“They Made It Easy for the First-Timer”: Jim Glassie’s First WPT Experience at NagaWorld

Some poker stories begin at a poker table. Jim Glassie’s began on a tiny island in the middle of the South Pacific.

Have you ever heard of Aitutaki? For most poker players, this small island in the Cook Islands may not even be on the map. For Jim Glassie, however, it’s home.

Glassie never came to Cambodia looking for poker. He arrived on a business trip, exploring building products he could bring back to his island. After finishing his work in China , he decided not to immediately return to New Zealand with the rest of his team. Instead, he made his own way back, booked a hotel in Cambodia, and began wondering what he could get up to.

That simple search eventually led him to NagaWorld .

But before he ever took a seat at the poker tables, Glassie had one question to ask: “Is there a casino here?”

That question eventually brought him to NagaWorld, where he discovered the poker room and noticed the WPT Cambodia: Passport to the World Championship signage. “I said, ‘Where do they play poker?’ I just stumbled across it. I walked into the poker room and saw all the signage for the WPT. Then I realized, ‘Oh, I’m here on those dates.’”

What started as a business trip suddenly turned into an unexpected poker stop.

Welcomed Into the Poker Community

Perhaps the biggest impression Glassie took away was the atmosphere at NagaWorld and the way the tournament was presented. As a first-time international tournament player, he appreciated that the environment did not feel overwhelming.

“The WPT and the way they set it up, all the communication, they’ve done a really good job. It made it easier for a new player to come in.”

That welcoming environment mattered to Glassie because it could determine whether a first-time player feels comfortable enough to return. “They made it easy for the first-timer. That’s important because you don’t want to lose the first-timer and have them not come back.”

Asked to describe the experience in one word, Glassie did not hesitate: “WELCOMING. From the door, to the staff, the dealers – they’ve been really, really welcoming.”

A First Tournament at 57

Glassie had been playing poker casually for around 15 or 16 years, mostly in home games with friends, but the WPT Cambodia was something entirely different. His first event was the Championship Warm Up , where he battled through a field of 186 entries and finished in 12th place for $1,652.

“I have played in tournaments, but not a World Series-style event. Not a big one, like an international brand.”

For a player accustomed to friendly home games, sitting down in a large international tournament naturally came with some nerves. “I was nervous. This is my first.”

But once the cards were in the air, the nerves quickly gave way to enjoyment. “I love it. It just doesn’t matter if I win or lose, I just love it.” That first experience also made Glassie think about where poker could take him next. “I would love to do something professionally, like try and make an income.”

From a Remote Island to Online Poker

Aitutaki is not exactly a poker destination. There is no casino or poker room on the island, so Glassie mostly plays online, making the live experience at NagaWorld particularly different. “I’m a bit of a crypto enthusiast, so I play online. I’m in the middle of nowhere on the other little island, so I jump online and have a little game.”

Still, online poker cannot replace the live experience for him. “It doesn’t beat playing on a real table because you see the person. It’s a big difference. The experience is much more engaging.”

That became clear during his time at NagaWorld, where he enjoyed the personalities around the tables. “There were some real characters on the tables today. I had a lot of fun.”

A New Door to the Poker World

His first WPT experience also introduced Glassie to a wider poker community. Conversations with other players showed him how poker could become more than a casual hobby, while Cambodia itself made a strong impression because of its affordability.

“I’m definitely coming back to Cambodia. I’m just trying to look at how I could do that because it’s quite affordable to be here.”

For Glassie, poker offers a combination of travel, competition and meeting new people. “It actually opens up a huge world of opportunity, travel and meeting people.” During his time in Cambodia, he exchanged WhatsApp and Telegram details with several players, hoping to stay connected after the tournament.

Learning With Every Hand

There was also plenty for Glassie to learn. Playing his first major international tournament, he quickly saw how different tournament poker could be from the home games he was used to. He noticed experienced players applying pressure as the field approached the bubble and began learning about concepts such as stack sizes and ICM.

Those moments were part of the appeal for Glassie, who enjoyed watching more experienced players operate. “I saw some really awesome players, just the way they played and the way they carried themselves.”

He also recognized some of his own mistakes. “I learned quite a bit. I was a little bit distracted with things. I was stepping away from the table, little things like that. I’ll take that on board for the next one.”

For him, improvement simply comes with experience. “The more times you do things and practice things, you can refine them. You get better and better.”

Aiming for the Next One

His 12th-place finish for $1,652 gave Glassie a taste of what he could achieve on the live tournament circuit, but the result seemed almost secondary to the experience itself. He had discovered a new poker destination, made connections with players from different backgrounds and found another reason to return to Cambodia for the WPT Cambodia Championship , happening from January 12 to February 2, 2027.

Live Poker

Teaser

World Poker Tour Season 25 Kicks Off in Phnom Penh with Return to NagaWorld for WPT Cambodia Championship

WPT Cambodia Championship launches in Phnom Penh at NagaWorld from Jan 12 - Feb 2, 2027, featuring $1.5M in guaranteed prizes.

2026.08.14

“I’ll definitely put that in the calendar. Something to aim for.”

What began as a business trip has now become the start of something else. For someone from a small island in the South Pacific, the journey to NagaWorld was already a long way from home. Finding a WPT event along the way simply opened another door.

“I definitely want to come back again to NagaWorld.”