WPT Invitational Tournament of the World Poker Tour

The WPT Invitational Tournament is another World Poker Tour Championship qualifier. It guarantees the winner a seat at one of the most prestigious poker championships in the world. This event features winners of some poker contests, popular celebrity poker players as well as professional poker players rolled into one spectacular and exciting event. This poker tournament is done yearly at the world class Commerce Casino in California.

The WPT Invivational Tournament is a very important event in the professional poker circuit. Numerous players are dying to be part of this momentous annual event. Many poker greats have made a name for themselves by participating in this tournament. Some of the well known participants are Antonio Esfandiari, Harry Demetriou and John Juanda.

During the first season of the World Poker Tour, this invitational tournament was won by Layne Flack. Among the other participants who made it to the final table but were eventually defeated are Andy Glazer, Tony Ma, Men Nguyen, David Chiu and first runner up Jerry Buss. After the event, Flack was $100,000 richer.

In the next season of the World Poker Tour, it was Phil Laak's time to shine after he won the final table of this poker tournament. Here, he defeated fellow professional poker players Esfandiari, Humberto Brenes, Joe Cassidy, Demetriou, and Juanda. After a long and grueling competition, Laak emerged victorious in the final round over Brenes. Laak took home the grand pot which is valued at $100,000.

The third season of the tour saw a different story after Alex Brenes dominated the final table of this invitational tournament. In the final round, he was able to edge out the strategic styles of runner up Johan Storakers. Among the other players he defeated in that game are Bruce Buffer, Chau Giang, Chris Ferguson and Tom Everett Scott. Brenes somehow stumbled in some parts of the game but it was he who secured the $100,000 pot in the end.

The fourth season of the World Poker Tour saw the WPT Invitational took a break from its yearly events. It was replaced by other tournaments that were designed by the tour for some purposes. However, this halt in operations proved to be something that is only momentary after this invitational tournament was once again held the following year. The fifth season saw the likes of Tim West, John Cernuto, David Mosikian, Adam Weinraub, Glenn Morshower and Nick Cassavetes making their presence felt at the final table of the invitational tournament. At the end of the final round, Weinraub defeated Cernuto for the $125,000 pot.