A Brief History of the World Poker Tour

The World Poker Tour, also known as the WPT, began in 2002. A lawyer/television producer, Steven Lipscomb, created the professional championship tour. WPT is made up of a series of Texas Hold’em tournaments.

The champion of the first season was Alan Goehring. The total prize money he earned for that season was 1,011,866. Alan’s total live tournament winnings have exceeded $5,200,000 as of 2008.

The Travel Channel presented the first five seasons of WPT. The sixth season aired on the Game Show Network, also known as GSW. WPT will begin its seventh season in 2009 and can be seen on Fox Sport Network. It is broadcast nationally and internationally. The seventh season Tour Tournament aired from April 18 to April 25, 2009.

General tournament rules

1. Players will start with $100,000 in tournament chips.

2. Each level will last 90 minutes.

3. 15 minute break at the end of each level.

4. 3% of the prize money will be withheld for poker room staff.

5. NO REBUY: Your poker chips will be confiscated and NO

RECEIVE A REFUND OR COLLECT ANY PRIZE CASH.

6. Management reserves the right to change or cancel tournaments.

7. Winners will be paid in casino chips/poker chips.

8. The tournament champion will receive a $25,000 + $500 entry into the 2010 WPT Championship event.

Commentary by hosts Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patton is partially recorded live, due to regulations on playing during live tournaments; some comments are later dubbed at a later time. Mike Sexton is a top level poker champion from Europe. Vince Van Patton has played in some of the biggest cash poker tournaments. Vince Van Patton is the son of veteran television actor Dick Van Patton.