The first World Team Poker (WTP) event wrapped up last week with Team China taking the gold. Ten-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet holder Johnny Chan and former World Poker Tour (WPT) Championship winner David Chiu served as the captains of the Chinese squad, which also featured Chau Giang, Mario Ho, Winfred Yu, Rich Zhu, and Derek Cheung.
Team China bested Team Brazil in the dramatic conclusion. Next up for WTP officials is a 32-country World Championship Event, which will likely take place within the next 90 days. Neither a date nor a location has been set, but WTP Vice President Charity Perry told Poker News Daily, “We’re not entirely sure where it will be, but we’re keeping the tour within the U.S. in the first year. After the first year, we plan on going abroad, probably somewhere in Europe.”
Twenty countries are listed on the WTP’s website, including Mexico, Iran, and Armenia. WTP has even found a broadcast partner in Fox Sports Net, which will air the kickoff tournament over 13 weeks beginning in July. The first event, which was held at the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas, sported a $50,000 buy-in per team.
On whether the same price tag will exist for the World Championship Event, Perry told us, “The buy-in for the second event may be different. It was $50,000 for the first event and that number seemed to work well. It’s so important for each country that they end up winning it. The money helps, but it’s really all about country pride.” A total of eight teams descended upon the Golden Nugget for the first event for a total of about 60 players.
Perry added that WTP officials were impressed by the turnout last week: “It definitely met our expectations, but also exceeded them. All of the players were incredibly supportive and it’s good to see. Everyone we had as far as players were all champions. They were all just loving being around each other and playing against each other.”
Poker players from China, Brazil, Greece, Australia, Vietnam, the United States, Israel, and England turned out for the WTP’s kickoff event. The ensemble featured the likes of Chan, Chiu, Phil Hellmuth, Tony G, Jeffrey Lisandro, Men “The Master” Nguyen, and Leandro “Brasa” Pimentel. Perry recalled that when teams were eliminated from contention, they stuck around to root on their peers: “You saw teams, if they got knocked out, pulling for other countries. It was a really supportive atmosphere and definitely exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
Other teams that may take part in the World Championship Event, along with select members, include the Czech Republic (George Kozel), Germany (Daniel Heimiller), Korea (Kevin Song), Norway (Thor Hansen), the Philippines (Toto Leonidas), Switzerland (Chris Bigler), and Turkey (Rob Peltekci).
China banked $300,000 for the win in the kickoff WTP event, while members from Brazil earned a $100,000 consolation prize. Other players who could be found perusing the Golden Nugget included Doyle Brunson, Howard Lederer, Mike Matusow, Kido Pham, Jennifer Harman, and Felipe “Mojave” Ramos. Three different genres of poker were played: No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and Limit Hold’em.
The Golden Nugget has been a haven for televised poker programs in recent months, including GSN’s “High Stakes Poker” and NBC’s “Face the Ace.” Players in the first WTP event were spread across five tables and the top two finishers from each table advanced to the finale in the shootout format. Players subbed in and out as the games and situations changed, providing a unique spectacle for those in attendance. Each Hold’em level lasted 30 minutes, while Pot Limit Omaha levels lasted 45.
You can catch Matt Cordroy and “Cowboy” Kenna James on Fox Sports Net when the WTP airs in two months.