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WSOP 2019, interesting facts and a brief history
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We have all heard about poker tournaments and the excitement around them, but there is once particular series of tournaments that brings a peculiar feeling to worldwide poker players and that is the World Series of Poker, mostly known by its acronyms, WSOP.
Sources claim it dates back to the 70s, when Benny Binion invited seven of the best-known poker players to the Horseshoe Casino for a single tournament.
We have come a long way since Harrah’s signed an agreement with 888, to provide its online gaming services and in our current year, WSOP has reached the 50th Anniversary. The live tournament series has managed to smash record after record with a 9% increase in attendance year-on-year.
However, 2019 wasn’t the case for a new record, but we must mention that this year’s attendance of 8,569 figures represents the second-largest field size in the past 50-years and the fourth successive year that the attendance has increased. That has got to count for something.
While some figures go higher, we must mention that the age of the WSOP players is still going down. The age range in the total field demographic shows a dominance of players ranging between 26 to 40.
The average age of 2019 WSOP Main Event participants is 41.46 vs 42.27 recorded in 2018. For males, the average is 41.34 and for females, 44.30.
In whichever way you take it, it is a huge achievement considering the limited options available to the WSOP for online satellite qualification.
It is the year of second best, as the $80,548,600 prize pool is also the second-highest in 50-years and all Final Table Payouts are guaranteed to be of seven-figures with seven-figure pay jumps starting with four players remaining.
One thousand two hundred eighty-six players will receive a minimum of $15,000, which is really good news for everyone taking part in the tournament which is held this year between May 28 and 16 July.
As we have mentioned earlier, the Word Series of Poker has really grown into a global event and now attract players from 87 different countries to make up this year’s field.
Top Ten Countries Represented in 2019 are United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, China, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Russia and Austria.
But, it’s not all good news when it comes to this year’s tournament. Poker industry media outlets reported that in a strange turn of events, a player has been disqualified for stealing a player’s entire stack as he scooped in a won pot. Georgii Belianin, from Russia, had won a small pot and when reaching out to claim the chips he put his arm around the player to his left’s stack and collected that too. It was alleged by witnesses that he did this with a smile on his face, maybe insinuating that it was supposed to be a joke.
Belianin didn’t get a chance to see anybody laughing, because he shortly got escorted out of the tournament playing area by Jack Effel (World Series of Poker Vice President) and then handed over to security.
PokerCentral has also reported that the 1989 WSOP Main Event Champion, Phil Hellmuth, lasted just five hours in the tournament. It is now surprise after having spent the past days by doing an eight-hour hiking trip up to Machu Pichu, swimming with turtles and penguins, and having deep and meaningful conversations with some of the brightest business minds, such as Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Peter Guber, Hollywood star Rob Lowe, Los Angeles Dodgers CEO Lon Rosen, super-agent Todd Feldman of CAA, and Jason Sugarman.
But wait, we just arrived to another funny story of this year’s happenings at the WSOP so far (there are still a few days left, so there might be more). An unidentified man, wearing a t-shirt with numbers 55 on the back, has moved all-in and then proceeded to stand up as he waited for his opponent to make a decision. What happened next might be the strangest and most unbelievable thing you’ll ever see at a poker table and especially during a live tournament.
The presumably intoxicated man turned his back to the table and dropped his shorts, exposing his genitalia to everyone in the Pavilion room at the Rio and moments later, he took off his shoe and threw it directly at the dealer. You can find the video online just by searching for ‘WSOP, Man Exposes Himself at Table’.
At the time of writing this article, poker industry media outlets have reported that Preben Stokkan is the likely chip leader as the only player above two million, claiming 2,184,000 to his name.
Three former WSOP Main Event champions are still in the mix for a repeat victory in Chris Moneymaker, Qui Nguyen, and Johnny Chan.
The story will continue…
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: WSOP 2019, interesting facts and a brief history

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Velocity Gaming Clinches VCT Ascension Pacific Slot After Dominant LAN Finale Victory at OMEN VCSA 2025
- Velocity Gaming Clinches VCT Ascension Pacific Slot After Dominant LAN Finale Victory at OMEN VCSA 2025
- Velocity Gaming bests S8UL 3-1 in the Grand Finale of the OMEN VCSA 2025 Ascension Qualifiers LAN
- Multi-Million Viewership Milestone Marks New High for South Asian VALORANT
Velocity Gaming has secured its place at VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 after beating S8UL 3-1 in the Grand Final of the OMEN VCSA 2025 Ascension Qualifiers LAN, held at Ardee Mall in Gurugram. The team takes home ₹24.3 lakhs in prize money and will now represent India on the international VALORANT stage this October in Bangkok. S8UL, who made it to the finals through the lower bracket, finishes as runner-up and wins ₹12.15 lakhs.
“Been practicing and getting better as a team to achieve this one goal. It’s a really special one for us. This is step one, however, and it’s time to represent South Asia at VCT Ascension Pacific and make all of us proud!” said Adarsh Singh, Organization Manager, Velocity Gaming.
Road to the Finals
Before the final, S8UL faced DOT EXE Esports in the Lower Bracket Final and won 3-1, setting up the last match against Velocity Gaming. Velocity, who had stayed undefeated through the upper bracket, closed out the final in four maps to win the series.
Showmatch Brings Creators to the Fore
Fans at the venue also got to enjoy a creator showmatch on Day 2, featuring popular names like Sikhwarrior, Mackletv, Chhabra Saab, and Pooja Bisht. The match added a fun break between the competitions and gave the audience a chance to see their favorite creators play live.
“Big congratulations to Velocity Gaming for an outstanding performance against the best in the region. With OMEN VCSA, NODWIN Gaming, and Riot Games have worked to build a long-term, sustainable ecosystem for VALORANT in South Asia that gives top talent the stage they deserve. This event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from our partners and the passion of the fans who showed up in full force. We’re proud to have played a part in pushing the VALORANT esports scene forward, and we’re excited to see Velocity Gaming carry that momentum onto the global stage.” said Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder & Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming.
“This tournament was a reflection of how far the VALORANT community in South Asia has come. The passion from fans, the level of competition, and the support behind these teams show that this region is ready for the global stage. At Riot, we’ve always believed in building player-first experiences, and it’s incredible to see that vision come to life through events like OMEN VCSA. We’re proud of every team that competed and excited to see Velocity Gaming carry the community’s hopes to Ascension.” added Sukamal Pegu, Esports Lead, South Asia, Riot Games.
OMEN VCSA 2025 Draws Record-Breaking Viewership
The OMEN VCSA 2025 Ascension Qualifiers witnessed an overwhelming response from fans across South Asia and beyond. With over 12 million views and more than 50,000 peak concurrent viewers across creator and official pages, the tournament emerged as one of the most-watched VALORANT events in the region this year.
With broadcasts in both Hindi and English, the event reached a diverse and passionate audience, underscoring the growing popularity of competitive VALORANT in South Asia.
What’s Next?
Velocity Gaming will now represent South Asia at the VCT Ascension Pacific 2025, scheduled to take place from October 13 to 26, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. The tournament will feature 10 elite teams from across the Asia-Pacific region, all competing for promotion to the VCT Pacific League 2026.
The post Velocity Gaming Clinches VCT Ascension Pacific Slot After Dominant LAN Finale Victory at OMEN VCSA 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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2025 PUBG MOBILE WORLD CUP KICKS OFF WITH GROUP DRAW AHEAD OF ESPORTS WORLD CUP
- The PUBG MOBILE World Cup has returned, marking its second year as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh
- 24 teams from PUBG MOBILE Esports regional leagues have been placed into Groups Red, Yellow, and Green
- The Group Draw has determined the matchings for the Group Stage, where three groups will fight to secure their place in the Grand Finals or the Survival Stage
- This marks the first step in the biggest PUBG MOBILE Esports event of the summer, with each team aiming for the mighty $3,000,000 USD prize pool
PUBG MOBILE Esports is pleased to announce that the PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC) is back for a thrilling second edition, once again taking centre stage as part of the prestigious Esports World Cup in Riyadh. Its momentous return kicks off with the Group Draw, where 24 teams from across the globe have been split into three groups to go head-to-head in the Group Stage, from July 25th-27th, for a chance to move one step closer to glory in this year’s official mid-season tournament. With an impressive lineup and a mighty $3,000,000 USD prize pool on the line, only one team will rise to the occasion to take the 2025 PMWC title.
Debuting last year, the 2025 PMWC is the headline PUBG MOBILE Esports tournament of the summer, making its comeback this year as a key part of the Esports World Cup. PUBG MOBILE Esports returns to represent its larger commitment to growing the global mobile esports ecosystem. Raising the stakes even higher for this year’s competition, the dynamic SMASH ruleset has had a refresh. In the updated ruleset, a team must first reach the match point, defined by the top team’s score after Day 2 plus 10 points, then win a match to claim the 2025 PMWC Championship title. If no team does this in 18 matches, the team with the highest overall points wins the tournament.
The Group Draw not only shapes the first battles of the tournament but also sets the tone for the breakout performances to come. The 2025 PMWC Group Draw has followed a strategic format — the 24 elite teams have been seeded into five pools based on their regional qualification results, and drawn into three groups: Red, Green, and Yellow. Battling their way through the Group Stage, these three groups will consist of eight teams seeking the number one title at the Grand Finals this August.
Representing top talent from around the globe, the 24 teams have earned their spots through intense regional leagues such as the PUBG MOBILE Super League (PMSL), PUBG MOBILE Challengers League (PMCL), along with invites from all other regions. With the draw now concluded, all teams will advance beyond the Group Stage, with the top eight securing direct entry into the Grand Finals. The remaining 16 will battle through the Survival Stage for a second chance at a spot in the championship, making every match critical as teams fight to extend their 2025 PMWC journey.
Each group and their teams can be found below:
Group Red |
Group Yellow |
Group Green |
Team Falcons | Fire Flux Esports | IDA Esports |
Horaa Esports | Regnum Carya Esports | Alpha Gaming |
eArena | 4Thrives Esports | Alter Ego Ares |
POWR Esports | Team Secret | Gamax Esports |
Alpha7 Esports | Team Vision | INTENSE GAME |
Nongshim RedForce | INFLUENCE RAGE | KINOTROPE Gaming |
Weibo Gaming | DRX | TT Global |
Aryan & TMG Gaming | Yangon Galacticos | R8 Esports |
Key PMWC dates:
- Group Stage – 25th – 27th July
- Survival Stage – 29th – 30th July
- Grand Finals – 1st – 3rd August
For more information on the confirmed teams, schedule and where to watch, please visit the official PUBG MOBILE Esports channels on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
The post 2025 PUBG MOBILE WORLD CUP KICKS OFF WITH GROUP DRAW AHEAD OF ESPORTS WORLD CUP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – July 7-13
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
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Apollo announced the completion of the previously announced acquisitions of International Game Technology PLC’s (doing business as Brightstar Lottery) Gaming & Digital Business and Everi Holdings Inc. (Everi) by a holding company owned by funds managed by Apollo affiliates (the Apollo Funds). The all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $6.3 billion, brings together complementary businesses to form a privately held global leader in gaming, digital and financial technology solutions. The two companies will be integrated into a combined enterprise in the coming months. Headquartered in Las Vegas, the combined enterprise will operate under the IGT name, while retaining the Everi brand in select markets and product lines.
Luckbet has announced Vitor Paulin as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), bringing his expertise in branding, digital marketing, data-driven strategies, performance, CRM and user experience optimisation to lead the brand’s positioning at a strategic moment for the betting sector in Brazil. With a consolidated track record in branding, strategy and communication, Paulin takes on the mission of boosting the company’s marketing initiatives, strengthening its presence in the market. Having worked for renowned companies such as Accenture, Ogilvy, Cadastra, Havas, Dentsu, Digitas, Serasa Experian, Escola Conquer and Grupo Aposta Ganha, Vitor has accumulated experience in leadership positions, including CMO and Chief Growth Officer.
Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel has officially opened its newly expanded non-smoking gaming floor, marking a significant milestone in the property’s continued commitment to exceptional guest experiences. Located adjacent to the hotel lobby, the new, larger non-smoking slot floor will feature nearly 400 of today’s most popular slot machines in a fresh, modern environment designed exclusively for non-smoking guests. This addition enhances the casino’s dedication to providing smoke-free gaming options in a luxury setting. For convenience and ease of access, non-smoking guests can also take advantage of the smoke-free entrance via the hotel’s valet parking. This new space complements Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel’s existing fully enclosed, non-smoking slot area near Falls Buffet and Snoqualmie Café & Deli, offering guests even more choice and accessibility when it comes to their preferred gaming environment.
Partnerships
Hasbro has announced a new slate of multi-year licensing partnerships aimed at transforming and expanding its most popular brands across the casino category. After a comprehensive review and market evaluation, Hasbro has selected Aristocrat Technologies, Evolution, Galaxy Gaming, and Bally’s as its newest partners in casino licensing. The new partners join existing licensee Sciplay. The announcement underscores Hasbro’s “Playing to Win” strategy, revealed in February 2025, which focuses on innovation, partnerships, and bringing beloved brands to life across more formats than ever.
The Indiana Fever announced that one of the world’s leading online betting companies, bet365, is joining the team as its Official Sportsbook Partner for the 2025 season. Bet365 will step into the game with a lineup of fan-focused features that will be integrated across the Fever’s media and game day experience. As part of the partnership, bet365 will have a strong presence throughout the Fever season, including having a brand presence across Fever Radio Network broadcasts, team social content and the Fever mobile app.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – July 7-13 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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