WPT500 Returns to ARIA This Summer with $2 Million Guarantee and 10 Starting Flights
After a very successful event in 2014, the World Poker Tour will return to ARIA Resort & Casino for the WPT500 this summer with a $2 million guarantee.
The event will feature a $565 buy-in and 10 starting flights. In 2014, the $1 million guarantee was nearly doubled after a prize pool of just shy of $1.8 million was generated from 3,599 entries. This year, more money will be awarded and it will all kick off on Sunday, May 31.
The remaining nine starting flights will then be spread out over the course of June and the beginning of July, with the final flight taking place as a turbo on Sunday, July 5 at 8 a.m. local time before Day 2 starts at 1 p.m. Day 3 will be the final table and take place on Monday, July 6.
"After experiencing great success last summer, we are proud to announce our return to Las Vegas for the partypoker presents: WPT500 at ARIA in Las Vegas," said WPT President Adam Pliska. "In order to create more value for the thousands of players who will flock to Sin City in the coming months, we have doubled the previous guarantee and scheduled more starting flights across three different weekends. In addition, we will be awarding at least one package a day in May on ClubWPT.com, creating more than 40 opportunities for players to win a Las Vegas experience and compete in this massive event."
2015 WPT500 Schedule
| Date | Time (PT) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, May 31 | 12 p.m. | Day 1a |
| Monday, June 1 | 12 p.m. | Day 1b |
| Tuesday, June 2 | 12 p.m. | Day 1c |
| Saturday, June 6 | 12 p.m. | Day 1d |
| Sunday, June 7 | 12 p.m. | Day 1e |
| Monday, June 8 | 12 p.m. | Day 1f |
| Thursday, July 2 | 12 p.m. | Day 1g |
| Friday, July 3 | 12 p.m. | Day 1h |
| Saturday, July 4 | 12 p.m. | Day 1i |
| Sunday, July 5 | 8:30 a.m. | Day 1j |
| 2 p.m. | Day 2 | |
| Monday, July 6 | 12 p.m. | Day 3 (final table) |
With 10 starting flights available, players will be allowed one reentry per day, plus the chance to play any and all starting flights. If a player who plays multiple starting flights advances to Day 2 in more than one instance, he or she will be able to carry the largest stack forward to Day 2.
According to the WPT, every starting flight will end in the money with five percent of the field remaining.
Last year's 3,599-entry field was topped by Sean Yu (pictured). He walked away with a whopping $260,000 in prize money, and 432 players cashed altogether.
ClubWPT.com will host qualifiers for the event every day in May and more than 40 packages will be up for grabs. Additionally, players can win their way to the event on partypoker.com, partypoker.net, and nj.partypoker.com.
"Hundreds of online qualifiers from around the world are expected to travel to Las Vegas and participate in partypoker presents: WPT500 at ARIA, including players in New Jersey, the largest regulated market in the United States," said Jeffrey Haas, Director of US for bwin.party. "These players will have an opportunity to turn a very small buy-in into a massive six-figure prize, while also enjoying the many first-class amenities that ARIA has to offer."
Furthermore, the host venue, ARIA, will be awarding a seat to the event in every daily tournament on May 1, and there will be live satellites available at the property.
On May 27, $65 single-table satellites will begin, and then $125 super satellites will run at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time on June 29, 30, and July 1, and at 7 p.mp on July 2, 3, and 4. In the super satellites, one seat will be awarded for every seat entries.
Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!
