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WPT History

The biggest names in sports do not just occur overnight. They develop legacies and build their history over many years. You may get a flash in the pan, which burns brightly and then fades away. These moments should be remembered, but true leaders in any sport require a sense of history. This is what separates legends from pretenders.

The World Poker Tour begins

The World Poker Tour (WPT) dates back to 2002 but has packed a lot into that time. Some of the most exciting poker games have occurred under its auspices. Each poker game tells its own story. When combined, these stories create a history worth talking about. The WPT has managed to do this, and the story has only just begun. Many more years of success are likely. Like all good stories, let’s begin at the beginning.

WPT season 1

The World Poker Tour started at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas with the Five Diamond World Poker Classic. The event ran from May 27, 2002, to June 1, 2002, with a total prize pool of $1,416,200. With 146 entrants and 18 payouts, Gus Hansen was the first notable winner. He took home $556,460 from the final table. The first-ever winning hand at a WPT final table was King of Any ColorKing of Any Color.

The first tournament was deemed a huge success, setting the tone for an exciting first season. Including the WPT Championship, there were 11 events. One was played in Paris at the Aviation Club de France. The tour returned to the Bellagio for the WPT Championship from April 14 to 18, 2003. Over $2.5 million was included in the prize pool, and Alan Goehring won $1,011,886.

WPT season 2

Season 2 kicked off in France at the Aviation Club de France with the Grand Prix de Paris. This took place between July 10 and 13, 2003. There were 96 entrants, and with nine payouts, David Benyamine was the big winner. He took home $410,886.

The tour then traveled through Los Angeles, Atlantic City, Aruba, Connecticut, Las Vegas, Tunica, Las Vegas again, San Jose, and Reno. It then returned to the Bellagio for the second WPT Championship. There were 343 entries and 50 payouts. The prize pool of $8,342,000 was not the biggest of the season, but it dwarfed most other prize pools. Martin De Knijff won $2,728,356, a record-breaking sum at the time. This prize reflected the growing strength and popularity of the WPT.

WPT season 3

Season 3 started at the Aviation Club de Paris with 205 players. The Grand Prix de Paris prize pool was just short of $2 million. Surinder Sunar won $828,956 after overcoming Tony G. Most winners earned at least $1 million. The WPT Championship, held from April 18 to 24 at the Bellagio, enticed over 450 players. With 100 payouts, many players went home happy. Tuan Le, however, won the final table, earning $2,856,150 with a King of Any ColorJack of Any Color hand, his second major win at a WPT event.

WPT season 4

Season 4 returned to the U.S., with the second event held in Paris. The opening event, the Mirage Poker Showdown, was held from May 23 to 26, 2005, with over 300 entrants. Gavin Smith won the final table with a Queen of Any ColorQueen of Any Color hand, earning $1,153,778. Excluding the WPT Championship, three events saw winners earn over $2 million. Nick Schulman, Rehne Pedersen, and Alan Goehring were notable winners. Joe Bartholdi claimed the biggest prize of the season, $3,760,165, on April 24, 2005, with a 9 of Any Color5 of Any Color hand.

WPT season 5

The Mirage in Las Vegas once again hosted the Season 5 opener. Starting on May 14, just under 400 entrants competed for a share of the $3,724,800 prize pool. Stanley Weiss won $1,320,255 on May 17 with a King of Any Color5 of Any Color hand. This season included two events in Canada, emphasizing the tour’s international nature. Carlos Mortensen won the final table of the WPT Championship with a King of Any ColorJack of Any Color hand. He earned $3,970,415 on April 17 at the Bellagio. Notably, the top three players all took home over $1 million.

WPT season 6

The 6th season opened on May 19 at The Mirage in Las Vegas. Jonathan Little won the Mirage Poker Showdown with an Ace of Any Color2 of Any Color hand, earning just over $1 million. A new name was added to the WPT with the Spanish Championship in Barcelona in October 2007. The season climaxed on April 26, 2008, with the WPT Championship. David Chiu won $3,389,140, defeating Gus Hansen. The prize pool for this main event wasn’t as grand as the previous year, but Chiu had no complaints.

WPT season 7

The 7th season started in Barcelona on May 23, 2008. Casper Hansen won $662,592 with his final table victory. Season 7 was quieter than previous years, but Yevgeniy Timoshenko still picked up $2,143,655 from the WPT Championship final table. Only two events saw winners earn less than $1 million.

WPT season 8

Season 8 began on May 6, 2009, in Venice with the WPT Venice event. The tour continued with the WPT Spanish Championship in Barcelona. This season marked the first truly international tournament, with events in Slovakia, Cyprus, and Morocco, alongside traditional American events. The WPT Championship, held in Nevada, saw David Williams win $1,530,537. The prize was lower than in recent years, but the prestige remained high.

WPT season 9

The 9th season started in Paris in May 2010, with Theo Jorgensson winning the opener. The L.A. Poker Classic was a notable event, with a prize pool of over $6.5 million. Gregory Brooks collected $1,654,120, making him the biggest winner of any individual event that season. Alan Sternberg, Taylor von Kriegenbergh, and Scott Seiver also won over $1 million in their respective events. The WPT Championship, held at the Bellagio, saw Scott Seiver win $1,618,344, with Farzad Bonyadi earning $1,061,900 for second place.

Conclusion

The history of the WPT continues to evolve, with many great names and triumphs yet to come. The global nature of the tour is expanding, offering players worldwide the chance to participate and enjoy the excitement of poker at its highest level.