The World Poker Tour (WPT) has added three stops to its record-breaking Prime schedule in 2024 as the organizers continue their quest to build a global network of events.
Working in partnership with French tournament operator TexaPoker, the WPT will host three Prime festivals in Aix-en-Provence, Sanremo, and Paris. All three cities played host to WPT Prime events this year and, as well as paying out more than $2.5 million in prize money, they contributed to the tour’s record-breaking year.
Indeed, it was WPT Prime Paris that got this year’s run of events off to a strong start. The €1,100 main event attracted 1,071 entries to set a new tour record. Players can return to the French capital in October 2024, while WPT Prime Aix-en-Provence kicks off the new season in February.
WPT Prime returns to its record-breaking roots
Sandwiched between the two confirmed WPT Prime events for 2024 is a stop in the Italian coastal city of Sanremo. A longtime favorite with European poker operators, including PokerStars, Casinò di Sanremo will welcome players from May 31 to June 10, 2024.
WPT Prime stops in 2024
- Jan 26 – Feb 5, 2024: Prime Aix-en-Provence – Pasino Grand – Aix-en-Provence, France
- May 31 – June 10, 2024: Prime Sanremo – Casinò di San Remo – Sanremo, Italy
- Oct 14-27, 2024: Prime Paris – Club Circus Paris – Paris, France
Each festival will feature a selection of low and mid-stakes tournaments, including a €1,100 championship event. Indeed, it’s this focus on low and mid-stakes tournaments that’s made Prime a hit with players since the tour launched in 2022.
The inaugural season ended with a record-breaking event at the WPT World Championship at the Wynn Las Vegas. A total of 5,430 entrants pushed the prizepool beyond its $2 million guarantee to $5.2 million. That allowed Stephen Song to take home $712,650 and the title after beating Lara Eisenberg heads-up.
That event set the tone for 2023. Prime Paris set the attendance record at the start of the year. The 1,071 target was beaten a few weeks later when Prime Gold Coast attracted 1,224 entries. That record was subsequently beaten by WPT Prime Taiwan when 1,359 entries created a $1.2 million prizepool.
More value to come in 2024
It’s been a successful second year for the tour, which is why the organizers are already looking forward to 2024. Poker is in a positive place right now and the WPT in particular has enjoyed a resurgence over the last two years.
Not only is the Prime tour setting records, its season-ending World Championship in Las Vegas redefined what’s possible in the pre-Christmas period. CardsChat attended the series and word on the ground was that it felt like a winter WSOP.
That certainly reflected in the prizepools. Expectations were soundly beaten, which is why this year’s WPT World Championship will have a $40 million guarantee. Success at the highest level is having a trickle-down effect, which means mid-stakes players can expect more value from the Prime tour in 2024.
