One of probably the most historic stops on the World Poker Tour is returning to the schedule in 2027.
On Monday, WPT officers introduced the Los Angeles Poker Classic is as soon as once more on the schedule. The pageant’s $10,000 buy-in no-limit maintain’em most important occasion is as soon as once more a WPT occasion. It will run from Feb. 26 via March 3 on the Commerce Casino.
The broader collection, which has continued to run even after the principle occasion’s departure from the WPT, will kick off on Jan. 15 and conclude on March 7.
“The LAPC holds an incredibly important place in the history of the World Poker Tour,” mentioned WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “Our partnership with The Commerce Hotel & Casino helped create countless memorable moments over the years, and we are proud to return in Season 25 and build upon that remarkable legacy together.”
Perfect Attendance For 18 Years
For many of the WPT’s historical past, the LAPC most important occasion was a staple on the tour’s schedule. The tour’s first 18 seasons had the $10,000 occasion on the schedule.
Aside from the primary season, when Gus Hansen defeated 136 entries to win $532,490, the LAPC featured a seven-figure first-place prize.
Additionally, the occasion’s winners had been consistently among the many recreation’s greatest. Winning the match was a robust indicator the participant had elite talent. Antonio Esfandiari, Michael Mizrachi, and Phil Ivey had been among the many early champions. Chris Moorman, Anthony Zinno, and David “ODB” Baker additionally earned titles within the post-Black Friday years.
Balakrishna Patur received the latest WPT-branded LAPC most important occasion. The discipline reached the ultimate six in March 2020, and was scheduled to play to a champion through the summer time for manufacturing functions. However, the pandemic pushed the date again greater than 12 months later, and he formally received the occasion in May 2021.
He received greater than $1 million for defeating a 490-entry discipline. It was the final time the LAPC was on the WPT Main Tour schedule.
| WPT Season (Year) | Entries | Winner | First-Place Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (2003) | 136 | Gus Hansen | $532,490 |
| 2 (2004) | 382 | Antonio Esfandiari | $1,399,135 |
| 3 (2005) | 538 | Michael Mizrachi | $1,859,909 |
| 4 (2006) | 692 | Alan Goehring | $2,391,550 |
| 5 (2007) | 791 | Eric Hershler | $2,429,970 |
| 6 (2008) | 665 | Phil Ivey | $1,596,100 |
| 7 (2009) | 696 | Cornel Cimpan | $1,686,760 |
| 8 (2010) | 745 | Andras Koroknai | $1,788,001 |
| 9 (2011) | 681 | Gregory Brooks | $1,654,120 |
| 10 (2012) | 549 | Sean Jazayeri | $1,370,240 |
| 11 (2013) | 517 | Paul Klann | $1,004,090 |
| 12 (2014) | 534 | Chris Moorman | $1,015,460 |
| 13 (2015) | 538 | Anthony Zinno | $1,015,860 |
| 14 (2016) | 515 | Dietrich Fast | $1,000,800 |
| 15 (2017) | 521 | Daniel Strelitz | $1,001,110 |
| 16 (2018) | 493 | Dennis Blieden | $1,000,000 |
| 17 (2019) | 546 | David “ODB” Baker | $1,015,000 |
| 18 (2020) | 490 | Balakrishna Patur | $1,015,000 |
A Post-COVID Fall From Grace
The LAPC returned in 2021, nevertheless it was not a part of the WPT schedule. Moreover, California was one of many strictest states concerning COVID laws. As a outcome, a steep decline in numbers was anticipated.
The occasion solely generated 69 entries. It was the smallest discipline for the reason that occasion jumped from a $7,600 buy-in to $10,000 in 2003. Michael Liang took down the traditionally small discipline for $173,300.
Attendance progressively trended upward earlier than peaking in 2023 with 181 entries. In 2026, there have been simply 50 entries and Alex Massman received $158,030.
| Year | Entries | Winner | First-Place Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | Michael Liang | $175,300 |
| 2022 | 119 | Huy Lam | $300,280 |
| 2023 | 181 | Alex Petrosian | $401,650 |
| 2024 | 139 | Wesley Haymond | $279,450 |
| 2025 | 145 | Michael Nia | $308,270 |
| 2026 | 50 | Alex Massman | $158,030 |
Will A Return To The WPT Revitalize The LAPC?
Even as California COVID restrictions loosened, the turnout by no means recovered to anyplace close to what it was beneath the WPT umbrella. The turnout in 2027 will definitely act as a litmus take a look at for the way enticing the WPT model is to leisure gamers and touring professionals alike.
The LAPC most important occasion obtained probably the most scrutiny, nevertheless it represented a disturbing development for Los Angeles’ match poker scene. In a post-COVID world, tournaments weren’t a spotlight of the native card rooms. And that was mirrored within the match’s turnout.
But the Commerce wasn’t the one Golden State on line casino taking occasions off the WPT schedule. Northern California’s preeminent poker site, Bay 101, took its Shooting Star most important occasion off the schedule in 2017, earlier than returning to the WPT final 12 months.
Sacramento’s Thunder Valley Casino took a quick hiatus following the pandemic, however returned to the WPT in 2023. Another outstanding Southern California card room, The Gardens Casino, additionally returned to the WPT in 2023, nevertheless it didn’t return when the tour switched its seasons to correspond with the calendar 12 months in 2024.
