The World Poker Tour (WPT) has revealed plans to stage its first online series on GVC’s PartyPoker platform, as the immediate future of its traditional events remain in doubt due to the ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus.The WPT Online Series will run from 10-26 May and feature a guaranteed overall prize pool of $7m (£5.6m/€6.3m). The series will comprise of the WPT Online Championship, WPT500 and WPTDeepStacks.
The main event of the series will be the WPT Online Championship, offering a prize pool of $5m and a $3,200 buy-in for players. The event will run throughout the series, with day one flights available from 10 May.
WPT500 Online will take place from 10-18 May with 10 starting flights on the schedule and a $1m guaranteed prize pool, with the series completed by the WPTDeepStacks Online, running from 25-26 May with a $1m prize pot.
“WPT and PartyPoker are proud to break new ground for both of our brands with the first WPT Online festival,” WPT chief executive Adam Pliska said. “Players from around the globe can look forward to the opportunity to play in WPT events from the comfort of their homes at all buy-in levels.”
WPT vice president Europe, Hermance Blum, added: “$7m in guarantees for WPT events alone on PartyPoker is an exciting breakthrough for our partnership, and we can’t wait to crown our first WPT Online Championship winner and see them in the WPT Tournament of Champions presented by Baccarat Crystal.”
Confirmation of the inaugural online tournament comes as both the gambling and sporting industries struggle to cope with the outbreak of Covid-19.
A whole host of sporting events have been cancelled and gambling venues have been closed in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. In addition regulatory bodies have limited their activities, with some sending staff home.
