With Day 2 currently on its way with 792 players left in the running, Adam Pliska, the President and CEO of the World Poker Tour, reflected on the 2023 WPT World Championship with a sense of accomplishment, despite falling short by 247 entries to meet the $40 million guarantee. “We knew the risks. But I know that we’ve achieved what we were going for,” he said, emphasizing the success of the event. Nevertheless, “We hit it out of the park!”, he added.
Pliska highlighted the enhanced quality and smooth running of the tournament. “What people saw was a substantially larger event that ran even smoother,” he noted, adding that the primary focus was on the event’s quality, not just the numbers.
The 2023 championship’s $40 million guarantee was a bold statement of commitment from the WPT. Pliska pointed out that this guarantee was not only higher than last year’s but also exceeded last year’s prize pool. “Our ultimate goal is to create absolutely the best tournament that we can,” he stated, expressing his belief that this year’s event surpassed the previous one.
For Pliska, the growth of the WPT World Championship is essential for the longevity of the franchise. He stressed the importance of ensuring that 2022 wasn’t just a one-off success and that the event continues to evolve and attract more participants.
Pliska also praised the positive feedback on player experience. “The WPT World Championship is something we can be proud of. We want players to say that this was the best player experience, and we’ve had so much positive feedback,” he shared.
Acknowledging the teamwork behind the event, Pliska commended both the WPT team and the team at Wynn Las Vegas. His two decades with WPT have shown him the dedication and commitment necessary for such a successful event, especially in partnership with Wynn Las Vegas. “This partnership has probably been one of the great transformational chapters of the World Poker Tour,” Pliska remarked.
Poker is Growing
Despite not meeting the guarantee, Pliska remains optimistic about the growth of poker and the WPT’s contribution. “The WPT is contributing $2.5 million to the growth of poker. This is nothing we’re ashamed of… it’s a small investment in the long run to what we’re doing,” he explained.
Pliska believes that the World Poker Tour and its flagship event, the World Championship, are integral to the wider growth of poker. He emphasized the importance of providing an excellent experience for players, which in turn benefits the brand and the game of poker.
Looking ahead, Pliska is confident about the WPT’s future. “The WPT’s long term plan is playing out… We realized that we were going to have to make much bolder moves to compete at the very best level, and we’re going to continue doing that,” he concluded.
The WPT Championship will have its final table aired live on December 21.
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