WPT's Angelica Hael on WPT Seoul's First Chapter and What's Ahead

There's a lot happening behind the scenes of a major poker festival that players don't always get to see. From coordinating different teams and keeping things on schedule to making sure every detail comes together, running an event of this scale takes a tremendous amount of work. WPT Seoul 2026 offered a good reminder of just how much goes on beyond the tournament tables.

While players were busy chasing titles and prize money, WPT's Angelica Hael was helping make sure everything around them was coming together. With more than a decade of experience with the tour and her induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2022, she knows firsthand what it takes to bring a World Poker Tour (WPT) festival to a new destination and make the experience worthwhile for everyone involved.

We caught up with Hael to get her thoughts on the tour's first visit to INSPIRE Entertainment Resort, the role of the newly opened YY Poker Club, and why creating a memorable festival involves so much more than what players see on the felt.

SMP: This is the first time the World Poker Tour has brought a festival to INSPIRE. What made this partnership possible, and why was INSPIRE the right venue for WPT's debut here?

Angelica Hael: "For us, a great WPT festival is about much more than what happens at the poker tables. Players travel from all over the world to compete for life-changing prize money and we want the destination itself to be part of that experience.

The opening of the brand new YY Poker Club at INSPIRE presented a wonderful opportunity to bring the WPT to a venue that shares that vision. We have a dedicated poker facility within an integrated resort that has so much to offer beyond the tournament room."

"From the 15,000-seat Arena and Splash Bay to the spectacular Le Space interactive art exhibition, there is something for everyone. Add to that the restaurants, shopping and entertainment options and you have a destination that gives players plenty of reasons to extend their stay.

That's what makes INSPIRE such a natural fit for the WPT. We want players to enjoy the whole experience, not just the hours they spend playing poker."

It's easy to see why the resort caught the WPT's attention. A purpose-built poker room is one thing, but having an entire entertainment destination just outside the tournament area gives players another reason to make the trip. And with YY Poker Club at the centre of it all, the partnership has a dedicated home to build around."

SMP: How significant is it for WPT to establish a presence at INSPIRE, particularly given Korea's growing reputation as an international poker destination?

Angelica Hael: "Korea has become an increasingly important poker market in Asia and the WPT has enjoyed a presence here over the years. Bringing WPT Seoul to INSPIRE is an opportunity to build on that foundation.

From a broader perspective, Incheon International Airport ranked as the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic during the first half of 2026. That's a remarkable statistic and particularly relevant for a global tour like ours. With INSPIRE located approximately 10 minutes from the airport, accessibility is a tremendous advantage for players travelling from across Asia and beyond."

"At the heart of our festival is the brand new YY Poker Club. The attention to detail that has gone into creating this poker room is impressive. From its luxurious Asian-inspired interiors to its dedicated livestream poker studio, the venue has been designed with the player experience in mind.

Having spent many years taking WPT festivals into different markets, I know how important it is to have the right venue and infrastructure in place. INSPIRE gives us a strong foundation to establish WPT Seoul as a destination that international players will want to return to."

Location certainly helps. Being just around 10 minutes from Incheon International Airport makes INSPIRE an easy arrival point for international players, particularly those flying in for a festival that may last several days. But convenience only gets players through the door. The poker room and everything around it have to give them a reason to stay.

SMP: Beyond the poker tables, what can players and visitors expect from the overall WPT Seoul experience?

Angelica Hael: "One thing I've learned over the years is that some of the best memories players take away from a WPT festival happen away from the poker tables.

That's why we've placed considerable emphasis on our Off-The-Felt Experiences, particularly at the luxurious Ultra Lounge."

"We've already enjoyed a fantastic Halloween celebration and our WPT Welcome Players Party. Throughout the festival, WPT players have complimentary access to Ultra Lounge, with nightly entertainment ranging from live jazz and DJs to dance performances and themed events."

"WONSOJU has also been part of the festivities, providing complimentary shots for players.

What I particularly enjoy about these gatherings is seeing players from different countries coming together socially. Some have known each other for years while others are meeting for the first time.

That's an important part of the WPT experience. We want players to leave with great memories of their time in Korea, regardless of how they performed at the tables."

Poker players spend enough time staring at cards and chip stacks, so a change of scenery is always welcome. The Ultra Lounge gives them somewhere to unwind, catch up with familiar faces, or meet people they might otherwise only see across a poker table. And with complimentary access and nightly entertainment, there's a good chance some of the festival's best stories won't come from a hand history.

SMP: What would you say to players who are considering making WPT Seoul at INSPIRE their first WPT experience?

Angelica Hael: "If this is your first WPT experience, you're in for an absolute treat!"

"One of the awesome things about a WPT festival is that you don't have to be a seasoned professional to participate. We have a range of tournaments with different buy-in levels, giving players the opportunity to experience the WPT regardless of their level of experience.

You'll be playing in one of the best poker rooms in the world, surrounded by an excellent tournament team whose priority is to deliver a professional and welcoming experience for everyone.

And of course, there's the legendary Korean hospitality to enjoy throughout your stay.

Whether you're playing your first WPT tournament or your hundredth, we want you to feel that you've been part of something special.

Our hope is that your first WPT experience won't be your last!"

That last line is a pretty good invitation. Not everyone arriving at a WPT festival is chasing a six-figure score or has years of tournament experience behind them. Some are simply looking to take their first shot at a major tour, and Hael wants them to feel just as welcome as the regulars.

SMP: Do you see WPT Seoul at INSPIRE becoming a regular stop on the WPT calendar?

Angelica Hael: "Absolutely! I can confidently say that WPT Seoul will be returning to INSPIRE."

"But for us, the real measure of success is not simply having a festival on the calendar. It's whether players enjoyed the experience enough to want to come back.

That's something I've always believed in throughout my years with the WPT. You can have a wonderful venue and an attractive tournament schedule but ultimately, it's the players who determine whether a festival becomes a success."

And there it is. No guessing, no reading between the lines: WPT Seoul is coming back to INSPIRE.

For the resort and YY Poker Club, that is a promising first chapter. Hosting an international tour takes more than having a beautiful poker room; it takes the people, facilities and attention to detail to make players feel that the entire trip was worth it. This first festival has given the partnership a chance to put all of that on display.

Hael may have been difficult to pin down during the festival, but her message was quite clear. The WPT wants players to remember more than the tournaments they played, and INSPIRE gives them plenty to experience outside the poker room.

The next time WPT Seoul rolls into INSPIRE, the goal is simple: bring the players back, give them another reason to stay, and make sure the experience is worth talking about long after the last hand is dealt.