World Poker Tour adds two new tour stops for Season XI

LOS ANGELES, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Expanding on its mission to introduce world-class tournament poker to new players and markets around the globe, World Poker Tour, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic and WPT Montreal to its Season XI schedule.

Held in partnership with the beautiful Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention Entertainment Resort, WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic marks World Poker Tour’s first-ever trip to the Southern Hemisphere and represents a major milestone in the continued growth of high-stakes tournament poker in all corners of the world. Running from October 22–26 and featuring a buy-in of USD $3,300 + $300 with re-entry, WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic will provide players with the full WPT experience by offering a world-class poker tournament coupled with the unique opportunity to meet and interact with WPT cast members at exclusive dinners, parties and nonpoker-related activities.

From November 23–26, World Poker Tour returns to Canada for the first time since 2008 with the WPT Montreal event at the popular Playground Poker Club in Quebec. With its CAD $3,000 + $300 buy-in and opportunity for re-entry, this new WPT Main Event - sponsored by PartyPoker.net - is expected to draw some of the biggest names in the game, including Playground Poker representatives Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak and Erik Cajelais.

“We are thrilled to be adding two exciting new events to our Season XI schedule,” said WPT CEO Steve Heller. “As our first event in the Southern Hemisphere, WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic is a ground-breaking step into uncharted territory for World Poker Tour, while WPT Montreal marks a long-awaited return to one of the great poker centers in the world.”

With the addition of these new events, WPT will now make 13 stops on three continents in the first half of Season XI, which runs from August 2012 through December 2012.