where TV watchers now have to seemingly pay for every channel available, the World Poker Tour’s shows are free on apps like this. And its availability through an app makes it easier to watch on a mobile device and on the go.

High Stakes Poker

The most iconic poker cash game show returns in 2023 with Season 11 of High Stakes Poker kicking off on Monday, August 7.

Season 11 will feature 14 episodes and will launch the season debut with the biggest stakes the show has seen with a $1,000/$2,000 No-Limit Hold’em cash game that includes a $500,000 minimum buy-in. The lineup includes Eric Persson, Charles Yu, Jean-Robert Bellande, Ferdinand Putra, Rob Yong, Andrew Robl, and Rick Salomon for six episodes.

Players returning to the High Stakes Poker set for Season 11 include Brandon Steven, Jennifer Tilly, Lynne Ji, and Doug Polk. New faces making their High Stakes Poker debut include Bob Bright, Matt Berkey, and Nik Airball.

Watch Season 11 episodes of High Stakes Poker every Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

No Gamble, No Future

Season 3 of No Gamble, No Future will see the iconic Cash of the Titans livestream cut into episodes to open the new season. Across the first 10 episodes, the three days of livestreams will track Andrew Robl, Markus Gonsalves, Rob Yong, Matthew Gonzales, Eric Persson, and Patrik Antonius playing escalating stakes that begin at $500/$500 and rise to $1,000/$2,000.

There’s not just $5 million on the table, but there is also a $600,000 side bet – $100,000 from each player – that will be collected by the player that wins the most money throughout the three days.

The final six episodes of the 16-epiode season will see a mix of new and old faces. Returning to No Gamble, No Future include Eric Hicks, Eli Elezra, Shawn Madden, Justin Young, and Kevin Martin. Players making their No Gamble, No Future debut include poker all-stars Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth, along with Lynne Ji, Matt Steinberg, Lawford Edwards, and Arden Cho.

Watch Season 3 episodes of No Gamble, No Future every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

High Stakes Duel

In early May, Daniel Negreanu defeated Eric Persson in Round 1 of High Stakes Duel 4 for $100,000. Persson declined the rematch, and as many players put their name in the mix to take on Negreanu, it was announced that Doug Polk would step up as the challenger for Round 2 where $200,000 would be on the line.

Negreanu and Polk have history in High Stakes Feud where the two played a hybrid of heads-up cash games – firstly at the PokerGO Studio, and then the remainder on WSOP.com. Polk won that battle, but now their own version of a Round 2 will be under High Stakes Duel 4 this August.

Both players are set to play in August, however, the date is not set yet but is expected to occur closer to the end of the month.

What Did You Miss in July?

The month of July on PokerGO saw the completion of the 2023 World Series of Poker which included Daniel Weinman winning the WSOP Main Event for $12.1 million in prize money.

Weinman topped the record-smashing field of 10,043 entrants in the 2023 WSOP Main Event and rode a wave of great play, mixed with some good fortune. Weinman won a hand with 14 players remaining that will go down as the luckiest hand he has ever played. For Joshua Payne, the hand will forever be his WSOP Main Event heartbreak moment.

Some of the wildest moments from the 2023 WSOP Main Event also included this hand from Tom Dwan that saw him hit the rail:

This wild bad beat on Day 5 of the 2023 WSOP Main Event that featured Bill Klein with pocket kings:

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The five positions they’re seeking to fill include: Treasurer, Secretary, Final Table Celebrations Program Manager, Raise It Up Program Manager, and Community Outreach Liaison.

WPA International Affairs Director Ivonne Montealegre is specifically looking to “make a mark by inviting women from all over the world to apply for these Board positions, rather than be exclusionary.”

Description of the Five Volunteer Roles

Applicants for the Treasurer position should have some sort of background in finance or bookkeeping, as their primary responsibility will be to create and oversee the WPA international Board’s budget.

Applicants for the Secretary position should have a strong working knowledge of Trello and Google Drive, as well as have strong organizational and written skills. Their primary responsibilities will be to assist with the communication among WPA International Board members, keep meeting records, assist with administrative work, and distribute communicative materials.

Applicants to fill the role of Final Table Celebrations Program Manager should be enthusiastic extroverts. This person’s primary role will be to conduct outreach with poker rooms worldwide and coordinate swag and merchandise offerings at the final tables of various events.

Applicants to fill the role of Raise It Up Program Manager should be excited by the prospect of enhancing the profile and visibility of women in the poker world. This role’s primary responsibilities include arranging business meetings with poker room managers and other industry business leaders for the purpose of promoting the WPA’s work in a positive light.

Finally, applicants to fill the role of Community Outreach Liaison should ideally have a background in marketing, sales, or communications, with documented experience in having forged business relationships being advantageous. This person’s primary role will be to identify new business opportunities for the WPA to achieve sponsorship, as well as research new markets in which to begin organizational activity.

Ready to Lend a Hand? Send in Your Application

Interested applicants should send their CV and a cover letter to: [email protected]

As far as commitment required, applicants should be prepared to devote approximately 10-15 hours per week to the respective roles.

WPT EveryOne for One Drop $10K

This event was played from July 9-14 at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas and featured a buy-in of $10,500. A total of 1,676 entries created a prize pool of $16.2 million, far exceeding the $10 million guarantee.

Among the notable players who finished in the money were: Isaac Haxton (198th), Erik Seidel (197th), Joe McKeehen (192nd), Andrew Moreno (186th), Chris Moneymaker (141st), Ethan “Rampage” Yau (127th ), Dan Smith (115th), Jeremy Ausmus (79th), 2022 WPT World Championship champion Eliot Hudon (66th), Adrián Mateos (57th), WPT Prime Championship winner Stephen Song (39th), 4-time WPT champion Darren Elias (19th) and Stephen Chidwick (16th), among others.

The winner of the tournament was Bin Weng, who collected the biggest prize of his career: $2.2 million. Weng is in the midst of his best year ever, having already made two final tables in WPT Main Events — placing fourth at the WPT Choctaw for $143K and winning the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $1.1 million. With these results he leads the WPT Player of the Year rankings, and has passed the $7 million mark for career live tournament earnings.

Bin Weng Wins the WPT EveryOne for One Drop ($2,227,054)
Photo Credit : WPT#onedrop #wpt #wynnlasvegas #everyoneforonedrop #poker4water pic.twitter.com/BYMSrwPQTP

— All In For ONE DROP (@allinforonedrop) July 15, 2023

The final table consisted of a half dozen crushers, each of whom happily padded their bank accounts:

1. Bin Weng –  $2,227,054
2. Scott Baumstein  –  $1,503,988
3. Niko Koop  –  $1,872,438
4. Freddy Heller –  $956,000
5. Dominik Nitsche   –  $700,100
6. Tom Cannuli  –  $524,500

WPT Alpha 8 For One Drop $111K

After several years of absence, the exclusive Alpha 8-branded tournament returned and was played from July 14-16 at the Wynn Casino. With 45 entrants paying $111K each for seats at the tables, the total prize pool was $4.6 million, and it was split among the final seven players.

The lion’s share went to Jonathan Jaffe, who collected the biggest prize of his career: over $1.5 million. Jonathan is a regular player on the World Poker Tour, where he boasts 14 cashes, 4 final tables and 1 title (WPT Montreal in 2014). With his Alpha 8 win, he boosted his live tournament earnings to $9 million.

Here’s how the final table played out among those who made the money:

1. Jonathan Jaffe –  $1,537,600
2. Taylor von Kriegenbergh –  $1,042,100
3. Dan Smith –  $701,700
4. Aleksejs Ponakovs –  $485,200
5. Michael Lim –  $350,100
6. Iaron Lightbourne –  $273,200
7. Isaac Haxton –  $222,600

Congratulations Jonathan Jaffe, Winner of the $111,000 @WPT Alpha 8 For One Drop Event. Jonathan battled his way to victory through a star studded field, taking home $1,537,600! pic.twitter.com/BGVNylpKxX

— Wynn Poker Room (@WynnPoker) July 17, 2023

WPT Big One For One Drop $1M

The crown jewel of the WPT-One Drop Foundation trifecta will be the return of the “Big One For One Drop,” which will feature a whopping $1 million price tag to enter, and which will be played from December 18-20 as part of the 2023 WPT World Championship. It will be the fifth edition of this event after previous installments of the tournament held in 2012 (winner: Antonio Esfandiari – $18.3M), 2014 (winner: Dan Colman – $15.3M), 2016 (winner: Elton Tsang – $12.2M) and 2018 (winner: Justin Bonomo – $10M).

How many entries will the new edition have? Who is most likely to emerge atop as a newly-minted multi-millionare among millionaires? Learn more in this article.

It’s coming. #TheBigOne @onedrop @allinforonedrop @WynnLasVegas @WynnPoker pic.twitter.com/0dpunxnMBV

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) July 12, 2023

The full 2023 WPT World Championship schedule will soon be announced, with even higher numbers expected than last year, and the returning Big One For One Drop on top of it all. This will signal a perfect end to 2023, a year where live poker has broken numerous records, with more likely to fall at the Wynn in December.

$60,000 WPT Prime Passport Palooza

On Sunday, July 9 at 5:30 PM ET, the last satellite of this promotion will be played for members with Diamond status at ClubWPT. The ten best placed players will qualify for the $60,000 WPT Prime Passport Palooza that will take place on August 13. This event will award 20 WPT Prime Championship Passports of $2,500 to the 20 best-placed players.

The winner of each $2,500 WPT Prime Championship Passport will receive a ClubWPT Passport main event package to the WPT Prime Championship at Wynn Las Vegas Main Event, taking place in Las Vegas December 7-12, 2023.

$150,000 WPT World Championship Challenge

During December, one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year will be played at the Wynn casino in Las Vegas: the WPT World Championship. This series will distribute millions of dollars in prizes. You can review the best moments of the 2022 WPT World Championship in this article from last December.

At ClubWPT, two satellites a month will be played through the month of October. Each will award 20 guaranteed tickets for the $150K WPT World Championship Challenge that will take place on November 5th. The top 10 players in that event will win a WPT World Championship Passport that includes the following prizes:

• $10,400 WPT World Championship Main Event seat. 
• Hotel stay at the luxurious Wynn Las Vegas. 
• $1,000 cash (for self-arranged flight and incidentals). 
• Dedicated ClubWPT VIP host.
• Official ClubWPT branded merchandise. 
• Meet & greet with WPT talent. 

You can read more details about this promotion in this article that we published in April.

PRESS RELEASE@ClubWPT will run a 300-player #WPTWorldChampionship Challenge finale on November 5, giving away $150,000 in prizes!

Read more: https://t.co/2s2DwvYKPr

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) April 20, 2023

Experience An Epic Sea Change In The Caribbean

The World Poker Tour journeys to the Caribbean seas from March 31 to April 6, 2024 aboard Virgin Voyage’s Valiant Lady. During the month of July, satellites will be held at ClubWPT on Saturdays at 6:30 PM ET for those with Diamond status.

The winner of each satellite will win a WPT Voyage Diamond Passport valued at $6,000 and valid for two people which includes the following prizes:

• 7-Day Caribbean Cruise departing Miami, FL, with port stops in Grand Cayman and Bimini Beach Club. Click here for more details.
• Ltd View Sea Terrace cabin ($3,800 value), including onboard wifi, food, essential drinks, taxes and gratuities (2 people)
• One (1) buy-in to the $1,100 WPT® Prime tournament.
• $100 complimentary ‘Sailors Loot’ onboard credit.
• $1,000 cash travel stipend (self-arranged travel to/from Miami, FL.)
• Dedicated VIP host.
• Official ClubWPT branded merch.
• Meet & greet with WPT® talent.

About ClubWPT

ClubWPT is the official subscription online poker game of the World Poker Tour. VIP and Diamond users pay a monthly subscription fee for exclusive access to member benefits including full episodes from every past season of the WPT television show, valuable savings and coupons, invites to official World Poker Tour live events and much more. Each month, members can play poker games to win a share of more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, including seats to live WPT events.

Be sure to participate in these exciting promotions to win tickets to the biggest live events on the World Poker Tour.

World Series of Poker Main Event

The 2023 WSOP Main Event will be aired live and exclusively on PokerGO with coverage beginning on Day 1A and continuing until the next World Champion is crowned from Horseshoe / Paris on the Las Vegas Strip.

Beginning on Monday, July 3, there will be four Day 1 flights followed by two Day 2s with registration open through two levels on Day 2. With record-breaking entrant numbers in many events throughout the WSOP so far, the 2006 WSOP Main Event record of 8,773 entrants may only hold onto the record for a few more days. Field sizes as high as 9,000 or 10,000 entrants are being touted by people as everyone flocks to town to be part of the biggest WSOP Main Event in history.

Thankfully PokerGO will be on hand to catch nearly every minute of the action live across both PokerGO.com and the PokerGO YouTube channel.

Day 1s Live on YouTube

Coverage of Day 1s will begin at the start of Level 3 at approximately 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET and run until players bag their chips at the end of Level 5.

A table will be selected to play out on the Horseshoe table with all the action available exclusively on the PokerGO YouTube channel.

Split Coverage for Day 2s, 3, and 4

When Day 2 is reached, the Horseshoe table will be in action from the start of day and will broadcast the first two levels on the PokerGO YouTube channel. The coverage will move to the WSOP Main Stage and PokerGO.com from the third level of the day until players bag their chips for the day.

This will also be how Day 3 and 4 are covered with the money expected to be reached late on Day 3, or early on Day 4. The PokerGO production team will be on hand to catch that unlucky moment for whoever claims the moniker of 2023 WSOP Main Event bubble boy or girl.

Early level coverage will start at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET and run to approximately 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET. While the PokerGO.com WSOP Main Stage coverage will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET and run until the players bag for the day; approximately 1 a.m. PT / 4 a.m. ET.

Full Day Coverage from Day 5

Starting on Day 5, the WSOP Main Stage will be in action from the very first hand with everything broadcast on PokerGO.com.

The WSOP Main Event will reach some of the most intense moments as players jostle for position on the leaderboard, look to ladder up, and eye payouts that approach seven figures.

Following an off day on Saturday, July 15, the final nine will return on Sunday, July 16, to begin the 2023 WSOP Main Event final table. The plan will likely see the final table trimmed to the final four players who will return on Monday, July 17, to play down to the winner who will be crowned the 2023 World Champion and awarded a payday of what some to believe will eclipse $10 million.

World Series of Poker Bracelet Events

Three more WSOP bracelet events remain in 2023 with the Event #65: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed kicking off on Saturday, July 1, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET.

The next day will see the Event #57: $1,000 Ladies Championship final table take center stage on the Horseshoe table. These ladies will be playing for the coveted Ladies Championship gold and the $192,167 first-place prize.

On Wednesday, July 5, a special final table will play on the Horseshoe table with the WSOP Online Event #13: $5,300 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller Championship concluding. Played online on WSOP.com, the final eight players will have approximately 36 hours to travel to Horseshoe / Paris Las Vegas to crown the hybrid WSOP bracelet.

What Did You Miss in June?

The highlight of June on PokerGO was the beginning of the 2023 World Series of Poker and an accompanying 40 livestreams to live no day of June unstreamed!

Plenty of WSOP veterans added to their WSOP trophy case while hundreds of thousands, and occasionally millions of dollars were decided upon the turn of a card.

Some of the best moments from June at the 2023 WSOP included this runner-runner from Chris Brewer to win the $250k Super High Roller and his first WSOP bracelet:

Phil Hellmuth making a colossal mistake in the Poker Players Championship:

Tyler Brown’s hero call with ace-high to ensure himself of a $1 million win:

Finally, Doug Polk hitting an incredible two-outer on the river with a celebration to match:

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The Bootcamp will include a tournament where the final table of recruits will win an all-expenses paid trip to the EPT Cyprus this October 11-22 to take part in the PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown. The winner of this Showdown will receive a special package to the EPT in Prague December 6-17.

Image Credit: PokerStars

For beginners only, this year’s Bootcamp recruitment window is open until July 22 with successful applicants receiving one on one tutorials from the best females in the game, including PokerStars Ambassadors such as Lali Tournier, Georgina James and Jennifer Shahade who will be on hand to provide their support and tips. The participants will also have access to the Poker Power Play app.

Poker Power Partnership

PokerStars and Poker Power became partners in November 2022 with a shared goal to increase the participation of women in poker with a long-term approach. Women comprise only 4% of players in the global poker community. Last year’s female-only Bootcamp ran for four weeks, and culminated in sending seven women to compete in the “PokerStars x Poker Power Bootcamp Showdown” tournament at EPT Prague on December 12^th. Roxanne Johnson from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada won the ultimate prize of a “Platinum Pass” worth $30,000 to this year’s PSPC.

Poker Power, founded by Jenny Just and Juliette Hulsizer in 2019, has become quite a presence in women’s poker; inspiring, informing, and financially backing female poker players to help them achieve success. Their motto is  “Be fearless. Bet on yourself.” Their goal is to create opportunities for women and help foster their ability to take risks in an industry that’s predominately male.

Image Credit: PokerStars

PokerStars Women’s Bootcamp LiveStream

Host of the livestream, James Hartigan (Presenter, Commentator and Head of Poker Editorial for PokerStars) welcomed panelists: Rebecca McAdam Willetts, PokerStars Director of Partnerships, PR and Consumer Engagement; Francine Watson, Executive Producer at PokerStars for TV shows and live streams; Jennifer Shahade (2x US Women’s chess champ, Author, PokerStars Pro), Line Peteri, Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership and Management from the University of Exeter and longtime industry veteran; and Alex O’Brien, Association of British Science Writers Vice-Chair, Science Writer, Author and Poker Player.

James touched on why each panelist was passionate about getting more women involved in poker. Rebecca spoke about starting to play at 14 or 15 and being excited about being able to be a part of the poker world when she was able to play her first live game. She wants to create and investigate what makes a poker environment better for women.

Francine, who made her way to poker after working in cricket and football, was enticed by the stories in poker, as she says “I’m a storyteller.” She was also drawn to poker because an amateur could sit “next to (Phil) Ivey” to play. After being in sports where that wouldn’t happen, she enjoyed the equity that anyone could play at the table.

Jennifer has played chess since she was 5 years old, and found her way “to the beauty of the game” of poker at 15. She enjoyed being around people that were unlike her but with a shared passion of poker. Poker also allowed her a way to see the world. Jen stated that she wants to give the women in poker a community, which was a common sentiment amongst the panelists.

Image Credit: PokerStars

Alex became more interested in poker after another female writer that she met with frequently had to cancel their plans because she’d stayed up all night to make $6,000 playing poker. Alex riffed on Mike Sexton, saying “the rules of (poker) take only 5 minutes to learn, (but) a lifetime to master.”

Line encountered poker when friends took her to a tournament to help distract her from a bad breakup and she ended coming in third place. She commented that “everything starts with confidence” and women’s events “nurture don’t mock” the players. It was also discussed that women’s online poker groups, such as Poker Power, Pocket Queens, and PokerStars, are valuable and can help create a village mentality.

It was a huge honour to be on stage with these powerhouses to announce the launch of the @PokerStars Women’s Bootcamp 2023. A fantastic initiative in collaboration with @joinpokerpower to commit to making poker as inclusive & accessible as possible for everyone. CHANGE IS COMING. pic.twitter.com/3iSTmKPjIt

— Alex O’Brien (@obrientweet) June 30, 2023

The audience asked questions of the panelists, and brought up the strong point that women need to have more male allies in poker as advocates. Francine suggested that women need more representation in senior floor staff at tournaments. Alex added that penalties in poker need to be equitably applied, with a tightening of rules as with other sports. She said that we need to empower the dealers to also step up and know they’ll be backed up by the chain of command.

A question from the audience led to a discussion about the importance of ladies events. Alex commented that these events provide a safe environment, a comfortable one in which to ask questions, and receive support from more knowledgeable female poker players. “Show them the ropes and release them into the wild.” Jen commented that years ago she liked women’s events because they were usually more affordable. In addition to the “gender gap” there’s also a “wage gap” in poker. Women usually don’t have “as much capital” as their male counterparts.

Alex added a final note that “the cards are blind, (they) have no gender.”

*If you’re interested in signing up, go to: PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp 2023 – PokerStars Learn  The Bootcamp is free for its participants.

We got in touch with him to hear more about his new adventure in Las Vegas and to discuss his famous book on its 20th anniversary.

just finished Positively 5th Street by @jimbosweetness — thanks again @clayhebert for gifting it to me.

book is a wild ride that inspired me to build my own basement cellar casino. talk about taking action! pic.twitter.com/A8pQmcj0ai

— Ryan Kulp (@ryanckulp) November 26, 2022

The Anniversary of a Classic Poker Book

Younger players may not be familiar with the Jim’s book, so we asked him why they should read it. He told us: “If they have any interest in what the World Series of Poker was like in 2000, or in the murder of its host, Ted Binion, or in how an amateur prepared to play against pros to reach the final table of the Main Event, my book will tell them about it. If they’re interested in the rest of poker history, they should also read my other book, Cowboys Full.”

We had read that Jim’s book was going to be turned into a script for a television series, and he had some news on that topic, too. “The showrunner is Benjamin Cavell, screenwriter of the TV series ‘Justified’ and other shows. The writing and other aspects of production were on hold during the WGA writers strike, but he will ramp up again this week.”

My first and most generous guide to the #WSOP in 2000 was @FirstLadyPoker Linda Johnson. @WSOP pic.twitter.com/CGelxIJxkm

— James McManus (@jimbosweetness) August 26, 2022

James made the WSOP Main Event final table 23 years ago, so we asked what memories he had have of that final table in particular. “Since it was my first tournament ever, it felt normal to be at the final table, but of course it wasn’t normal at all. After being chip leader late on the previous evening, I never won another hand, so after three days of playing well and running good, the last day was a nightmare and huge disappointment. It took me a while to understand how lucky I’d been during days 1-3.”

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Chris Moneymaker‘s triumph in the 2003 Main Event. In reflecting upon poker’s resurgent popularity over the last couple years, Jim said that “Three years of pent-up demand have led up to this point. And with all the new ways to cheat online, live tournaments, especially WSOP and WPT events, are sure to become even more popular.”

2000 #WSOP Main Event. Puggy and the guy from @Harpers. #PositivelyFifthStreet to become a limited series. pic.twitter.com/RbDIMLBAq1

— James McManus (@jimbosweetness) August 17, 2022

We asked what memories he had about the late Doyle Brunson, to which Jim replied “He amazingly spanned the eras of the Texas road gamblers, helping to bring No Limit Hold’em to Vegas and introducing state of the art poker strategy in his books, through the early days of the WSOP, through the internet boom, to today, always among the best living players for seven decades. And he always did it with class and generosity. That is simply astonishing.”

He inspired me and millions of others. One of the greatest players ever but without an arrogant cell in his body. #RIPDoyle pic.twitter.com/JY1dbz0Oqu

— James McManus (@jimbosweetness) May 15, 2023

A New WSOP Main Event and a New Book in the Works

You have plans to write a book about your experience at the 2023 WSOP. Tell us a little about it and what it will be about. “I’ll begin reporting on my action on June 15. It will definitely include lots of examples of how different the tournament is today from 2000, from the tiny Horseshoe venue in downtown Vegas to two huge hotels in the center of the Strip. Very few cell phones then; now everyone has one. Back then there were no GTO solvers or online training sites. They used to award 20 bracelets; now it’s almost 100. Players can even bring their dogs to the table.”

What events do you plan to play? How can those who are interested buy a percentage? “At least 10 events, mostly No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha with buy-ins less than $5K, as well as the $10K Main Event. To buy a percentage, please go to my Facebook page, right at the top. The markup is 1.2″.

Jim’s post on Facebook

Today the Main Event has a new venue and thousands of players. We asked Jim if he felt ready to play it considering his increased experience, to which he replied: “Today, far more players are competent at NLH, so it’s harder to build a big stack. To make the final table, you have to play well and #rungood for nine or 10 days instead of three. But I hope 23 years of study and playing tournaments gives me some advantages, though like everyone else in the field, I’ll be an extreme longshot to make the final table.”

Its believed by many that the 2006 WSOP Main Event attendance record of 8,773 could be broken in this year’s edition of the Main Event. Jim concurred. “All signs point to the record being broken, though unfortunately there are no more one-table $1k satellites, which is how I won my seat in 2000 (and many other times). Because of the idiotic UIGEA, American players also have fewer chances to win seats online than players in most other countries.”

10,011 players will enter the 2023 Main Event https://t.co/utEKE2a6LO

— James McManus (@jimbosweetness) June 11, 2023

To end off our conversation, we asked Jim what he likes most about poker, to which he responded: “I like many things about it. It’s our national card game, and increasingly the world’s. Tournaments let me compete for high stakes with a fairly modest buy-in investment. As a popular and potentially lucrative mind sport, poker satisfies my competitive urges long after I got too old to play physical sports. The WSOP is genuinely a world gathering, a chance to meet and compete against people of all ages and backgrounds, from every inhabited continent.”

Remembering the 2000 World Series of Poker Main Event

In 2000, James McManus traveled to Las Vegas to cover the Ted Binion murder trial and the WSOP Main Event. He tried his luck in a $1K Main Event satellite and with three players remaining he accepted a deal to win $6K and paid the difference to play in the tournament he had always dreamed of playing.

A total of 512 players signed up, surpassing the 1999 edition by 119. The best 45 participants would make it into the money and the champion would instantly become a millionaire, with a top prize of $1.5M. Jim started the day with 10K in chips and went into Day 2 with 35K. During Day 2 he was able to double up with K-K and was seated at a difficult table with Kathy Liebert, Daniel Negreanu, Mickey Appleman and Hasan Habib. He was able to survive the bubble by playing his favorite hand (98) and bagged 276K for Day 3, ranking third in the chip counts.

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson and Jim

On Day 3 Jim shared a table with Mike Sexton, Annie Duke, T.J. Cloutier and Jeff Shulman, among others. Chris “Jesus” Ferguson had an incredible run, and after eliminating Shulman, the final table of six players was formed. Chris was the runaway chip-leader with 2.8M and in second place was the humble journalist playing in his first Main Event, with 554K in chips.

How did James do at the final table? To find out, we invite you to read the excellent book “Positively Fifth Street“. While 23 years have passed since that tournament, in just a few days McManus will play it again and possibly have another legendary story to tell about another deep run.

Good luck in Vegas, Jim!

To access the weeklong membership, all you’ll have to do is show up and join us from July 2-6 during the Mixed Game Festival and get the code directly from me. Upon using the code to register your account on Pokercoaching.com, you’ll receive unrestricted access to every bit of training material they’ve produced for seven days!

From the moment you open your account, the clock will start ticking, and you’ll have a full week at your disposal to look around, watch some videos, and check out a variety of tools designed to help you become a better poker player.

The platform features over 25 full-scale poker courses taught by company founder Jonathan Little as well as his top-notch roster of poker coaches, which includes highly decorated professionals such as Faraz Jaka, Justin Saliba, Lexy Gavin-Mather, Tommy Angelo, Alex Fitzgerald, Brock Wilson, Matt Affleck, Ethan “Rampage” Yau, and Jonathan Jaffe. Plus, there are over 100 hand history review videos that you can watch that are practically guaranteed to give you a leg up on the competition you’ll face at the felt.

Popular offerings to check out from their library of material include their Cash Game Masterclass and Tournament Masterclass. If you’re a more experienced player you’ll likely want to have a look at Little’s new Advanced Tournament Course.

On top of traditional courses and instructional videos, PokerCoaching.com offers a range of interactive content, including more than 2,000 hand quizzes and 700 coaching seminars. These tools will prove immensely useful when putting your newly acquired knowledge into practice, thus improving your understanding of theoretical poker concepts.

As you’d expect, you’ll also find a boatload of GTO preflop charts for different formats, as well as hundreds of coaching webinars featuring interactive sessions between coaches and students where common spots get addressed effectively. If you pay close attention and internalize the lessons, you’ll have a utility belt full of enhanced options and maneuverability during your poker sessions.

Plus, on top of your FREE week of Pokercoaching Premium access, many Mixed Game Festival V attendees will likely have the opportunity to mix it up at the felt in person with some of the stable’s pros, who’ve showed up to splash around with us in the non-Hold’em streets in the past.

Finally, during each day of our upcoming Mixed Game Festival, one player will be selected as our “Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day” and will receive a free hat along with special coverage in our daily recaps.

Success in poker is all about finding value, and you’ll be sure to find plenty of it at Mixed Game Festival V, thanks to Pokercoaching.com.

“We are beyond excited to be announcing the resurgence of our most iconic charity event,” said Alexandre Meunier, One Drop Foundation’s Chief Marketing and Events Officer. He added, “It is an incredible feeling to be able to have the support of WPT and the Wynn to run our fifth edition of the Big One. There is always a palpable buzz in the air during the lead-up to the one-million-dollar affair. The magnitude of the buy-in, of the prize pool, and also of the funds that are directed to the crucial cause of access to safe water makes the Big One the event of all superlatives.”

As part of the new partnership, there will be three charity events taking place over the coming months that will raise funds for the One Drop Foundation:

The WPT World Championship at the Wynn Casino will be a spectacular setting for the return of the Big One For One Drop, which will distribute millions of dollars in prizes and raise money so that areas most in need can have sustainable access to water.

“The Big One for One Drop is such an iconic tournament in the world of poker. We are honored to put on this incredible event in conjunction with the One Drop Foundation and Wynn Las Vegas,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “The $1 million buy-in is a testament to the heights this industry can reach and the continuous evolution of the World Poker Tour.”

The Story of the Big One For One Drop

The million-dollar event made its debut in 2012 during the WSOP. That year 48 people took part, creating a prize pool of $42.6M. The nine finalists were awarded and among them were Mike Sexton (ninth), Brian Rast (sixth), Phil Hellmuth (fourth) and Sam Trickett (second).

The champion was Antonio Esfandiari, achieving the highest prize for a poker player up to that moment: $18.3M. Antonio celebrated by standing on top of the table and them jumping off directly on to his rail cheering him on. After that, he hugged his father with tears in his eyes and gave him the newly-won bracelet.

In 2014 the tournament returned. This time there were 42 players, with a prize pool of $37.3M. Daniel Colman defeated Canadian Daniel Negreanu in the heads-up final to become champion, earning $15.3M. The Canadian had to settle for an $8.2M for second place prize.

During that tournament an incredible bad beat happened where two pairs of aces met pre-flop and Cary Katz hit a flush eliminating Connor Drinan from the tournament. You can see the hand here:

In 2016 the Big One for One Drop left the United States and was instead played in Monte Carlo, with 28 people paying the €1M buy-in and playing for a €24.8M prize pool. Elton Tsang from Hong Kong was the winner and accepted a huge prize of €11.1M ($12.2M).

The last edition of the Big One for One Drop was held in 2018 during the WSOP in Las Vegas. It garnered 27 players, distributing $24.8M in prizes. Justin Bonomo was having the best year of his career and confirmed it by winning this tournament, earning $10M. Fedor Holz placed second and Dan Smith finished on the podium in third.

In December we will learn whether the new venue of the Wynn and the framework of the World Poker Tour World Championship will result in the largest field yet of Big One For One Drop players. Will we have a new record prize in poker history? We can’t wait to find out.