The World Poker Tour (WPT) is back at Seminole Hard Rock this weekend for another great holiday tradition: the Rock 'n' Roll Poker Open Championship, a $3,500 buy-in with a $3,000,000 guarantee in the shadow of the Guitar Hotel in Hollywood, Florida.
Last year, the tournament drew 1,447 entries for a prize pool that was just over $4.6 million. Hungary's Istvan Briski rode a chip lead on Days 3 and 4 to the win on Day 5 after a final two deal with Rayan Chamas.
The Championship
The five-day tournament will feature two opening flights and a starting stack of 50,000 for the $3,500 buy-in. Unlimited entry is open each day until Level 9 and the opening days will play ten 60-minute levels.
Day 3 levels will remain at 60 minutes until 40 players are left, at which time they'll go to 90 minutes. Day 4 levels are still 90 minutes until they return to 60 at the final table of six. Heads-up play will knock it down to 30-minute levels until a winner is declared.
Days 1 and 2 will play ten 60-minute levels and Day 3 will play down to 16 players. Players fight for a spot in the final six on Day 4 and play to a winner on Day 5.
Gold Passports up for grabs
In addition to a $10,400 seat into the WPT World Championship for the winner of the Main Event, Club WPT Gold will host the $5 Million Invitational freeroll at the WPT Championships in December — and two players will have the opportunity to lock down a Golden Passport to gain entry. The overall chip leaders at the end of each opening flight will receive the Gold Passport, which is good for entry into the freeroll on Dec. 13-15.
The invite-only freeroll, which is only open to 2,000 players, will celebrate the launch of WPT's new sweepstakes-model poker platform. Just over 25% of them will receive at least a min-cash of $1,000, with the rest of the cashing players taking home up to a minimum of $20K for the final table of nine and $1,000,000 for first place.
