Poker fans, get ready! The World Poker Tour is gearing up for the fourth WPT Australia at The Star Gold Coast is just around the corner, shuffling and dealing from September 12-25. This year’s festival is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with the schedule expanding from 16 to 23 events, making it the largest poker festival in Australia for 2024.
WPT Australia Full Schedule
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Festival Breakdown and Highlights
The highlight of the festival is the AUD $8,000 buy-in WPT Australia Championship, where players will vie for a spot on the prestigious Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup. With two Day 1s starting on September 20 and 21, the competition is sure to be fierce as top players from around the world gather to claim their share of the spotlight.
New additions to the schedule include several fast-paced afternoon and evening turbo events, as well as a high-stakes AUD $5,000 PLO High Roller, offering something for every type of player.
The WPT is showing its commitment to inclusivity with a dedicated ladies event—the AUD $675 Ladies Australian Championship, running from September 17-18. The Star is adding extra value by awarding the winner a $6,000 package to compete in the prestigious WPT Ladies Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. It’s a golden opportunity for women in poker to shine on an international stage.
A touching tribute will also take place during the festival with the Shane Warne Legacy Perpetual Trophy Event. This special tournament, scheduled for September 19, honors the legendary cricketer and passionate poker player, Shane Warne. All administrative fees and proceeds from water sales during this event will be donated to the Shane Warne Legacy, ensuring his impact on the poker world is remembered.
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Who Are the WPT Australia Champions?
The WPT’s first jaunt to The Star Gold Coast was in 2019. Back then, the Main Event buy-in was A$2,500 and saw Hari Varma reign supreme over a 658-entry field. His biggest previous cash before winning big was for just $7,000, so the A$274,247 he received was a welcomed windfall.
Three years later, David Tang put his name on the Mike Sexton Cup. This time, the buy-in jumped up A$5,400, but the increase didn’t deter players as there was greater participation, with 710 entries recorded. Tang collected A$647,470 for the win and etched his name in poker history.
The defending champion is Richard Lee, who triumphed last September to capture the A$854,890 up top. Like the upcoming series, the Main Event cake with a A$8,000 buy-in and saw 600 entries stump up the entry fee.
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 600 | $4,500,000 | Richard Lee | A$854,890 |
| 2022 | 710 | $3,550,000 | David Tang | A$647,470 |
| 2019 | 658 | $1,480,500 | Hari Varma | A$274,247 |
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Did You Know the World Poker Tour is Online?
The launch of WPT Global means that poker players around the world now have the chance to win their way to WPT events, win prizes and enjoy exciting games such as Poker Flips. As one of the world’s largest cash game poker networks, WPT Global is available in over 50 countries and territories around the world.
WPT Global offers a large deposit match bonus: 100% on deposits up to $1,200 (using any payment method). New players depositing a minimum of $20 automatically receive this match bonus which is unlocked in $5 increments (credited straight to the cashier) for every $20 of rake contribution.
Both tournaments and cash games count towards bonus unlocking; new players have 90 days from the date of first deposit to unlock and claim their full bonus amount.
Editor & Live Reporter
Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
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