You don\u2019t have to travel to Las Vegas to test your luck.<\/p>\n
The World Poker Tour (WPT) is due to return to South Africa for a third consecutive season at Emperors Palace.<\/p>
With 10 events scheduled from November 6 to 16, with varying entry fees, there\u2019s no reason to be calling anyone\u2019s bluff at the Palace of Dreams.<\/p>\n
Tournaments will take place in the recently refurbished Theatre of Marcellus, where the usual mix of local and international players hope to stack the odds in their favour.<\/p>
WPT president Adam Pliska said: \u201cJohannesburg, South Africa, has captured the imagination of our players, and Emperors Palace is a world-class venue that offers a unique blend of poker and adventure.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur international players have enjoyed travelling to the southern hemisphere the past two seasons, exploring the stunning safaris and venturing to different cultural hot spots when they are not playing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith an even more diverse schedule of events this year, the Season XIII WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic is primed to be another extraordinary event.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, local player Daniel Brits outlasted a field of 191 entries to win the Poker Classic Main Event, earning R1 459 538.<\/p>\n
Several top professionals have already been confirmed for the latest season, including WPT Champions Club member – Chris Moorman, Season VIII WPT Player of the Year Faraz Jaka, 2012 WSOP Main Event runner-up Jesse Sylvia, and three times WSOP bracelet winner and WPT Monster Invitational third-place finisher Vanessa Selbst.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited for the WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic,\u201d said Selbst.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe side tournaments and the WPT Main Event promise to be great events, and I\u2019ve always wanted to be able to explore South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cA poker trip for the WPT Classic seems like the ideal way to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Visitors won\u2019t see a cold deck in sight, with beauties such as 2009 Miss SA Nicole Flint, the famous Royal Flush Girls and the \u201cHottest Lady in Poker\u201d Lacey Jones.<\/p>\n
Women might also have a reason to fold their cards and enjoy the eye candy, as USA poker hunk Tony Dunst is an early confirmed player for the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m delighted by the early response from the international players and the locals are already planning their campaigns,” said Gary Lentin, managing director at Shuffle Up Poker.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have something for everybody and a couple of new, exciting tournaments, including a Turbo Accumulator and Maxi Stack Event.<\/p>\n
\u201cFields are limited and we are expecting full fields for event one and also the Maxi Stack so I would advise players to book early.”<\/p>\n
A celebrity tournament will also take place, along with a VIP cocktail party, on November 11, with all proceeds from the celebrity event going to the Feed SA charity.<\/p>\n
Feed SA will also benefit from the Women\u2019s Event, where again all proceeds will profit the NPO, and will be handed over at the celebrity charity event.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s event promises to continue the trend of the WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic being the biggest poker event in Gauteng.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince we began our relationship with the WPT, Emperors Palace has taken poker in South Africa to its highest and best level ever,” said gaming chief operating officer Bob Yearham.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past three years we\u2019ve attracted the most entrants ever, hosted the biggest poker players in the world, and paid out over R40-m in prize money to our players.\u201d<\/p>\n
All the information, rules and schedules can be found at wwww.emperorspalace.com, or follow @wptsa.<\/p>\n