Tournament coverage Poker

The world’s best poker tournaments Pt 1

Written by Ben Blaschke

We count down the 10 most coveted poker tournaments in the world – the events every player dreams of winning. Next week we will bring you the Top 5 but for now let’s start by looking at numbers 10 through six on our list.

10. WSOP $10k 6-max – There are a number of $10,000 buy-in world championship events at the WSOP each year but for the purity of the game we can’t go past the $10k 6-max as one bracelet we would love to win. Requiring aggression, timing and top notch hand reading skills, it quickly sorts the men from the boys. In 2012 it was won by Greg Merson, who would also go on to win the Main Event and complete a truly phenomenal summer, while other winners include Dan Kelly who prevailed in 2010 when it was run as a $25,000 event for a prize of US$1.3 million.

Daniel Negreanu became the inaugural WSOP-APAC champion earlier this year

Daniel Negreanu became the inaugural WSOP-APAC champion earlier this year

9. WSOP-APAC – The newest addition to the WSOP circuit, WSOP Asia-Pacific was held for the first time in early 2013 at Melbourne’s Crown Casino. It boasted five bracelet events with the AU$10,000 Main Event offering a first prize of just over AU$1 million. The inaugural Main Event was won by none other than Daniel Negreanu who collected his fifth career WSOP bracelet. Although still building its profile, there is no doubt WSOP-APAC will become another popular stop on the world circuit.

8. WSOPE Main Event – The WSOP ventured outside Las Vegas for the first time in 2007 with the launch of WSOP Europe and this short series of events has since become a regular fixture on the calendar. Again, with WSOP bracelets on offer, it is no surprise the world’s best make the trek each year. This is the event that launched Annette Obrestadt’s career when she prevailed in 2007, while Phil Hellmuth claimed his record 13th career WSOP bracelet and the €1 million first prize when he won in 2012.

7. PokerStars Carribean Adventure (PCA) – What an amazing way to bring in the New Year as we head to the Carribean for some sun and surf. From humble beginning back in 2004, the PCA has grown into one of the world’s biggest events with a first prize of around $US2 million. At its peak in 2009, Canada’s Poorya Nazari collected the title and massive US$3 million first prize. Despite the huge money on offer, the PCA is also known as one of the most relaxed and enjoyable stops around the world.

Malaysia's Mervin Chan won the 2013 Aussie Millions Main Event

Malaysia’s Mervin Chan won the 2013 Aussie Millions Main Event

6. Aussie Millions – The iconic Aussie Millions is the one event that regularly draws the world’s best to the Southern Hemisphere as they chase this highly prized title and the nearly AU$2 million first prize. First run back in 1998, it is held at the popular Crown Casino in Melbourne in the Australian summer and with the Australian Open tennis being held nearby at the same time remains a stop that all poker players look forward to each year. Winners include Gus Hansen, Lee Nelson, Tony Bloom and Alexander Kostritsyn.