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| The '''World Poker Tour (WPT)''' is a collection of ]s featuring most of the world's professional players. | The '''World Poker Tour (WPT)''' is a collection of ]s featuring most of the world's professional players. It was started by attorney/television producer ] who now serves as ] of WPT Enterprises, the firm that controls the World Poker Tour. | ||
| The tour had its debut season in the latter part of ] and early part of ], climaxing with the WPT Championship in April ] at the ] in ], ]. The first season aired on the ] on ] ] in the spring of ]. The show made its network debut on ], ] on ] with a special "Battle Of Champions" tournament, which aired against ] coverage of ]. | The tour had its debut season in the latter part of ] and early part of ], climaxing with the WPT Championship in April ] at the ] in ], ]. The first season aired on the ] on ] ] in the spring of ]. The show made its network debut on ], ] on ] with a special "Battle Of Champions" tournament, which aired against ] coverage of ]. | ||
| The World Poker Tour is a collection of international ] ]s held internationally and on board ], but mainly in the ]. The television show has led to a boom in the table game across American homes, ] and poker rooms, and online. It is perhaps not surprising, therefore, that the key sponsors of the tour are casinos and online poker sites. The show, co-hosted by ], ], and ], is also syndicated internationally. | The World Poker Tour is a collection of international ] ]s held internationally and on board ], but mainly in the ]. The television show has led to a boom in the table game across American homes, ] and poker rooms, and online. It is perhaps not surprising, therefore, that the key sponsors of the tour are casinos and online poker sites. The show, co-hosted by ], actor ], and former model ], is also syndicated internationally. | ||
| First exemplified by the long-running ] main event, a poker tournament gives each player an equal amount of ] to start, with colors representing different values. Play continues, typically over several days until one player has acquired all of the chips. When that occurs, that player has won the game and captures the grand prize, approximately 30-35% of the total prize pool. The resulting winner's check can exceed one million dollars. All other competitors finish with no chips, but win a portion of the prize pool according to the order in which they left the tournament. The last player to lose all of his chip-stack finishes in 2nd position, typically worth approximately 20% of the prize pool. | First exemplified by the long-running ] main event, a poker tournament gives each player an equal amount of ] to start, with colors representing different values. Play continues, typically over several days until one player has acquired all of the chips. When that occurs, that player has won the game and captures the grand prize, approximately 30-35% of the total prize pool. The resulting winner's check can exceed one million dollars. All other competitors finish with no chips, but win a portion of the prize pool according to the order in which they left the tournament. The last player to lose all of his chip-stack finishes in 2nd position, typically worth approximately 20% of the prize pool. | ||
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| In ] the World Poker Tour created a ], inducting poker legends Doyle Brunson and ] as well as actor ]. | In ] the World Poker Tour created a ], inducting poker legends Doyle Brunson and ] as well as actor ]. | ||
| Now in its fourth season of broadcast, it still remains among the highest rated television programs on cable. It airs on Wednesdays on the Travel Channel. The first two seasons of WPT is now sold everywhere on DVD. | |||
| The show is credited with exponentially increasing the popularity of the online poker room ], the company now worth billions. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 23:28, 17 June 2005
The World Poker Tour (WPT) is a collection of poker tournaments featuring most of the world's professional players. It was started by attorney/television producer Stephen Lipscomb who now serves as CEO of WPT Enterprises, the firm that controls the World Poker Tour.
The tour had its debut season in the latter part of 2002 and early part of 2003, climaxing with the WPT Championship in April 2003 at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first season aired on the Travel Channel on American cable television in the spring of 2003. The show made its network debut on February 1, 2004 on NBC with a special "Battle Of Champions" tournament, which aired against CBS coverage of Super Bowl XXXVIII.
The World Poker Tour is a collection of international Texas hold 'em poker tournaments held internationally and on board cruise ships, but mainly in the United States. The television show has led to a boom in the table game across American homes, local casinos and poker rooms, and online. It is perhaps not surprising, therefore, that the key sponsors of the tour are casinos and online poker sites. The show, co-hosted by Mike Sexton, actor Vince Van Patten, and former model Shana Hiatt, is also syndicated internationally.
First exemplified by the long-running World Series of Poker main event, a poker tournament gives each player an equal amount of chips to start, with colors representing different values. Play continues, typically over several days until one player has acquired all of the chips. When that occurs, that player has won the game and captures the grand prize, approximately 30-35% of the total prize pool. The resulting winner's check can exceed one million dollars. All other competitors finish with no chips, but win a portion of the prize pool according to the order in which they left the tournament. The last player to lose all of his chip-stack finishes in 2nd position, typically worth approximately 20% of the prize pool.
The drawing power of the WPT, like any poker tournament, is that anyone who can pay the "buy-in" (an entry fee usually worth a few thousand dollars) or win a "satellite" tournament is able to compete against the top professional players, such as Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, or the top 2004 tournament money and multi-WPT tournament winner, Daniel Negreanu.
Fans of the show find it interesting due to technical innovations such as the ability to see the players hole cards through a small camera in front of them on the poker table (an innovation first seen on the UK programme Late Night Poker). Due to the success of the show, special programs, such as the "Hollywood Home Game", featuring celebrities playing for charity, and "Ladies Night", where six of the top women played against each other, were developed.
In 2004 the World Poker Tour created a Walk of Fame, inducting poker legends Doyle Brunson and Gus Hansen as well as actor James Garner.
Now in its fourth season of broadcast, it still remains among the highest rated television programs on cable. It airs on Wednesdays on the Travel Channel. The first two seasons of WPT is now sold everywhere on DVD.
The show is credited with exponentially increasing the popularity of the online poker room PartyPoker, the company now worth billions.