Last year’s massive overlay has the WPT playing more cautiously this year
The 2024 World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship will see a notable change, as this year’s $10,400 buy-in event will not feature a guaranteed prize pool. This is a departure from last year’s event, which had a $40 million guarantee but ended with a $2.4 million overlay despite drawing a record-breaking 3,835 entries. Although it was the largest field in WPT main tour history, the guarantee was not met, prompting the removal of a set prize pool this year.
The WPT World Championship will take place from December 14 to 21 at Wynn Las Vegas. Players will have the option of entering one of three starting flights, with a single entry allowed per flight. After the starting flights, the field will merge for five days of intense competition until a new champion is crowned.
Ryan Beauregard, Executive Director of Poker Operations at Wynn Las Vegas, shared his thoughts on the upcoming event. He expressed confidence in the tournament’s success, citing the strong fanbase and the over 500 qualifiers expected to participate. Beauregard highlighted the schedule, which will feature more than 60 tournaments and satellites throughout the series.
One of the standout events this year is the $1,100 WPT Prime Championship, offering a $5 million guaranteed prize pool and set to run from December 8 to 14. Additionally, a groundbreaking $5 million freeroll tournament will take place on December 13-14, with $1 million going to the winner. Players can enter the freeroll by obtaining a “Golden Passport,” available through contests, promotions, and raffles on ClubWPTGold.com.
