The World Poker Tour is coming to the Wynn Las Vegas this December and its main event promises to become the stuff of poker legend.

That’s because the 2022 $10,400 Main Event will feature a prize pool that is guaranteed to be worth $15,000,000.

That is the largest guaranteed prize pool in the history of tournament poker.

That eye-watering figure will have sent ripples through the high stakes poker community, and you can bet that there will be plenty of high rollers jetting in from around the world, as well as those based in and around Sin City, that will be paying the entry to compete for the richest prize pool in poker history.

The WPT doesn’t have a great reputation amongst players in Las Vegas, but this new event could herald a more positive future for the organisation.

“Highly Anticipated Festival”

The CEO of WPR Adam Pliska commented:

“This is one of the most ambitious initiatives the World Poker Tour has undertaken in our 20-year history.”

“We expect this to be a highly anticipated festival and are elated to be partnering with Wynn Las Vegas to bring this concept to life.”

In a press release from the WPT, the organisation has stated that alongside the high rollers that are ready to pay the $10,400 entry fee into the event, there will also be around 500 other players that earn their qualification through a series of online qualifiers, and in-person qualifiers.

A number of players have already earned a shot at the tournament by winning one of the $12,000 WPT World Championship Passports at events such as the WPT Global, ClubWPT and WPT Live Casino events.

There are further details about how players can try and play their way to a seat in the Main Event on the WPT official website.

Final Table Action To Be Televised

The action at the tournament will lead to qualifiers for the Final Table and this is being televised on December 20th.

Before that, the tournament begins with three single entry events on the 12th, 13th and 14th December and will progress until those that have claimed a spot at the final table have been decided.

Each player will start the tournament with 100,000 in chips, with the levels increasing after an hour, with that duration increasing to 90-minutes later in the tournament.

The Main Event tournament will move to Day 2 on the 15th December, with days 3, 4 and 5 on the 16th, 17th and 18th December, with a days break before the final table starting at 4pm Vegas time.

At the final table, the players will be competing for the majority share of that huge prize pool, while the winner will not just take home a massive cash prize, but also get to have their name engraved onto the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.

The trophy being named after the former WPT host and Poker Hall of Fame inductee.

The Main Event is just one of a number of events that are planned for the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas series, which will run from the 1st to the 20th December inclusive.

A total of 23 tournaments will be contested with at least $22 million guaranteed in prize money across the events.

Las Vegas

2022 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas Schedule

The full schedule of the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas festival is outlined below:

  • Dec 1st – $600 NLH ($500k GTD)
  • Dec 4th – $600 NLH ($50k GTD)
  • Dec 5th – $600 H.O.R.S.E ($50k GTD)
  • Dec 5th – $600 NLH ($200k GTD)
  • Dec 6th – $600 Limit Omaha 8/OB ($50k GTD)
  • Dec 7th – $1,100 NLH Seniors ($200k GTD)
  • Dec 7th – $600 Five Card Pot-Limit Omaha ($50k GTD)
  • Dec 8th – $1,100 NLH ($2m GTD)
  • Dec 8th – $3,000 Eight Game Mix ($200k GTD)
  • Dec 9th – $600 Pot-Limit Omaha Tyrbo ($50k GTD)
  • Dec 10th – $600 No Limit Hold’em $1k Bounty Turbo ($50k GTD)
  • Dec 11th – $25,000 No Limit Holdem
  • Dec 12th – $10,400 NLH Main Event ($15,000,000 GTD)*
  • Dec 12th – $1,100 H.O.R.S.E. ($100k GTD)
  • Dec 13th – $1,100 Limit Omaha 8/OB ($100k GTD)
  • Dec 14th – $1,600 NLH $500 Bounty Hunter Turbo ($100k GTD)
  • Dec 15th – $3,000 NLH Ladies ($2,000,000 GTD)
  • Dec 16th – $1,600 NLH Mystert Bounty ($2m GTD)
  • Dec 16th – $1,100 NLH Ladies ($200k GTD)
  • Dec 16th – $3,000 NLH Six Max ($250k GTD)
  • Dec 17th – $5,200 NLH Progressive Bounty ($250k GTD)
  • Dec 18th – $10,500 NLH
  • Dec 19th – $1,100 NLH ($200k GTD)
  • Dec 19th – $600 Tag Team Bomb Pot Double Barrel ($50k GTD)

*there are multiple starting days for the Main Event tournament with Day One tournaments on the 13th and 14th of December too.

Meet-Up Game To Kick Things Off

Alongside the high stakes action for the top poker professionals, there will also be a special Premier Meet-Up Game taking place on the opening day of the festival (1st December).

Here a number of WPT ambassadors, led by Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen will be in attendance alongide a slew of invited guests including world famous DJ Steve Aoki, one of the greatest names in the history of poker Doyle Brunson, as well as a number of other stars from stage, sports and screen.

The Meet Up Game (MUG) offers low stakes poker for people to play with cash games running at stakes of $1-$3 and $2-$5 and there are No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha tables open for all to try their hand at the game.

“Our recent MUG in Las Vegas was a big hit,” explained Ambassador Brad Owen.

“Thanks go out to everyone that showed up, fans, players and our fellow ambassador Steve Aoki. I’m looking forward to mixing up with Steve again when we do it even bigger in December.”

Anderew Neeme explained a bit more about the MUG.

“We’re always looking to grow the scope of our Meet-Up Games and the World Championship is the perfect opportunity for us to get everyone involved. The Premier Meet-Up Game is going to be a blast, with players from around the world joining in.”

The MUG kicks off at 10am on December 1st with first-come, first-served seating available from 8am Vegas time.