The WPT500 is returning to the United Kingdom!
888poker and the World Poker Tour (WPT) have partnered up for the WPT500 London, which costs just $565/£420 to enter and boasts a massive $1,000,000 GTD prize pool. The live festival takes place March 23-April 2, but unlike traditional tournaments, players have the opportunity to participate in a myriad of ways – including via a new online flight this Sunday!
Thanks to partnering with 888poker, which has a strong relationship with all the Aspers Casino locations, several Day 1 flights will be held at three venues across the country.
Aspers Westfield Stratford City in London will have four starting days spread across March 23-25 and five more from March 29-31. Additional Aspers properties, Aspers Casino Newcastle and The Casino Milton Keynes, will host three starting days each from March 23-25.
WPT500 Online Day 1 March 11
We’re also very excited to host the first-ever online Day 1 flight on 888poker.com. This Sunday, March 11 at 19:01, players can hop online to play in the 888 WPT500 Online Day 1. Players will start with 15,000 in chips, and late entry and re-entry will remain open through 8 levels.
“I love the event because I get to play Day 1 online,” says 888poker Ambassador Dominik Nitsche. “It has everything that people enjoy about poker. There's nothing like playing deep in a tournament. I can't stress enough how important the structure is in a format like this. The WPT got it just right.”
Qualify online on 888poker:
$55 satellites daily at 19:05 GMT w/ 3 seats GTD to $565 Day 1 Online – March 11th at 19.01 GMT … or play your way there via our satellite tournaments, running 24/7 and starting at just 1¢!
How Does a Flight Work?
Each flight will stop once the field reaches 5% of the total number of buy-in and re-entries to the tournament. Those players, who will be awarded a minimum payday of £1,065 ($1,500), will advance to Day 2 at Aspers Westfield Stratford City with their chip stack.
Also, the remaining top 8% of the field will be awarded $1,100 which will be credited to their 888poker account (within 48 hours of the tournament’s end). The remaining top 12% of the field will be awarded $900 credited to their 888poker account (again within 48 hours of the tournament’s end).
Players can partake in as many starting flights as they’d like, but only their biggest stack will move forward to Day 2. One incentive to play multiple flights, other than trying to bag the biggest stack you can, is that each flight will play down to the money. That means you can cash multiple times before taking their biggest stack forward.
Following the completion of all Day 1 flights, those who make it to Day 2 will continue play at Aspers Westfield Stratford City on Sunday, April 1. The final table, which will be live streamed on 888poker media channels, will take place on Monday, April 2.
WPT & 888poker – A Great Partnership
"The WPT500 is a great event that works beautifully," said Matt Savage, the renowned tournament director responsible for coming up with the WPT500’s highly-lauded structure. "It gives the smaller buy-in player a chance at life-changing money and allows you to cash multiple times in the same tournament. We are happy to have 888 as a partner and they will provide qualifiers and even add an online component to WPT500 making for a massive event!"
There will also be two side events held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City. On Sunday, April 1 at 15:00, the £220 buy-in, £10K GTD Super Sunday Side Event will take place. That tournament starts players with 20,000 in chips, offers re-entry, and will keep late registration open through 10 levels.
Then, on Monday, April 2 at 14:00, the £110 buy-in, £5,000 GTD Hurricane will be held. That event features a 15K starting stack, 20-minute levels, and re-entries are available. Late registration for that event will also remain open through 10 levels.
History of the WPT500
WPT500 London is the ninth instalment of the WPT500, although just the fourth in the UK and first at Aspers. Other WPT500 events have been held in Las Vegas and Southern California. To date, WPT500 events have attracted more than 25,000 entries and awarded nearly $14 million in total prize money.
“Home to an extremely dedicated community of enthusiasts and some of the world’s greatest poker players, the incredible city of London is a perfect location for a WPT500 event,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “To date, WPT500 events have attracted more than 25,000 entries and awarded nearly $14 million in total prize money. Backed by the support of our partners, Aspers and 888poker, we look forward to building off this success.”
The inaugural WPT500 event in the UK, which took place in 2014 and drew 2,133 entries, saw Eleanor Gudger emerge victorious to win £140,000.
In 2015, Richard Harris topped a field of 1,616 entries to win the title, and in 2016 it was Ben Winsor who navigated a field of 1,835 entries to finish as the last player standing. Both earned £150,000 for their performances.
Experience Aspers Westfield Stratford City
London’s Aspers Westfield Stratford City, which is situated by Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is the company’s flagship UK casino. The property, which is open 24/7, features 60 live gaming tables, the largest Poker Room in London with over 400 seats, plus over 300 slots machines, electronic games, and sports betting terminals.
“WPT500 is an exciting, world-class event that offers players a $1 million guaranteed prize pool,” said Richard Noble, COO of Aspers. “The tournament cements Aspers Westfield Stratford City’s position as the leading 24/7 entertainment destination, based in the heart of East London.”
Finally, players in Aspers’ weekly tournaments will have the unique opportunity to get into WPT500 London through the venue’s Second Chance Tournaments. Any player who plays a weekly tournament at Aspers will automatically qualify for the Aspers Second Chance Tournament each Sunday at 2 p.m. local time.
With fifteen percent of each weekly tournament prize pool transferred to the Second Chance Tournament, it is estimated that more than £4,000 will be up for grabs, plus players will have the chance to win seats into the WPT500 London event.
WPT500 London Schedule – Aspers Locations
Sunday, March 11
– 7 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Online Day 1 ($1 million guaranteed) – held on 888poker
Friday, March 23
– 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1a ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
– 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1b ($1 million guaranteed) – held at The Casino Milton Keynes
– 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1c ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Casino Newcastle
Saturday, March 24
– 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1d ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
– 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1f ($1 million guaranteed) – held at The Casino Milton Keynes
– 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1g ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Casino Newcastle
– 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1e ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
Sunday, March 25
– 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1h ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
– 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1i ($1 million guaranteed) – held at The Casino Milton Keynes
– 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1j ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Casino Newcastle
Thursday, March 29
– 7 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1k ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
Friday, March 30
– 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1l ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
– 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1m ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
Saturday, March 31
– 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1n ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
– 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1o ($1 million guaranteed) – held at Aspers Westfield Stratford City
WPT500 London Schedule – By Location
888poker
Sunday, March 11 at 7 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Online Day 1 ($1 million guaranteed) – held on 888poker
Aspers Westfield Stratford City
Friday, March 23 at 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1a ($1 million guaranteed)
Saturday, March 24 at 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1d ($1 million guaranteed)
Saturday, March 24 at 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1e ($1 million guaranteed)
Sunday, March 25 at 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1h ($1 million guaranteed)
Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1k ($1 million guaranteed)
Friday, March 30 at 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1L ($1 million guaranteed)
Friday, March 30 at 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1m ($1 million guaranteed)
Saturday, March 31 at 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1n ($1 million guaranteed)
Saturday, March 31 at 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1o ($1 million guaranteed)
The Casino Milton Keynes
Friday, March 23 at 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1b ($1 million guaranteed)
Saturday, March 24 at 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1f ($1 million guaranteed)
Sunday, March 25 at 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1i ($1 million guaranteed)
Aspers Casino Newcastle
Friday, March 23 at 6 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1c ($1 million guaranteed)
Saturday, March 24 at 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1g ($1 million guaranteed)
Sunday, March 25 at 1 p.m. – $565 buy-in WPT500 London Day 1j ($1 million guaranteed)
