WPT Premier Meet-Up Game at the Wynn Was a Roaring Success!

WPT Premier Meet-Up Game
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  • Naman Sharma December 2, 2022
  • 4 Minutes Read

The expectations were tall for the WPT Premier Meet-Up Game (MUG), a grand cash game event held at the Wynn Poker Room on December 1 that served as the opening gala for the World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship, the biggest guaranteed tournament series ever. And the turnouts didn`t disappoint, with all 28 cash tables running choc-a-bloc.

With a star-studded line-up of WPT ambassadors like YouTube poker superstars Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen, poker legends Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Patrik Antonius, WPT cultural ambassador DJ Steve Aoki, and WPT talents like Vince Van Patten, Tony Dunst, and Lynn Gilmartin in attendance, the Premier MUG turned out to a roaring success. Smiling pros and ecstatic fans were a testimony to the grand success of the MUG.

Phil Ivey at the WPT MUG
Phil Ivey at the WPT MUG

 

The WPT tweeted about the WPT Premier Meet-Up Game.

 

The event proved to be a high-voltage one, and only within an hour of kicking off, every table in the room was filled up, and loads of cash exchanged hands. As an added attraction, anyone moving all-in against any of the pros in the room won a raffle ticket for the four $10,400 WPT World Championship seats up for grabs.

Charity Starrett, a raffle ticket winner
Charity Starrett, a raffle ticket winner

 

The Pros React

“I’ve never been in a poker room with more energy than this right now,” said Brad Owen. “This is called the Premier Meet Up Game, which is living up to that. We have Doyle Brunson, Vince Van Patten, Phil Ivey, and the list of big names goes on and on. To be a part of this, to kick off the WPT World Championship at the Wynn is something special, and I’m having a great time.”

Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen at the WPT MUG
Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen at the WPT MUG

 

“This is a pretty special event for sure,” said Andrew Neeme taking a short break from battling fans at the tables. “We have a full room, every table in use. To get this many people together and to get these superstars of poker together is very special. The vibe in the room is electric; there are multiple cameras all over the place, both from vloggers and professional equipment in use. It’s a special scene in here.”

“I feel like Santa Claus in the room,” said WPT anchor Lynn Gilmartin. “Just rolling up to tables and giving tickets. It’s just a good energy vibe, and as soon as everyone sees me coming, they are like, ‘Oooh! I got a chance to get a ticket!’ It’s electric.”

Outside the invited poker celebrities, several others like Kathy Liebert, Ryan Laplante, Jaman Burton, and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Nathan Gamble showed up for support.

“I thought there would be maybe 8 to 10 tables. And Wynn has 28 tables, and I didn’t expect it to be completely overflowing like it is now,” Nathan Gamble said. “It’s not so much for me about playing with Ivey and Antonius; it’s about being a part of the poker world. The vibe in here is amazing.”

 

Fans React

Jason Sprinkle, a 50-year-old safety director for a commercial refrigeration company, arrived at the WPT Premier Meet-Up Game at Wynn Las Vegas at 7:30 AM – over two hours before the official start time to ensure he got a seat to play. But his primary objective was to meet his idol, Doyle Brunson.

Jason Sprinkle
Jason Sprinkle

 

“There were some games going, but there was nobody on the list. So I was pretty much the first one here,” said Sprinkle.

After Brunson arrived, Sprinkle made his way over to the Poker Hall of Famer to have him sign a second edition of his poker strategy book Super System and the first edition of its sequel, Super System 2.

Doyle Brunson at the WPT MUG
Doyle Brunson at the WPT MUG

 

“He’s the Godfather. If there’s a bucket list guy for me to meet and shake his hand, it was him,” said Sprinkle. “I’ve played with a lot of pros. I’ve never had the opportunity to even be in the room with Doyle. So this is special.”

Even moments after watching Brunson put ink to paper, Sprinkle was still moved by the entire experience.

“So surreal. Celebrity doesn’t impact me a whole lot, it has to be a very specific person, and this is one of those moments,” said Sprinkle. “The legend of Doyle is wonderful, and I’m glad I got to meet him, and I’m glad he signed my books.”

The WPT MUG turned out to be an electrifying event as the fans got to clash with the pros at the low stakes, making it more of a social gathering than a serious cash game, setting the tone for an electrifying three weeks of action at the venue.

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