Season Three WPT Events

The World Poker Tour's third season began in Europe, at the Aviation Club in Paris with the playing of the Grand Prix de Paris. Cards were in the air on July 17th of 2004. The season ended at the Bellagio in Las Vegas with the WPT World Championship III. Tuan Le won the season title on April 24th, 2005.

Below is a list of the tournaments that took place during the season, with recaps of many of them.

• Grand Prix de Paris was held at the presitgious Aviation Club de France, and took place between July 17-20, 2004. Surinder Sunar was crowned champion that day in what was at the time the largest poker tournament held in Europe.

• Mirage Poker Showdown took place between the 29th of July and the 1st of August, 2004 at the Mirage Casino in Las Vegas.

  It was a star-studded final table with Scotty Nugyen, John Juanda, Gabe Kaplan, Lee Watkinson, high stakes regular Eli Elezra, and culticon Minneapolis Jim Meehan facing off. Eli eventually won the tournament, and the $1,000,000+ first prize.

• Legends of Poker was held at the Bike in Los Angeles between August 28th and 31st, 2004. A couple of poker heavyweights ended up battling at the end when Lee Watkinson and Doyle Brunson locked horns. In the end, the living legend himself, Doyle Brunson came out on top, taking home $1,173,260.

• Borgata Poker Open took place at the Borgata in Atlantic City, Sept. 19-22, 2004. Another star studded final table came together here with the likes of Josh Arieh, Danniel Negreanu, David Williams and Phil Ivey. In the end, Daniel Negreanu came out on top.

• Aruba Poker Classic took place between Sep 26 - Oct 1st, 2004 in the warm sunshine of the Caribbean.

• Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship was the tour's second stop in Vegas this season. This event was played at the Bellagio Oct 19th - 22nd, 2004.

  Erik Seidel, David Pham, John Juanda and Carlos Mortensen were amoung the big names present at the final table of this event. In the end, Carlos Mortenson bested Kido pham to take the title.

• World Poker Finals - the tour made a visit to Foxwoods Casino Resort to play from Nov 13th - 17th, 2004. The World Poker Finals brought 634 players to the tables, producing a $6,000,000+ prize pool.

  Humberto Brenes, J.C. Tran, and Tuan Le all made the final table, with Le winning the event. His prize was $1,549,588.

• Five Diamond World Poker Classic - the last event of the year was held at the Bellagio between Dec 14th - 18th, 2004. Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harmon, and Humberto Brenes all made it to the final table.

  Daniel Negreanu ended up winning his second WPT event of the season, and taking home a sizeable prize of $1,770,218.

• Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure - the tour headed back the Caribbean to start off the new year. During Jan 5th - 12th, 2005, players gathered on Paradise Island. In the end, john Gale took home the lion's share of the $5,470,800 prize pool by besting everyone else in the field of 461 competitors.

• World Poker Open - players headed back to the states for Jan 24th - 27th, 2005. In Tunica Mississippi they faced off at the Gold Strike Casino for their share of a $ 5,120,000 prize pool.

  John Stolzmann came away with the win, and $1,511,282.

• L.A. Poker Classic took place over Feb 23rd - 24th, 2005 at the Commerce Casino in Commerce CA.

• WPT Invitational is also held at the Commerce, and took place immediately after the L.A. Poker classic (Feb 23 - 24, 2005).

  Alex Brenes, yes, the brother of Humberto, won the event.

• Bay 101 Shooting Star took place in San Jose between Mar 7th - 11th, 2005. Danny Nguyen won the event.

• The PartyPoker Million boasted a prize pool of $ 7,430,000, and was held between Mar 19th - 26th, 2005. Michael "the Kid" Gracz won the tournament.

• World Poker Challenge - takes place in Reno Nevada at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. the games were played between Mar 29th - Apr 1st, 2005.

• WPT World Championship is the biggest tournament of the season, and took place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas between Apr 18th - 24th, 2005. Tuan Le won the title.

This page was last updated on February 13h, 2008.