GGPoker Qualifier Robert Parsons Finally Gets His Chance to Play the WSOP
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The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise is a winter series held at the Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas. The series runs from December 3-14 and will feature 15 bracelet events across different variants with over $51 million in guarantees. PokerNews will be on hand to provide live coverage of the event, with photos, videos, and player interviews live from the tournament floor in The Bahamas.
In the meantime, GGPoker has been busy qualifying players from all over the world via their “Road To Paradise,” which launched at the beginning of October. Each WSOP Paradise package comes with entry into the prestigious $5,000 WSOP Paradise Main Event, scheduled to unfold amid the tropical splendor of Atlantis Paradise Island from December 9, offering an impressive $15 million in guaranteed prizes. But that's not all; winners will also savor a 10-night stay at the luxurious Atlantis Paradise Island resort, celebrated for its lavish amenities and awe-inspiring ocean vistas.
There are several ways to qualify, and in the coming weeks PokerNews will be profiling several of the lucky winners who’ll be traveling to the Caribbean island for their shot at poker immortality.
The Best Ways to Win Your Way to WSOP Paradise Online and Live
Get to Know Robert Parsons
One such player is the UK’s Robert Parsons, who’s path to the WSOP Paradise actually started in the Windy City.
“I was in Chicago, visiting a close friend who is studying there,” Parsons told PokerNews. “A few hours before leaving for the airport, I received an email from GGPoker gifting me a $50-dollar satellite ticket. That lead to me playing in last Sunday's satellite, and the one after, which led to me qualifying after around eight hours of play.”
The opportunity to play the WSOP also comes a decade after he failed to do so in Las Vegas.
“I spent a large portion of 2011-12 in Las Vegas and played a WSOP satellite while there without qualifying,” he admitted. “This will be my first WSOP Event.”
Parsons put in the live poker grind while in Vegas more than a decade ago, and between then and now, he’s earned a law degree, which didn’t leave a lot of time to play poker.
“So though not at the top level, I have a decent amount of live experience,” he said optimistically. “I finished in the top 50 out of 65,000 in the 2012 Micro-Millions Main Event, exiting when my ace-king, all in preflop, went out against ace-ten. That was definitely an experience of endurance, I believe I was the last UK-based player left.”
He added: “Winning live, which I have done a few times, is always fun. Getting to final tables, whatever the level, is immensely satisfying … I want to learn from the experience. I do not intend this to be my last WSOP event whether I win or lose. So, I aim to give it my all, leave nothing to chance, but relax enough to enjoy the experience. Also, I get to travel to the Bahamas! I love to travel so if that was something I ended up being able to do more of because of poker that would be amazing.”
So, what is Parsons most looking forward to off the felt at WSOP Paradise?
“Seeing the sharks is something I have been advised to do by a couple of friends, I love anything to do with the ocean so that is the first thing,” he shared. “Also, to get a tan. There is more chance of me winning this thing than getting a tan in London in December, so I'm looking forward to that.”
Parsons would also like to meet GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu, which as a qualifier he will surely get the chance to do.
“Seems like a lovely guy as well as a phenomenal player obviously, so that would be amazing,” he said. “Also, though I am a Manchester United fan, I am aware Sergio Aguero will be there, and I think he is one of the best players of his generation so that would be a massive thrill too.”
And if Parsons is fortunate enough to win some life-changing money?
“Buy a house,” he said with a smile. “Then travel a lot, or maybe the other way around.One of my best friends is a doctor in Kuwait, I don't see him as much as I would like so I would go and see him. There are lots of places I would like to go to, Japan, Italy to name a few.”
5 Fun Non-Poker Activities in the Bahamas During WSOP Paradise
2023 WSOP Paradise Schedule
The 2023 WSOP Paradise shuffles up and deals in The Bahamas on October 3 with the $1,650 buy-in Mystery Millions. It boasts a $5 million guarantee on its prize pool, so will be the perfect curtain raiser for the 11-day festival.
Every bracelet-awarding event promises at least $1 million will be awarded, with the $1,500 Millionaire Maker and the $103,000 Ultra High Roller coming with a $5 million guarantee.
Of course, the biggest tournament of them all is the $5,300 Main Event, which will pay out $15 million to those fortunate and skillful enough to make it into the money place.
| Start Date | Event | Total Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 3 Dec | #1: Mystery Millions | $1,650 | $5,000,000 |
| Mon 4 Dec | #2: Millionaire Maker in Paradise | $1,500 | $5,000,000 |
| Tue 5 Dec | #3: GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship | $26,000 | $10,000.000 |
| #4: Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold'em | $1,100 | $1,000,000 | |
| Thu 7 Dec | #5: High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha | $26,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Fri 8 Dec | #6: No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $3,300 | $1,000,000 |
| #7: Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em | $53,000 | $2,000,000 | |
| #8: Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha | $2,100 | $1,000,000 | |
| Sat 9 Dec | #9: Ultra High Roller No-Limit Hold'em | $103,000 | $5,000,000 |
| #10: Main Event Championship | $5,300 | $15,000,000 | |
| Tue 12 Dec | #11: Flip & Go | $800 | |
| Wed 13 Dec | #12: No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout (Online) | $1,050 | $1,000,000 |
| #13: Pot-Limit Omaha Championship | $10,400 | $1,000,000 | |
| #14: The Closer Turbo Bounty | $2,200 | $1,000,000 | |
| Thu 14 Dec | #15: High Roller No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $10,400 | $1,000,000 |
