WPT Announces 'Asia Swing' with Stops in Japan, Korea, Vietnam & India
The World Poker Tour is doubling down on stops in the Asia-Pacific region. After a successful festival at the WPT New Zealand, the tour is planning an “Asia Swing” with stops in Japan, Korea, Vietnam and India.
The player that performs the best across the first three stops will win a package, which includes buy-in and accommodations to the WPT India Main Event. Additionally, all four stops are eligible for the WPT Asia-Pacific Player of the Year competition.
The Asia Swing begins with WPT Japan, which runs from September 15-17 in Tokyo followed by the WPT Korea at Paradise City Casino in Incheon, South Korea from September 18-24. Interestingly, the WPT is offering players the opportunity to compete in the opening stages of the WPT Korea Main Event while in Japan, meaning they can play an opening flight there and then advance to the next stage at Paradise City Casino.
McDonagh: "The addition of WPT Vietnam creates a true 'Asia Swing' for WPT events in the region ... within a 20-day period."
It is in Korea that the WPT will hold their first-ever Teams Event, which will run from September 19-21. The $5,000 buy-in event is capped at 16 teams, each made up of four players with a one team maximum per country. The teams will square off against one another in up to half a dozen events including variations of both no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha. Whichever team wins will receive WPT Korean Main Event entries for each member.
Among the countries confirmed are Australia, China, Hong Kong (captained by Sparrow Cheung), India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore (captained by Bryan Huang), United Kingdom (captained by Sam Razavi), and the United States.
Eyes on Vietnam & India
From September 26-October 4, the WPT Vietnam will be held at the Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh. The stop will feature a VND 22 million buy-in (roughly $1,000 USD), VND 8 billion ($345,000 USD) GTD Main Event from September 28-October 2. There will also be a VND 44 million ($2,000) High Roller as well as a VND 11 million ($500) three-day WPT Pro Poker Club Superstack Classic.
“We are honored to partner with the World Poker Tour and bring WPT Vietnam to Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh,” said GAMAX Investment Sports & Entertainment’s Founder and CEO Denis Pham. “Pro Poker Club has had outstanding success this year, with thousands of entries across our major tournament series. We look forward to elevating the offering we provide our players with the addition of WPT Vietnam starting in September.”
Agarwal: “With a population of 1.3 billion, India has a booming poker scene and the game is growing in popularity by the day."
WPT Live Events Specialist Danny McDonagh added: “The addition of WPT Vietnam creates a true ‘Asia Swing’ for World Poker Tour events in the region, giving players accessibility to three world-class poker festivals within a 20-day period. Japan, Korea, and Vietnam are three incredible destinations for traveling players, filled with vibrant sights, rich tradition, exotic culinary delights, and a tremendous appetite for poker.”
Then, from November 13-19, WPT India will take place at the Deltin Royale Casino in Goa with the partnership of Adda52. The stop will offer an INR 55,000 ($800) buy-in Main Event from November 16-19 as well as High Roller, Superstack, Bounty and Shootout events. Last year, the inaugural WPT India drew 527 runners and saw Vikash Mantri walk away the victor for $92,000.
“We are excited to host the second season of the WPT at India’s largest casino, Deltin Royale in Goa,” boasted Mohit Agarwal, Founder & CEO of Adda52.com. “With a population of 1.3 billion, India has a booming poker scene and the game is growing in popularity by the day. WPT India is a perfect fit for the Indian poker community and puts India firmly on the global poker tournament map.”
