GPI First Look: WPT Legends of Poker

There are only a handful of events on any poker that have been around since Day 1. The Legends of Poker is one of these rare tournaments. The Legends was the second event ever presented on the World Poker Tour, way back in August 0f 2002. California native Chris Karagulleyan would end up winning the very first WPT Legends tournament. For those of you wondering, Karagulleyan is still around. He most recently finished third in the Merit Cyprus Classic 1K Warm-Up.

The Legends of Poker tournament itself has been around way longer than the World Poker Tour has. The tournament, originally known as the Diamond Jim Brady was won by none other than Phil Hellmuth 25 years ago!

CHAMPIONS CLUB MEETING IN LA

No fewer than 13 former World Poker Tour event winners are scheduled to take part in this year’s Legends of Poker Main Event with reigning WPT Player of the Year Matt Salsberg (GPI#40) leading the charge. Salsberg’s quest for a second straight WPT PoY title will begin in LA, the man of many talents chose to skip the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic instead choosing to play the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Former WPT Legends of Poker Champions Will “The Thrill” Failla (GPI#126), Andy Frankenberger (GPI#309) – who recently dropped out of the GPI300 – and defending champ Josh Hale (GPI#2242) are also expected to play at the Bike.

Other WPT Champions Club members expected to play: Joseph Serock, Scott Clements, Jonathan Little, Shawn Buchanan, Lee Markholt, Barry Greenstein, Sean Jazayeri and former WPT World Champion David Chiu.

YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR PHIL

He owns 13 WSOP bracelets – the most in history … but despite making a few WPT Final Tables in his career, Phil Hellmuth (GPI#49) has yet to post a victory on the World Poker Tour. He’s won here before – ok, so it was a couple of decades ago – but it would make for a great story if Phil could win this tourney 25 years later.

Another Phil, Phil Laak (GPI#514) is a more decorated player on the WPT than Hellmuth and is certainly as colourful. Laak, who’s WPT CV includes a win in Season II and two other final tables – including one right here at the Legends of Poker also during Season II.

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