The World Poker Tour’s latest press release had some huge news contained within a few paragraphs. The WPT has announced the creation of the Regional Series and national Series –which are WPT branded tournaments that will take place in the United States and Europe.
The tournaments are designed to allow virtually any poker player to take part in a WPT tournament as the Regional and National Series tournaments will feature reduced buy-ins.
Thus far, three tournaments have been scheduled:
- WPT Regional Series: Florida – Seminole Hard Rock Fall Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida from November 19 – 22, 2010 with a $4,750+$250 buy-in
- WPT Regional Series: Indiana – Hollywood Fall Classic at Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana from November 20 -21, 2010 with a $1,500+$100 buy-in
- WPT National Series: Paris – EFOP Diamond Championship at Aviation Club de France in Paris, France from February 9 – 15, 2011with a €5000 buy-in
The tournaments will not be considered official WPT tournaments, but will retain the WPT brand as well as the WPT’s commitment to excellence. Winners of the Regional and National Series events will not be awarded WPT Player of the Year points, and will not receive an entry into the WPT Championship.
The World Poker Tour plans to announce more tournaments for the Regional and National Series in the coming months.
While the World Poker Tour is still one of the strongest in poker the company has struggled over the past few years falling victim to dwindling attendance numbers as well as the increase in competition from other major poker tours, both domestic and abroad.
When they entered the poker tournament market in 2003 the WPT was really the only travelling tour in poker, and really only contended with the World Series of Poker and a few other singular major poker tournaments like the World Poker Open in Tunica, or the Foxwoods World Poker Finals. Otherwise their competition came only from smaller local poker tournament series. Thanks in part to their own success, the WPT now contends with a number of major poker tours most sponsored by online poker room rival PokerStars, most notable the PokerStars.net European Poker Tour (EPT) and the PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour (NAPT).
Part Poker purchased the WPT last year and has already ushered in some sweeping changes as well as trying to globalize the tournament series that has up to this point focused mainly on the United States for tournament venues. The Regional and National Series Events should further globalize the brand.
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