After signing a groundbreaking deal with The Star Entertainment Group, The World Poker Tour is heading to Australia for a trio of events in 2022 including the first WPT event to be held in Sydney, and the inaugural Main Tour stop in the country.
The first stop is WPTDeepStacks Sydney at The Star Sydney from March 30 – April 11, and promises to be the largest event of its kind to be staged in the region. The 12-tournament schedule is headlined by the WPTDeepStacks Main Event from April 7 – 11. The AUD $1,500 buy-in event offers three starting flights and unlimited re-entry. In May 2021, WPTDeepStacks Gold Coast boasted an AUD $1,502,550 prize pool thanks to 1,113 entrants.
“Poker players in Australia have always been passionate about the game and the partnership with The Star Entertainment Group allows us to expand our presence there,” said Adam Pliska, WPT CEO. “Hosting the first WPT event at The Star Sydney puts us front and center in the largest poker market in Australia, one of the most iconic cities of the world, adding another element to our 20th anniversary celebration.”
Key highlights of the Sydney schedule include the opening event with a $750 buy-in, a two-day $2,000 event, and the $5,000 Challenge.
The Star Sydney offers luxurious five-star accommodation, Sydney’s finest restaurants, a selection of high-end bars, a world-class spa, and unrivalled entertainment. The Star Sydney Chief Operating Officer Damian Quayle is excited to host the WPT for the first time ever in Sydney.
“The Star has hosted some of the biggest names in sport, music and entertainment, and we look forward to welcoming the world’s best poker players,” Damian Quayle said. “The Star is the home of poker in Australia, and we are thrilled with our partnership with WPT to host this globally-recognised tournament for the first time ever in Sydney.
“With the WPT celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022, this event will be the first time that WPT sets a footprint in Sydney. This looks set to be the biggest ever staged in Asia Pacific and with the world’s best players here to compete, Sydney and The Star will be showcased as one of the best vacation playgrounds in the world”.
The next two Australian stops will be held at The Star Gold Coast, host of the record-breaking WPTDeepStacks event in 2021. Full details on these events, which include one Main Tour stop, will be announced once regulatory approval has been received.
“I could not be more excited to be bringing a Main Tour stop to my home country,” said Angelica Hael, WPT VP of Global Tour Management. “I look forward to greeting every single one of my fellow Aussies at the event and welcoming the world to an amazing host property, The Star.”
Each event will be live-streamed and broadcast globally on WPT.com and the WPT YouTube and Twitch channels.
