Just a few months after breaking attendance and prize pool records at the Wynn in Las Vegas, the World Poker Tour (WPT) announced the return of the WPT World Championship this December to commence Season XXI of the iconic poker tour.

The inaugural WPT World Championship at the Wynn was recently named the 2022 Event of the Year at the Global Poker Awards after drawing 2,960 entrants to nearly double the $15 million guaranteed prize pool. Canada’s Eliot Hudon took down the event for $4.1 million, while England’s Benny Glaser finished runner-up for $2.8 million.

This year’s WPT World Championship festival will run from Nov. 29-Dec. 23 and the championship event is scheduled to take place Dec. 12-18. The festival will also feature the WPT Prime Championship from Dec. 7-12 and the WPT Ladies Championship from Dec. 16-18.

“The WPT World Championship festival was such an extraordinary milestone during our 20th season last year, thanks to our partner Wynn Las Vegas and the enthusiastic support of the players,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “It is our hope that we have started a tradition in poker that we can enhance and add to each season. We look forward to making this year’s World Championship even more memorable for players.”

Read about the record-breaking 2022 WPT World Championship!

Another Record-Breaking Event?

Last year’s WPT World Championship festival was one of the most memorable in recent poker memory. Featuring several $10,000 seat giveaways, a Super Bowl-esque halftime show and meet-up games with the likes of Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey, it is hardly surprising the championship event smashed attendance records.

Wynn Executive Director of Poker Operations Ryan Beauregard, who played an integral role in promoting several of last year’s massive guaranteed tournaments, said that “after paying out more than $53 million in total prize money last December, we are excited for the return of the WPT World Championship at Wynn.”

“Due to last year’s incredible turnout and the strong rapport we built with WPT, we have extended the festival dates and will create a tournament schedule to make 2023 even more memorable,” he said in the press release.

Stephen Song took down the 2022 WPT Prime Championship for $712,650 en route to being named both the overall and Mid-Major Player of the Year, while Lina Niu took down last year’s WPT Ladies Championship for $105,136.

Other notable tournaments on the schedule include a Seniors event from Dec. 6-8 and the return of the Mystery Bounty event from Dec. 18-21.

The complete schedule for the 2023 WPT World Championship festival will be finalized and made available in the coming months, according to WPT.

_{Photos courtesy of WPT}