The WPT is Back in Montreal for a Second Year

Following up on its great success in Montreal last year, the WPT has decided to include the Canadian city in its tour again this year. WPT Montréal 2012 drew a field of 1173 players, well over twice the average on the tour and only eight shy of the biggest stop on the tour that year, the Borgata Poker Open.

Expecting to draw another large field for the Main Event this year, the event host Playground Poker has arranged to have three Day 1’s again this year, starting next Friday, November 29th. Side events and satellites are already underway with a couple of unusual formats thrown into the mix this time around:

* Win the Button event on the 23rd

* Survivor tournament on the 27th

Why Montreal?

The WPT, now in its 12th season, had Canadian events through seasons 5, 6 and 7, held in Niagara Falls, which were subsequently dropped. After three years without venturing north of the border, the tour made its Canadian comeback in a big way, but in a new location.

Despite not having the same density of tourist accommodations as Niagara Falls, Montreal is the better choice for a poker tournament for a couple of reasons. For one thing, everyone knows that poker players like to party, and Montreal has long been famous throughout Canada and New England for its nightlife.

More importantly, it’s a hotbed of poker players, big and small. Hometown hero Jonathan Mercier is right up there with Daniel Negreanu among big names in Canadian poker, while the city’s cheap rent and relaxed vibe make it a perfect home base for any number of aspiring grinders.

The Future of WPT in Montreal

Things are changing rapidly in the poker world, so it’s impossible to say what the future will hold, but it seems likely that Montreal may become a regular stop on the tour. Hopefully, this year’s main event will see another 1000+ player field and an exciting final table. If it’s anything compared to last year’s, it’s hard to imagine the WPT organizers not wanting to bring it back for a third go-round.

Alex Weldon is a game designer by day and poker tournament wizard by night. You can read more from Alex at www.benefactum.ca and follow him on Twitter at @benefactumgames

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