WPT Partners With Partypoker US For Second Main Tour Event In New Jersey; $1M Guaranteed
US-based online poker players have had a lot to play for over the last year. That now includes another World Poker Tour event via the partypoker US Network for players in New Jersey.
The two announced another partnership on Tuesday offering players a chance at a WPT title. The $3,500 WPT Online Borgata Poker Open runs Sept. 19-21 and features a $1 million guarantee.
Players can jump in the action on any of the network’s three skins in the state. Those include:
“BetMGM has found a great partner in WPT and are excited to work together again to bring another online Main Tour event to New Jersey,” BetMGM Vice President of Gaming Matthew Sunderland said in a news release. “Our last Main Tour event together was a huge success, and we look forward to offering players in New Jersey a piece of the $1 million prize pool.”
Growing number of WPT online poker opportunities
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a shift to more online events for the WPT. That’s included both in the US and abroad.
The company partners with partypoker for major international live and online events. The Borgata Poker Open now becomes the latest, replacing the traditional live event at the Atlantic City property and partnering with BetMGM/party.
“The WPT Online Borgata Poker Open, powered by partypoker US Network, marks the return of the Sexton Cup to New Jersey,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a news release. “We are very happy that WPT’s strategic move in online tournaments has been bolstered by one of the longest and most prestigious casinos on the tour.”
The Borgata Open becomes the first online US WPT Main Tour event of Season XIX. As in a live WPT event, the winner has his or her name etched on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup. The trophy displays the name of every WPT champion from the past 18 seasons.
Additionally, all competing players are eligible for points in the WPT Player of the Year race. The event highlights the platform’s September Online Series in the state, running Sept. 12-21.
“I think everyone looks forward to the WPTs,” partypoker US ambassador Katie Stone told USPoker. “They are special, it’s something that every poker player I know enjoys playing and goes out of their way to play.
“The team over at WPT has done an incredible job promoting poker worldwide and we are so very honored to have them back online in New Jersey with us.”
WPT, partypoker continue collaboration
To compete in the event, players must be located in New Jersey. This is the second official WPT event in the Garden State. Partypoker US Network began hosting WPT-related events in 2020.
The first was the $400 WPT Online Poker Open in June 2020. That event attracted 868 entries for a $317,540 prize pool, but wasn’t an official Main Tour Event. David Coleman came out on top for $56,586.
The partners upped the ante in December 2020 with the $3,500 WPT Online Poker Open with a $1 million guarantee. The event was the first real US online WPT event and attracted 395 entries for a $1.3 million prize pool. Soheb Porbandarwala took the title and $239,820.
“I was shocked and humbled by how many people stayed up to watch all the way until the end,” he told WPT.com. “That was a really long final table. My mom and dad were both awake at the end. My uncle, who taught me how to play poker, stayed up and watched. All my friends that I talk and study poker with were watching and honestly, it felt really good to be able to close this one.”
For the upcoming event, the two companies are again hoping to appeal to players of all levels and bankrolls. Partypoker US Network will host satellites starting at $5 as well as a freeroll tournament.
“New Jersey continues to be a leader in regulated online poker and the WPT is thrilled to partner with BetMGM,” WPT Vice President of Global Tour Management Angelica Hael said. “This event follows up on the three incredible series held in 2020 and we are confident this series will continue pushing our partnership to new heights.”
WPT expands VIZIO poker content options
Along with the partypoker news, the WPT also announced an additional media agreement recently. The company has expanded its content library on VIZIO SmartCast televisions.
Season 17A is now available on VIZIO WatchFree+, which can be watched on WPT channel 635. Among the episodes available is the WPT High Roller Cash Game featuring Bryn Kenney and Jennifer Tilly. Fans will also find various other high rollers with some of the game’s best playing for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Two-time WPT champion Sam Panzica headlines the WPT Rockstar Energy High Roller episode. The final table also features WPT champion Nick Petrangelo and Maria Ho.
The Bellagio High Roller episode features a stacked lineup including Jake Schindler, Sam Soverel, Rainer Kempe, Tom Marchese, and David Peters.
More exclusive content is available on VIZIO WatchFree+ including all of the full-length Season 18 final table live streams.
Fans can also watch Seasons 8-16, Alpha8, and other special events. VIZIO SmartCast offers hundreds of free channels and WPT is currently the third-ranked channel in the Sports + Outdoors category.
“WPT’s programming on VIZIO SmartCast continues to grow and WatchFree+ is the latest avenue for fans around the globe to watch the WPT TV show,” WPT Studios Vice President Johnny McMahon said.
* photos courtesy WPT