The World Poker Tour is returning to Wynn Las Vegas for the WPT World Championship, and this year it comes with a structural change that affects every player from the first hand. ClubWPT Gold is adding $1,000,000 in cash and prizes to the $10,400 WPT World Championship as a mystery bounty pool, separate from and in addition to the prize pool generated by player entries. The Season 24 finale festival runs Nov. 27–Dec. 21 with 86 total events and more than $20,000,000 in guarantees. The World Championship final table is Dec. 20.
The $1,000,000 Mystery Bounty Addition
The headline change for Season 24 is not a bigger guarantee. It is a structural one. ClubWPT Gold is adding $1,000,000 in cash and prizes to the $10,400 World Championship as a mystery bounty pool, completely separate from and in addition to whatever the entry fees generate. Once the mystery bounty phase begins, every player who eliminates an opponent earns the right to draw a mystery bounty envelope. The full $1,000,000 is distributed exclusively through those draws, not through the standard payout structure.
That changes how the tournament plays before anyone reaches the money. A player who eliminates opponents early can collect significant cash long before the bubble. A deep run without many eliminations is worth less than it would have been in a standard event. It adds a layer to nearly every decision involving a short stack from the moment the mystery bounty phase begins.
Last year’s field drew 1,865 entries and generated an $18,277,000 prize pool. Schuyler Thornton won $2,528,200 after a heads-up adjustment with Soheb Porbandarwala to become the WPT World Champion and add his name to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup. The $1,000,000 added this year sits on top of whatever player entries generate in 2026.
“With our partnership with Wynn Las Vegas, the WPT World Championship has become the gold standard for player experience, venue, and fun,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “We look forward to continuing our celebration of players at all levels in our efforts to give them an unparalleled experience.”
The 2026 WPT World Championship Key Events
The World Championship is the centerpiece, but the festival is built around four events at the top end of the schedule, each worth showing up for on its own.
WPT World Championship — $10,400 | Dec. 13-20 | $1,000,000 mystery bounty added by ClubWPT Gold
Three starting flights, single entry per flight. Late registration is open until prior to the start of Day 2. Players compete for the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup and a seat in the Season 25 World Championship. The final table is filmed for television and livestreamed. Wynn Las Vegas is offering preferred hotel rates for players attending the festival — book via worldpokertour.com.
WPT Prime Championship — $1,100 | Dec. 5-12 | $5,000,000 guaranteed
Four starting flights; the field combines on Day 2; the final table is livestreamed and filmed for television. First place also receives a seat in the Season 25 World Championship. Last year Aaron Johnson won $1,010,400 via a heads-up arrangement with Fernando Martin Del Campo — the clearest demonstration of what depth in this event produces at a $1,100 buy-in.
Super Gold Million — $400 | Dec. 10-14 | $3,000,000 guaranteed
New to the festival in 2026, sponsored by ClubWPT Gold. Mystery bounty format, four starting flights, unlimited re-entry. The final table is livestreamed on WPT channels.
NLH High Roller — $25,800 | Dec. 17-18 | $1,000,000 guaranteed
A two-day event at the top of the buy-in ladder.
Beyond those four, the festival includes the Ladies NLH Championship ($1,100, $250,000 guaranteed), Seniors NLH Championship ($1,100), Seniors High Roller ($5,000, $250,000 guaranteed), NLH Mystery Bounty ($1,600, $1,000,000 guaranteed), PLO ($1,600, $1,000,000 guaranteed), Limit Omaha 8 Championship ($1,600, $1,000,000 guaranteed), TORSE Championship ($1,600, $1,000,000 guaranteed), Wynn Mixed Championship ($1,100), Big O ($1,100), and a full slate of NLH events from $600 up. 25 satellites run throughout the festival at price points from $200 to $1,600, covering paths into the World Championship, Prime Championship, and other marquee events.
The WPT Meet-Up Game on Dec. 1 at the Wynn Poker Room runs $1/$3 and $2/$5 cash games with special guests and giveaways. If you have not been to one of these, they are worth the trip on their own, as the energy at the first edition in 2022 set the tone for everything that followed.
Qualify Online With WPT Global
Players outside the United States can qualify for the WPT World Championship online through WPT Global using bonus code BONUSPRO, the World Poker Tour’s official online poker home, available in over 135 countries. WPT Global runs regular satellites awarding seats into the World Championship, the Prime Championship, the WPT500, and other live events throughout the season. Players have turned WPT Global satellite wins into trips to Wynn Las Vegas and into six-figure live cashes.
New players using code BONUSPRO on WPT Global receive a 100% deposit match up to $1,200 and access to a full tournament schedule from freerolls up. Download WPT Global here.
WPT World Championship Winners: A Complete History
The WPT World Championship has been the season-ending crown jewel of the World Poker Tour since Season 1 in 2003. What started as a $25,000 buy-in finale at the Bellagio grew into one of the most decorated events in poker history, disappeared entirely for six years, and came roaring back at Wynn Las Vegas from 2022 onward with fields and prize pools that rewrote the record books. Here is every champion, from Alan Goehring to Schuyler Thornton.
The Bellagio era (Seasons 1–11, 2003–2013) peaked in 2007 when 639 players entered, and Carlos Mortensen became the first player to hold both a WSOP Main Event title and a WPT World Championship. Fields declined sharply after the poker boom, from 639 entries in 2007 to 146 by 2013. In Season 12, the WPT moved the event to the Borgata in Atlantic City and cut the buy-in to $15,400. Season 13 was the last open WPT World Championship before a six-year hiatus. Seasons 14 through 17 replaced the event entirely with an invite-only Tournament of Champions for WPT Champions Club members; Seasons 18 and 19 had no season-ending championship of any kind, disrupted by COVID-19. The open WPT World Championship did not exist from 2016 through 2021.
The relaunch at Wynn Las Vegas in December 2022 changed everything. The inaugural edition drew 2,960 entries — a WPT Main Tour record at the time — and generated a $29,008,000 prize pool off a $15,000,000 guarantee that was nearly doubled. Canada’s Eliot Hudon, who had never cashed for more than $113,800 before that week, won $4,136,000. “I’m more in poker for winning more than the money,” he said afterward. The 2022 edition won the Global Poker Award for Best Poker Event of the Year.
In 2023, the WPT set a $40,000,000 guarantee, the largest in live poker history, and drew 3,835 entries. Las Vegas-based pro Dan Sepiol won $5,282,954, still the largest first prize in WPT history. The 2024 field of 2,392 and 2025 field of 1,865 were smaller, both competing against other major December events, but both produced first-time major champions. Every WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas has done the same: four editions, four players who had never won a WPT title before they won the biggest one.
- Read more: Scott Stewart Wins 2024 WPT World Championship ($2,563,900)
- Read more: WPT World Championship Returns to Wynn Las Vegas for a Grand Finale in 2024
- Read more: WPT World Championship 2024: What’s New and Different This Year?
Wynn Las Vegas era (2022–present) — $10,400 buy-in, open field
| Year | Champion | Country | Entries | Prize Pool | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |  Schuyler Thornton | United States | 1,865 | $18,277,000 | $2,528,200 |
| 2024 | Scott Stewart | United States | 2,392 | $23,441,600 | $2,563,900 |
| 2023 | Dan Sepiol | United States | 3,835 | $40,000,000 | $5,282,954 |
| 2022 |  Eliot Hudon | Canada | 2,960 | $29,008,000 | $4,136,000 |
No open WPT World Championship was held from 2016 through 2021. Seasons 14–17 ran an invite-only Tournament of Champions for WPT Champions Club members only. Seasons 18–19 had no season-ending championship event.
Borgata era (2014–2015) — $15,400 buy-in, Atlantic City
| Year | Champion | Country | Entries | Prize Pool | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 (S13) | Asher Conniff | United States | 239 | ~$3,500,000 | $973,683 |
| 2014 (S12) | Keven Stammen | United States | 328 | $5,000,000 | $1,350,000 |
Bellagio era (2003–2013) — $25,000/$25,500 buy-in, open field
| Year | Champion | Country | Entries | Prize Pool | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 (S11) | David “Chino” Rheem | United States | 146 | ~$3,500,000 | $1,150,297 |
| 2012 (S10) |  Marvin Rettenmaier | Germany | 152 | ~$3,700,000 | $1,196,858 |
| 2011 (S9) | Scott Seiver | United States | 220 | $5,335,000 | $1,618,344 |
| 2010 (S8) | David Williams | United States | 195 | ~$4,700,000 | $1,530,537 |
| 2009 (S7) |  Yevgeniy Timoshenko | Ukraine | 338 | ~$8,200,000 | $2,149,960 |
| 2008 (S6) |  David Chiu | China | 545 | ~$13,200,000 | $3,389,140 |
| 2007 (S5) |  Carlos Mortensen | Ecuador | 639 | ~$15,500,000 | $3,970,415 |
| 2006 (S4) | Joe Bartholdi Jr. | United States | 605 | ~$14,700,000 | $3,760,165 |
| 2005 (S3) |  Tuan Le | Vietnam | 647 | ~$15,700,000 | $2,856,150 |
| 2004 (S2) |  Martin de Knijff | Sweden | 343 | ~$8,500,000 | $2,728,356 |
| 2003 (S1) | Alan Goehring | United States | 111 | $2,691,750 | $1,011,886 |
2026 WPT World Championship Full Schedule
86 events in total across 25 days. Satellites run throughout. A complete schedule PDF is available at worldpokertour.com.
| Date | Time | Event | GTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Nov. 27 | 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1A ($600) | $400,000 |
| 12 p.m. | TORSE ($600) | — | |
| 1 p.m. | PLO ($400) | — | |
| 5 p.m. | NLH Day 1B ($600) | $400,000 | |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1C ($600) | $400,000 |
| 12 p.m. | Mixed Triple Draw A-5/2-7/Badugi ($600) | — | |
| 5 p.m. | NLH Day 1D ($600) | $400,000 | |
| Sunday, Nov. 29 | 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1E ($600) | $400,000 |
| 6 p.m. | NLH Day 1F Turbo ($600) | $400,000 | |
| Monday, Nov. 30 | 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1A ($800) | $400,000 |
| 12 p.m. | Limit Omaha 8 ($800) | — | |
| 1 p.m. | NLH Day 2 — $600 flight | Closed | |
| 5 p.m. | NLH Day 1B ($800) | $400,000 | |
| Tuesday, Dec. 1 | All day | WPT Meet-Up Game — $1/$3 and $2/$5 cash, special guests and giveaways | — |
| 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1C ($800) | $400,000 | |
| 12 p.m. | Limit Omaha 8/Stud 8 ($600) | — | |
| 1 p.m. | PLO ($400) | — | |
| 5 p.m. | NLH Day 1D ($800) | $400,000 | |
| Wednesday, Dec. 2 | 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1E ($800) | $400,000 |
| 6 p.m. | NLH Day 1F Turbo ($800) | $400,000 | |
| Thursday, Dec. 3 | 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1A — $800 flight | $400,000 |
| 1 p.m. | NLH Day 2 — $800 flight | Closed | |
| 7 p.m. | Double Play Milestone Satellite (2 x $1,100 tickets) ($400) | — | |
| Friday, Dec. 4 | 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1B — $800 flight | $400,000 |
| 12 p.m. | HORSE ($800) | — | |
| 1 p.m. | NLH Final Table — $800 flight | Closed | |
| 7 p.m. | Double Play Milestone Satellite (2 x $1,100 tickets) ($400) | — | |
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | 11 a.m. | WPT Prime Championship Day 1A ($1,100) | $5,000,000 |
| 9 p.m. | NLH Turbo ($600) | $50,000 | |
| Sunday, Dec. 6 | 11 a.m. | WPT Prime Championship Day 1B ($1,100) | $5,000,000 |
| Monday, Dec. 7 | 11 a.m. | PLO Mystery Bounty Day 1A ($1,600) | — |
| 12 p.m. | Milestone Satellite to WPT Prime Championship ($200) | — | |
| 6 p.m. | PLO Mystery Bounty Day 1B Turbo ($1,600) | — | |
| 7 p.m. | Double Play Milestone Satellite (2 x $1,100 tickets) ($400) | — | |
| 9 p.m. | NLH Turbo ($600) | $50,000 | |
| Tuesday, Dec. 8 | 11 a.m. | WPT Prime Championship Day 1C ($1,100) | $5,000,000 |
| 11 a.m. | HORSE 2-Day ($1,100) | — | |
| 12 p.m. | PLO Mystery Bounty Day 2 | Closed | |
| 1 p.m. | PLO $500 Bounty ($1,600) | — | |
| 7 p.m. | Milestone Satellite Package — Prime and World Championship ($1,600) | — | |
| 9 p.m. | NLH Turbo ($600) | $50,000 | |
| Wednesday, Dec. 9 | 11 a.m. | WPT Prime Championship Day 1D ($1,100) | $5,000,000 |
| 7 p.m. | Milestone Satellite to WPT World Championship ($1,100) | — | |
| 9 p.m. | NLH Turbo ($600) | $50,000 | |
| Thursday, Dec. 10 | 10 a.m. | Super Gold Million Day 1A ($400) | $3,000,000 |
| 12 p.m. | WPT Prime Championship Day 2 | Closed | |
| 1 p.m. | PLO $1,000 Bounty ($3,000) | $2,000,000 | |
| 6 p.m. | Super Gold Million Day 1B Turbo ($400) | $3,000,000 | |
| Friday, Dec. 11 | 10 a.m. | Super Gold Million Day 1C ($400) | $3,000,000 |
| 12 p.m. | WPT Prime Championship Day 3 | Closed | |
| 6 p.m. | Super Gold Million Day 1D Turbo ($400) | $3,000,000 | |
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | 10 a.m. | NLH ($800) | $500,000 |
| 1 p.m. | PLO ($3,000) | $2,000,000 | |
| 2 p.m. | WPT Prime Championship Final Table — livestreamed and filmed for TV | Closed | |
| 2 p.m. | Super Gold Million Day 2 | Closed | |
| 2 p.m. | Milestone Satellite to WPT World Championship 1A/1B ($1,100) | 75 seats | |
| 9 p.m. | NLH Turbo ($600) | $50,000 | |
| Sunday, Dec. 13 | 11 a.m. | WPT World Championship Day 1A ($10,400) — $1,000,000 mystery bounty added | — |
| 11 a.m. | Ladies NLH Championship 2-Day ($1,100) | $250,000 | |
| 11 a.m. | TORSE 2-Day ($1,100) | — | |
| 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1A ($800) | $500,000 | |
| 12 p.m. | PLO Day 1A ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| 1 p.m. | Super Gold Million Day 3 | Closed | |
| Monday, Dec. 14 | 11 a.m. | WPT World Championship Day 1B ($10,400) — $1,000,000 mystery bounty added | — |
| 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1B ($800) | $500,000 | |
| 12 p.m. | PLO Day 1B ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| 12 p.m. | Mixed Triple Draw A-5/2-7/Badugi 2-Day ($1,100) | — | |
| 2 p.m. | Super Gold Million Final Table — livestreamed | Closed | |
| 7 p.m. | PLO Turbo ($1,100) | $100,000 | |
| 9 p.m. | NLH Turbo ($600) | $50,000 | |
| Tuesday, Dec. 15 | 11 a.m. | WPT World Championship Day 1C ($10,400) — $1,000,000 mystery bounty added | — |
| 11 a.m. | NLH Day 2 ($800) | Closed | |
| 12 p.m. | PLO Day 2 ($1,600) | Closed | |
| 12 p.m. | Big O ($1,100) | — | |
| 1 p.m. | PLO Progressive Bounty PKO ($3,000) | — | |
| 7 p.m. | NLH $500 Bounty Turbo ($1,600) | — | |
| Wednesday, Dec. 16 | 11 a.m. | NLH Day 1A ($1,100) | — |
| 12 p.m. | WPT World Championship Day 2 (late reg. open until cards are in the air) | Closed | |
| 12 p.m. | PLO Double Board Bomb Pot | — | |
| 1 p.m. | PLO 6-Max | — | |
| 1 p.m. | HORSE | — | |
| 7 p.m. | NLH Day 1B Turbo ($1,100) | — | |
| Thursday, Dec. 17 | 11 a.m. | Seniors NLH Championship 3-Day ($1,100) | — |
| 11 a.m. | Wynn Mixed Championship 2-Day ($1,100) | — | |
| 12 p.m. | WPT World Championship Day 3 | Closed | |
| 12 p.m. | NLH Day 2 ($1,100) | Closed | |
| 1 p.m. | NLH High Roller 2-Day ($25,800) | $1,000,000 | |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | 11 a.m. | Seniors High Roller 3-Day ($5,000) | $250,000 |
| 11 a.m. | NLH Mystery Bounty Day 1A ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| 12 p.m. | WPT World Championship Day 4 | Closed | |
| 12 p.m. | Limit Omaha 8 Championship 2-Day ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| 1 p.m. | NLH 6-Max ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| 1 p.m. | TORSE Championship 2-Day ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| 7 p.m. | NLH Mystery Bounty Day 1B Turbo ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| Saturday, Dec. 19 | 11 a.m. | NLH Mystery Bounty Day 1C ($1,600) | $1,000,000 |
| 12 p.m. | WPT World Championship Day 5 | Closed | |
| 1 p.m. | NLH 8-Max ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| 1 p.m. | Mixed Triple Draw A-5/2-7/Badugi ($1,100) | — | |
| 6 p.m. | 5-Card PLO Turbo | — | |
| 7 p.m. | NLH Mystery Bounty Day 1D Turbo ($1,600) | $1,000,000 | |
| Sunday, Dec. 20 | 12 p.m. | NLH Mystery Bounty Day 2 | Closed |
| 2 p.m. | WPT World Championship Final Table — filmed for television | Closed | |
| Monday, Dec. 21 | 12 p.m. | NLH Mystery Bounty Final Table | Closed |
| 6 p.m. | NLH Turbo — festival closes | — |
FAQ
When and where is the WPT World Championship 2026?
The WPT World Championship 2026 takes place at Wynn Las Vegas from Dec. 13-20, with the final table on Dec. 20. The broader festival runs Nov. 27–Dec. 21 and features 86 total events and more than $20,000,000 in guarantees.
What is the $1,000,000 added to the WPT World Championship 2026?
ClubWPT Gold is adding $1,000,000 in cash and prizes to the $10,400 WPT World Championship as a mystery bounty pool, completely separate from the standard prize pool generated by player entries. Once the mystery bounty phase begins, players draw a mystery bounty envelope each time they eliminate an opponent. All $1,000,000 is distributed exclusively through mystery bounty draws — not through the standard payout structure.
What is the WPT Prime Championship at Wynn Las Vegas?
The WPT Prime Championship is a $1,100 buy-in event with a $5,000,000 guarantee running Dec. 5-12, one week before the World Championship. Four starting flights combine on Day 2. The final table is livestreamed and filmed for television. First place receives a seat in the Season 25 World Championship. Last year Aaron Johnson won $1,010,400 in the Prime via a heads-up arrangement.
What is the Super Gold Million?
The Super Gold Million is a new event for 2026, sponsored by ClubWPT Gold. It runs Dec. 10-14 with a $400 buy-in and a $3,000,000 guarantee. It uses a mystery bounty format with four starting flights and unlimited re-entry. The final table is livestreamed on WPT channels.
Who won the 2025 WPT World Championship?
Schuyler Thornton won the 2025 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas for $2,528,200 after a heads-up arrangement with Soheb Porbandarwala. The event drew 1,865 entries and generated an $18,277,000 prize pool. It was Thornton’s first major tournament title.
How can I qualify online for the WPT World Championship?
Players outside the United States can qualify through WPT Global, the official online poker home of the World Poker Tour, available in over 135 countries. WPT Global runs regular satellites awarding seats to the WPT World Championship, WPT Prime Championship, and other live events. New players receive a 100% deposit match up to $1,200.
Is the WPT World Championship 2026 on TV?
Yes. The WPT World Championship final table is filmed for television as the final six players compete. Livestream coverage runs from Dec. 6-21 on WPT channels. The WPT Prime Championship final table is also livestreamed and filmed for TV.
What buy-ins are available at the WPT World Championship festival?
Events at the WPT World Championship festival run from $400 (Super Gold Million) up to $25,800 (NLH High Roller). The WPT World Championship itself is $10,400. The WPT Prime Championship is $1,100. Satellites start at $200 and provide paths into the World Championship, Prime Championship, and other events.
- Sources: World Poker Tour
- Images courtesy of World Poker Tour.
- Article originally produced at poker.pro.
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