GPI First Look: WPT Caribbean

With weekend stops in Jacksonville, Florida and in St. Kitts, the World Poker Tour stays in the sun and heads to Saint Maarten for the first time:

WELCOME BACK TO THE CARIBBEAN

Although the World Poker Tour is making its first ever visit to the island of St. Maarten, this is not the first time the WPT has been in the Caribbean, in fact, the tour used to hold regular tour stops in the Caribbean Seasons 1 through Season 6.

You may have forgotten that the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure was once a key stop on the World Poker Tour schedule as past champions Ryan Daut, Steve Paul-Ambrose, John Gale and Gus Hansen all won WPT titles at the PCA.

Freddy Deeb and Erick Lindgren were a few players who grabbed titles in Aruba and the last event that was ever held in the Caribbean was during Season 6 as local player Rhynie Campbell defeated Canadian Erik Cajelais to win the Turks and Caicos Poker Classic.

TOP 10 BATTLE AT THE BEACH

Two of the Top 10 players on the GPI300 are headed to the beach front to duel in St. Maarten. Marvin Rettenmaier (GPI#2), who trails only Daniel Negreanu as the #1 player in the world, and Mike Watson (GPI#7) are two of the players here and will both fight hard to pickup another WPT title.

Each player also appears in the Top 10 for the 2013 Global Poker Index Player of the Year with Watson currently sitting in second position and Rettenmaier in sixth. Each player will need to pickup these valuable points with only a handful of major events till remaining on the 2013 schedule.

Other expected GPI300 players include: Joe Kuether (GPI#56), WPT Montreal Champ Jonathan Roy (GPI#109), Tobias Reinkemeier (GPI#124) and Jared Jaffee (GPI#145) … although Jaffee may not be able to make it to the Caribbean as he’s currently fighting for a spot at the final table at the bestbet Jacksonville Fall Poker Scramble.

Reigning WPT Player of the Year Matt Salsberg (GPI#32) was also expected to take part of the festivities in the Caribbean but had a last-minute change of heart as a coin flip decided his fate:

Indecisive on going to St. Mrtn tonight so just flipped a coin 2 out of 3. Did that for Lucky Hearts and got 6th. Heads=Go. No St. M:(

— matt salsberg (@msalsberg) November 19, 2013

Players will get a little extra beach time as Day 1A isn’t set to begin until 4pm local time on Tuesday! Be sure to follow the WPT.com live updates blog for all the action!

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