World Poker Tour Announces First Three Season XX Stops

The World Poker Tour is embarking on the 20th season of its long and illustrious history. Players do not have long to wait until Season XX kicks off because the first event takes place from January 21.

January 21-26 are the date the $3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open runs. It is a great way to start Season XX because the tournament is hugely popular. The 2020 edition attracted 843 players to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. They created a $2,697,600 prize pool that the top 106 finishers shared. Brian Altman was the last player standing that day; he received an impressive $482,636.

Last year saw the attendance swell to 1,573. The WPT slapped a $1 million guarantee on the prize pool but paid out $5,033,600. Ilyas Muradi, Robel Andemichael, and Ronnie Bardah struck a three-handed deal that saw the players walk away with between $545,500 and $620,000.

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Returns for WPT Season XX

The second event of Season XX is the return of the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. This is a massively popular event that could see 3,000 entrants this year. The 2021 edition drew in 2,482 players, who built a monster-sized $7,942,400 prize pool.

Brek Schutten of Grand Rapids, Michigan, emerged victoriously and received $1,261,095. That prize is one of the biggest awarded on the World Poker Tour ever.

The third Season XX event announced is the return of WPT Choctaw in Durant, Oklahoma. Again, this tournament proved popular last season with 964 players buying in. Adedapo Ajayi is the reigning champion having defeated Viet Van Vo heads-up to scoop $558,610.

Dates	Event	Buy-in
Jan 21-26	2022 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open	$3,500
April 8-12	Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown	$3,500
May 13-16	WPT Choctaw	$3,800

Many More Stops Expected

Season XX of the WPT will have many more stops than the three announced this week. WPT’s Executive Tour Director Matt Savage and his team are working tirelessly to add more destinations. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty around the United States means this is a difficult task.

Adam Pliska, the WPT’s CEO, is delighted the WPT is returning to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

“We could not be happier to be launching our historic 20th anniversary with an amazing partner in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. We have a number of special initiatives planned for the rest of the year to give the poker community amazing ways to celebrate with us.”

WPT unveiled a trio of WPTDeepStacks events in addition to the opening Season XX schedule. The popular mid-stakes tour jets off to Amsterdam in late March. It heads to Sydney, Australia during the first week of April, before ending April in Sacramento.

WPT Adds Steve Aoki as Brand Ambassador

The WPT attracts some of the biggest names in poker, but now has a different star on its books. Superstar DJ Steve Aoki is the newest WPT brand ambassador. Aoki is the son of Rocky Aoki, the founder of Japanese cuisine chain Benihana.

Aoki is best known for his performances in nightclubs around the world. However, he is a keen amateur poker player who regularly competes in private Hollywood games. He counts the likes of Dan Bilzerian among his celebrity friends.

Fans can expect to see Aoki in action during Season XX of the WPT. Part of his deal is an invite-only charity event benefiting the Aoki Foundation. This is a non-profit charity that raises money for brain science and research.

“It’s such an honor to be joining the WPT family. I have watched and admired the WPT for many, many years and to now be part of the WPT family; it feels so surreal and I am incredibly grateful.”

Brad Johnson

You name the game, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Brad has either played it or placed a wager on it! Brad calls himself a natural gambler, and someone who gains as much enjoyment from writing about the crazy game of poker as he does playing it.

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