UK’s Callum Gordon Wins Way to WSOP Paradise Via GGPoker Freeroll
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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 is underway and runs from December 3-14. It will feature 15 bracelet events across different variants with over $51 million in guarantees. PokerNews is on hand to provide live coverage of the event, with photos, videos, and player interviews live from the tournament floor in The Bahamas.
For months, 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 came 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 were several ways to qualify, and PokerNews has been profiling several of the lucky winners who’ll be traveling to the Caribbean island for their shot at poker immortality.
Here’s a look at the qualifiers PokerNews has profiled so far:
- GGPoker Qualifier Robert Parsons Finally Gets His Chance to Play the WSOP
- Ontarian Engineer Matthew Aquino Wins WSOP Paradise Ticket on GGPoker
- Dana Karlson Wins WSOP Paradise Package After Years Away From Poker
- Ontario Player Matthew Silva Wins WSOP Paradise Package on GGPoker
- WSOP Paradise to Be First Live Event for GGPoker Qualifier Aurel Cotos
- Brazil's Ivan Ost Mystery Bounties His Way to WSOP Paradise on GGPoker
Q&A w/ Callum Gordon
One player who’ll be in the Bahamas is the UK’s Callum Gordon, who was offered a free ticket to the $50 satellite on GGPoker.
“Through this, I qualified for a $500 satellite to WSOP Paradise. When I qualified from the second stage I had expected a new tournament to pop up so it was a real surprise to see I had a $10k package to the Bahamas at that point,” he explained. “This will be the highest entry fee tournament I have played. I played at the Malta Poker Festival earlier this year so the combination of poker and holiday isn't new to me and I enjoy it.”
Gordon lives in Birmingham within walking distance of a casino that hosts poker tournaments and cash games, which is how he got hooked on playing live. Before that, he had mostly played online poker and even took a long break from poker altogether.
“Back when I played a lot online had a few $10k tournament wins including $35k in a Pokerstars $160 tournament and $20k in a Full Tilt tournament,” said Gordon. “My biggest live win was £12k in a local competition. Even though that wasn't my biggest win it felt amazing as it gave me confidence I could still win big prizes after a long time without playing.”
He continued: “I would say I'm a lot more mature as a poker player than I used to be. In my younger days there was one day I went to the Victoria Casino in London and played a £1/£2 cash game, as I was winning ended up moving up stakes to £1/£3, £2/£5 and £5/£10. These days I'm a lot more careful with my winnings!
“Honestly, winning the $10k package to WSOP Paradise will be something I remember for a long time, hopefully for the incredible experience I have there, but also for the surprise factor as I really didn't expect to win a package when I entered the tournament. Winning such a big package from a freeroll is a special feeling because as there was no risk or investment I had no pressure or expectations. Perhaps this could work to my advantage in the Bahamas too.”
While in the Bahamas, Gordon plans to enjoy a holiday with his girlfriend.
“Neither of us has been to the Bahamas before and we have been busy searching about it online in excitement. The restaurants at the resort caught my eye and of course, the white beaches, sea, and pools - what's not to like about that? Otherwise potentially seeing the dolphins, sharks, and going to swim with pigs.”
Here Are the Celebrities & Poker Pros Confirmed to Attend WSOP Paradise
2023 WSOP Paradise Schedule
The 2023 WSOP Paradise shuffles up and deals in the Bahamas on December 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 |
In this Series
- 1 Bracelet Chasing in the Bahamas: First Ever WSOP Paradise Planned for December
- 2 WSOP Paradise in Bahamas Bracelet Schedule Released; $50M in GTDs over 15 Events
- 3 5 Fun Non-Poker Activities in the Bahamas During WSOP Paradise
- 4 WSOP Announces 9 Days of Paradise Livestreams
- 5 WSOP Paradise Parlay Gives Players Shot at $100K in Bahamas; Player Reactions
- 6 Negreanu Shares WSOP Paradise Plans; Which of His Poker Friends Will Be There?
- 7 Here Are the Celebrities & Poker Pros Confirmed to Attend WSOP Paradise
- 8 Ontarian Engineer Matthew Aquino Wins WSOP Paradise Ticket on GGPoker
- 9 Dana Karlson Wins WSOP Paradise Package After Years Away From Poker
- 10 Ontario Player Matthew Silva Wins WSOP Paradise Package on GGPoker
- 11 Qualifier Dorin Barban Traveling to WSOP Paradise All the Way from Romania
- 12 Canada's Slava Royale Hopes to Buy Porsche 911 Turbo After WSOP Paradise
- 13 WSOP Paradise to Be First Live Event for GGPoker Qualifier Aurel Cotos
- 14 Brazil's Ivan Ost Mystery Bounties His Way to WSOP Paradise on GGPoker
- 15 The Best Ways to Win Your Way to WSOP Paradise Online and Live
- 16 UK’s Callum Gordon Wins Way to WSOP Paradise Via GGPoker Freeroll
- 17 Former Main Event Champs Kick Off WSOP Paradise Main Event; Hellmuth Coming?
- 18 WSOP Paradise Main Event Winner to Take Home One-of-a-Kind Bracelet
- 19 Alleged Home Burglar & EPT Champ Jordan Saccucci Removed from WSOP Paradise
- 20 “Poseidon” Hellmuth Makes Grand Entrance in WSOP Paradise Main Event
- 21 WSOP Paradise Hands of the Week: Ryan Riess Bubbles & Aces Cracked By Quads... Twice!
- 22 WSOP Paradise Main Event Hands of the Week: Kabrhel Antics, Jamming into Quads & a Royal Flush
- 23 WSOP Paradise Proves Successful w/ Big Names & Prize Pools; Only One Missed GTD
