The World Poker Tour (WPT) is set to make a grand return to Cyprus this month, bringing with it a wave of excitement and nostalgia for poker enthusiasts. The WPT Prime festival, featuring a $1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event, will be hosted at the Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino, marking a significant milestone in Cyprus’s poker history. This event not only signals the WPT’s comeback to the island after a decade but also underscores the rapid growth of poker in Cyprus, driven by venues like Chamada.
WPT Nostalgia Fuels the Poker Scene in Cyprus
Ali Alpsaran, Head of Chamada Poker, has seen the evolution of poker in Cyprus firsthand. Starting his career as a roulette dealer in a small Cypriot casino, Alpsaran worked his way up to a floor manager position just in time to witness the WPT’s first visit to Cyprus in 2009. His journey is deeply intertwined with the WPT, having worked alongside legendary tournament directors like Jack McClelland in 2009 and Matt Savage in 2012, when the WPT returned to the island.
“The return of the WPT to Cyprus is a full-circle moment for me,” Alpsaran shared. “The WPT’s early visits played a crucial role in shaping the poker culture here. There’s a strong sense of nostalgia among players, which is why our hotel was fully booked a month before the festival. People don’t want to miss this!”
Alpsaran credits the WPT with significantly enhancing the quality and popularity of poker in Cyprus. For him, the partnership with WPT is more than just a business endeavor; it’s a continuation of his career, which started with the WPT and now flourishes with Chamada’s ongoing collaboration with the iconic poker brand.
Chamada Poker: A Rising Star in the Poker World
Since its inception in 2021, Chamada Poker has grown rapidly, establishing itself as a premier destination for live poker in the region. Ali Alpsaran has been instrumental in this growth, overseeing the launch and expansion of Chamada’s poker festivals. These festivals have seen remarkable success, with guarantees skyrocketing from $100,000 in the early days to a staggering $2,500,000 for the upcoming WPT festival.
“We’ve achieved a lot in a very short period,” Alpsaran said proudly. “Our previous festival awarded $1,500,000 in guaranteed prizes, and we’re excited to see how players respond to our collaboration with the WPT.”
The Chamada Prestige Hotel, the host venue for these festivals, has garnered international acclaim, being named one of the best new hotels in the world by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards in 2023. The hotel’s reputation for luxury and quality makes it a fitting venue for high-stakes poker tournaments.
“Our goal is to offer our guests the highest level of quality travel and gaming experience,” Alpsaran added. “We’re committed to working with professionals and making long-term plans for our property and poker offerings. Players from across the region, including Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, Georgia, and Romania, come to Chamada to experience top-tier poker.”
WPT Global: Bringing the World Poker Tour to the Masses
The WPT’s reach has extended far beyond live events, with the launch of WPT Global, an online platform that allows players from over 50 countries to participate in WPT events and win exciting prizes. WPT Global is one of the largest cash game poker networks globally, offering a generous deposit match bonus to new players and the opportunity to compete for seats at WPT live events. This online expansion ensures that the excitement of the World Poker Tour is accessible to a broader audience, continuing the WPT’s legacy of elevating poker worldwide.
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