Creator of  WPT sets sights on another hit

October 17

WPT Enterprises, Inc, the creator of the World Poker Tour (WPT), will be hitting the marketing expos and more on full throttle. Not only will the company be marketing its worldwide hit series to international broadcasters, but the company will be revealing its newest quest, the Professional Poker TourSM (PPT). It is a new TV series that will further poker mania by featuring all pros all the time. Only the top 250 players will be showcased.

The plan is to feature pros in order to attract a larger audienece. Players must qualify for their PPT card based on a point system that takes into account previous performances. TV viewers can expect to see such names as Gus Hansen, Phil Helmuth, Johnny Chan, Phil Laak, Carlos Mortensen, Doyle Brunson, Annie Duke, Daniel Negreanu, Chris Ferguson, Bobby Baldwin, Tom McEvoy, Men Nguyen, Phil Ivey and more.

The game remains the same, but the television shows will be distinctly different from the WPT. The PPT has a different commentating crew, including Mark Seif, who recently won two gold bracelets at the 2005 World Series of Poker. The PPT shows focus not just on the Final Table, but also highlights in the preliminary rounds

The PPT will be on hand to the international market in time to unveil the new shows in early 2006. There will be 48 hours of programming in the package.