A former U.S. Marine has secured a free place at the inaugural World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Main Event, to be held at Atlantis Paradise Island in the stunning surroundings of the Bahamas. California-based Paul Rodgers is one of over a thousand players to secure free entry to the 11-day WSOP Paradise series, featuring no less than 15 WSOP bracelet events and a guaranteed overall prize pool worth $50 million.
Rodgers beats off thousands of rivals to clinch a seat on the plane to the Bahamas
Rodgers, who is more used to sitting down to play live poker at his local brick-and-mortar casino resorts, will rub shoulders with some of the world’s best poker players. He entered a free-to-play satellite at GGPoker, which was a winner-takes-all satellite featuring over 2,200 players. Rodgers outlasted the competition over the full seven hours to go all the way and clinch a Main Event ticket worth CAD$5,300.
GGPoker is listed as one of the top six sites for those who want to play poker in Michigan, with citizens within the state lines of the Great Lakes State eligible for welcome bonuses. It’s also available to play in other states such as New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
Upon winning the ticket to the WSOP Paradise Main Event, Rodgers admitted it wouldn’t be the biggest poker tournament he’s ever played in. He won a seat to play at the 2022 WSOP Main Event, which was by far his biggest. Rodgers said Main Event tickets are usually too rich for his bankroll, preferring to enter the CAD$600-CAD$1,100 events on the regional WSOP circuit.
This former Marine has quite the poker CV on the live circuit, racking up over CAD$60,000 in live poker earnings. Having played regularly in Las Vegas, he won’t be phased by the glitz and glamour of the Atlantis Paradise Island resort.
What does the WSOP Paradise entail?
In total, the WSOP Paradise series will have a guaranteed $50 million in prize money across the events which run from December 3rd to December 14th. Think of it as an extension of the WSOP summer series in Las Vegas, just hosted in a more tropical climate than the middle of the Nevada desert.
December 5th will attract the biggest names in poker with the $25,000-entry High Roller Championship expected to bring the professionals to Atlantis Paradise Island, along with a string of famous faces not used to sitting at the poker tables. Former Manchester City and Argentina soccer sensation Sergio Aguero is a confirmed attendee, while poker icons like Daniel Negreanu, Jamie Gold, Erick Lindgren, Jonathan Little and this year’s WSOP Main Event winner, Daniel Weinman, are all confirmed entrants.
There are several other WSOP bracelet events at WSOP Paradise to suit all budgets. From CAD$1,000-entry freeze-outs and CAD$1,000-entry “Mini Main Events”, as well as a CAD$1,425-entry Millionaire Maker in Paradise, through to the CAD$100,000-entry Ultra High Roller event, it’s a veritable poker buffet.
Rodgers admitted it has always been a “dream” of his to win in the WSOP and take home one of those highly coveted bracelets. He’ll have a risk-free shot at WSOP glory again on December 9th.
