A Quick Guide to WPT Prime Cambodia: August 11 to 23

 

In just a few days, the World Poker Tour returns to the Kingdom of Wonder with what promises to be the biggest event hosted by the brand in Asia this year. WPT Prime Cambodia takes place at the country’s capital, Phnom Penh, from August 11 to 23 at the luxurious NagaWorld Integrated Resort. To help plan your trip, we’ve compiled a list of things to know and FAQ’s on this highly anticipated event. 

Do I need to be vaccinated?

Before even planning the trip, it is important to know if you will be allowed in the country. Due to Covid-19, many places have changed their border policies. Good news to all, as of late-July, vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated are allowed entry and no quarantine required. However, partially vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals will still have to undergo an antigen test “upon arrival”. Anegative result is required to avoid quarantine. 

Do I need a visa?

For players that carry a passport from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, no visa is required, however, visa-free stay varies from 14 to 30 days depending on the country. For the rest of the world, a visa is required to enter Cambodia. Visas can be obtained online or upon arrival and cost US$ 36. For more information, head to www.evisa.gov.kh. 

Where to stay

Now that you have all the pre-requirements, it is time to book your stay. The luxurious NagaWorld Integrated Resort is the most convenient however with the event happening in just a few days, availability may be limited. If that doesn’t pan out, you can also try other nearby hotels such as the Shangri-La, Grand Elevation Hotel, Hotel Emion Phnom Penh, Sofitel Phnom Penh, Courtyard by Marriott, Lyve Inc Hotel, to mention a few. 

Currency

The country’s currency is the Cambodian Riel, however the US Dollar is widely accepted. In fact, USD is more accepted than the Riel. At the festival, USD will be used for both tournaments and cash games. Exchange counters are available at the hotel lobby. It is important to stress that most places will not accept cash that is old, damaged, torn, stamped, or folded. 

How do I get to NagaWorld from Phnom Penh International Airport?

For travelers arriving at the Phnom Penh International Airport, there are multiple options available to get to NagaWorld. To avoid getting overcharged, Grab Taxi and Metered Taxi Service – Global Taxi are recommended. The distance is roughly 10km which is around 30 minutes. 

Why attend WPT Prime Cambodia?

WPT Prime Cambodia aims to be the biggest event of the year in Asia with 13 days of nonstop poker taking place in one of the most awe-inspiring countries in the world. Mixed with a gorgeous country to explore, of palaces and temples from an empire that once ruled, are lucrative tournaments and juicy cash games to conquer. The festival features a 24-game roster with price tags that cater to every type of bankroll. Events range from US$ 200 to US$ 10,300. The Main Event is bigger than ever with half a million US dollars guaranteed. 

WPT Prime Cambodia schedule
Road to WPT Prime Cambodia
Experience WPT Prime Cambodia

As stated in our previous post, NO TAX will be deducted from winnings. That’s correct, no Cambodia tax deducted. This is a very big deal for players who tend to see their hard-earned winnings lose a chunk to added taxes. And with no tax means more money in the pocket. This applies to both tournaments and cash games.

Richest Main Event guarantee in Asia

To further highlight what’s in store, the US$ 500,000 guaranteed WPT Prime Cambodia Main Event is the biggest guarantee ever laid on the table by any brand in the region this year. Since the announcement in February, interest has been tremendous and confirmed bookings are high. According to the organizers, reaching seven figures is very likely. The Main Event runs from August 18 to 22, buy in is US$ 1,100. To spice up the champion’s purse, included in the title is a US$ 10,400 entry ticket to the WPT World Championship $15M GTD. This is the tour’s most ambitious event in history and it happens in December at the Wynn in Las Vegas. The winner is also eligible for the WPT Player of the Year title.

Who won the first WPT Cambodia Main Event?

In 2019, the inaugural WPT Cambodia saw a massive turnout of 750 Main Event entries. This nearly tripled the US$ 250K guarantee for a prize pool of US$ 727,500. USA’s Brian Tougias won it for a career high US$ 131,430 payout.

Largest festival opener guarantee and other events in store

The festival kicks off with the WPT Prime Cambodia Opener featuring a very generous US$ 150,000 guarantee. This is the largest opener guarantee ever put forth by the WPT in Asia. The event runs from August 11 to 14. Buy in is US$ 550. 

Other events to fill your appetite are a variety of crowd favorites Short Deck, Ladies NLH, Superstacks, Freezeouts, Turbos, Pot Limit Omaha, and the highly popular Mystery Bounty. Buy ins for these events range from US$ 200 to US$ 550. For players with thicker wallets, there are several High Roller events to mark on your calendar: 

NLH Mini High Roller – US$ 2,200 buy in – August 14 to 15
WPT Prime Cambodia Super High Roller – US$ 5,300 – August 16 to 17
WPT Prime Cambodia 10K SHR Single Day Challenge – US$ 10,300 – August 18
WPT Prime Cambodia Short Deck High Roller – US$ 5,300 – August 19
WPT Prime Cambodia High Roller 3K – US$ 3,000 – August 21

Are there satellites?

Yes. As always, players will be looking to maximize value by seeking out cheaper deals. For this, the schedule has a lineup of satellites for a variety of events. To enter the Main Event at just a fraction of the price, the schedule is littered with nine Main Event Satellites; one will be offered daily from August 11 to 19. Buy in is US$ 150 with the last one costing US$ 250. For players wanting in cheap on the WPT Prime Cambodia Super High Roller US$ 5,300 buy in, one SHR Satellite is offered at just US$ 800. 

Another satellite to give plenty of consideration is the Feeder to WPT World Championship Satellite. Buy in is just US$ 300. Two Feeder flights are offered. Players that win a seat here advance to the WPT World Championship Satellite where a US$ 12.5K package is up for grabs. For players that wish to skip the Feeder, direct buy in to the satellite is US$ 1,500.

Are there daily cash games?

Yes. Plenty of juicy Cash Games will run simultaneously at the venue. Both No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha are offered with stakes of $1/$3, $2/$5 and $25/$50. Other stakes can be considered. At the inaugural WPT Cambodia in 2019, one Short Deck pot swelled to as high as six figures. 

What is the WPT Player of the Festival?

Adding even more value for your buck, once the festival starts, one hot race will be the WPT Player of the Festival title. The player that accrues the most points at the end of the 13 day event will earn this coveted title, a special trophy, and an invaluable US$ 5,000 WPT Passport to any 2022 WPT Main Tour of the player’s choice. Players can earn points at all the trophy events except at the Ladies NLH. Previous winners were Vietnamese / American player Duy Ho and Australia’s Romain Morvan.

Who to expect?

Many of the region’s well known players will be in attendance such as the newly crowned Zarvan Tumboli from India who won the WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event. Tumboli usually travels with a pack of fellow countrymen and women so we may also see the likes of WPT champions Ashish Munot and Dhaval Mudgal. Outside of the region, recently confirming attendance was WPT Ambassador / YouTube Vlogger Andrew Neeme. There will be a Cash Meet Up Game with Neeme on Wednesday, August 17 from 4-8pm, then a meet and greet for everyone that wants to chat up the pro. Another player confirmed is WPT commentator Vince Van Patten.

Stay tuned to Somuchpoker for more on WPT Prime Cambodia