World Poker Tour Announces Fourth Season Schedule
With the broadcasting of the third season of the World Poker Tour barely out of the gates, the WPT announced today the schedule of tournaments that will make up their fourth season schedule.
In its first three seasons, the World Poker Tour has drummed up nearly $100 million in prize money and made household names out of Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, Phil "The Unabomber" Laak and many others. The fourth season will drive the total payout of prizes to nearly $200 million as it will award between three million and ten million per event in 2005. That translates to a prize pool in 2005-2006 between $70-90 million dollars.
The fourth season will begin and end in Las Vegas, with the Mirage Poker Showdown kicking off the fourth year at the Mirage in Las Vegas on May 23rd. The sixteen tournament series will end up on April 28th, 2006 with the World Poker Tour Championship being held at the Bellagio. In between will be stops at the most prestigious tournaments from around the world, including Paris, Aruba, Atlantic City, NJ and Los Angeles.
"Anyone can play, anyone can win," has been the mantra of the World Poker Tour, and it has certainly held true throughout the history of the Tour. Amateurs and professionals can put up the buy in and attempt to become the next millionaire and champion in one of the fastest growing sports in recent history. In addition, the WPT has exposed the game of poker to an ever growing fan base, with the broadcasts reaching nearly sixty countries around the world and continuing to be the top rated program on The Travel Channel.
"If history prevails, Season Four will be the biggest and best yet," said Steve Lipscomb, founder and president of World Poker Tour Enterprises. "Poker players today plan their schedules around the WPT because of the major role our league plays in furthering their careers and their sport. We are offering an astounding amount of prize money and our casino partners, who were once downsizing their poker operations, now are trying to figure out where to put all the players when we come to town!"
The following is the dates and locations for the 2005-2006 WPT season:
TOURNAMENT DATE LOCATION
Mirage Poker Showdown May 23-26 TheMirage, Las Vegas
Grand Prix de Paris July 25-29 Aviation Club, Paris
Legends of Poker Aug 27-31 The Bicycle Club, L.A.
Borgata Poker Open Sept 19-22 Borgata, Atlantic City
UltimateBet Aruba Sept 26-Oct 3 Aruba
Poker Classic
Doyle Brunson October 23-27 TBD
North American
Poker Championship
World Poker Finals Nov 12-16 Foxwoods Casino, CT
Bellagio Five Diamond Dec 13-17 Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV
World Poker Classic
PokerStars.com Jan 4-11, 2006 Bahamas
Caribbean Adventure
World Poker Open Jan 22-26 Gold Strike, Tunica, MS
L. A. Poker Classic Feb 17-21 Commerce Casino, L.A.
WPT Invitational Feb 22-23 Commerce Casino, L.A.
Bay 101 Shooting Star Feb 27-Mar 3 Bay 101, San Jose, CA
PartyPoker Million Mar 11-18 Mexican Cruise
World Poker Challenge Mar 27-31 Reno Hilton, Reno, NV
WPT World Championship April 22-28 Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV
For many amateur players, satellites are offered, both online and at the casinos themselves, before each event of the World Poker Tour. It is the opportunity that many look for as they get ready to take the big step and enter into the world of professional tournament poker!
