WPT Poker Showdown: $3 Million Main Event in Hollywood
The World Poker Tour is back in South Florida this week — and the biggest tournament of the year is happening in your backyard.
Forget flying to Vegas. The biggest poker tournament in Florida is happening in Hollywood this week — and if you've never played a major series before, this is your shot. The 2026 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown is running right now at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and the World Poker Tour's flagship event — the $3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship — starts Friday, April 24. A $3 million guarantee. 21 days of action. 73 tournaments across the schedule. You don't have to travel to play in this one.
The Numbers That Matter
The $3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship starts Friday, April 24 with a $3 million guaranteed prize pool. The final six players return for a televised final table on Wednesday, April 29. Last year, Art Peacock topped a 1,755-entry field to win $776,000 — and this year's bigger guarantee suggests organizers expect an even larger crowd.
Last Year's Champion — And Why the $3M Guarantee Is Ambitious
To hit the $3 million guarantee this year, the tournament needs roughly 1,000 entries (buy-ins minus rake). Given that last year's field cleared 1,755 and the WPT's South Florida stops have been growing year over year, that target is very reachable. If it's hit, expect a first-place prize approaching or exceeding last year's $776,000.
The Big Events on the Schedule
The WPT Championship is the headline, but there are multiple million-dollar and half-million-dollar guarantees across the 21-day series. Even if the $3,500 buy-in isn't for you, there are huge tournaments at every price point.
$400 Deep Stack Series Opener
Multi-flight opener · Recreational-friendly buy-in
$800 Platinum Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Classic mid-stakes main · Multiple flights
$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Deep structure · Multiple Day 1 flights
$2,200 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Last warm-up before the Main Event
★ $3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship ★
THE main event · WPT title · Mike Sexton Champions Cup
Championship Final Table — Televised
Final 6 players return · Held in the Grand Ballroom
If $3,500 Is Out of Budget — Here Are the Paths In
The WPT Main Event looks expensive, but there are multiple cheaper paths to a seat. You don't need to bring $3,500 to the cage on Friday.
Satellite Tournaments
$100 – $400Throughout the Poker Showdown, Seminole Hard Rock runs satellite tournaments that award seats into the $3,500 Championship. Winners get a seat; runners-up typically get lammers (tournament credit) they can use in the series. Check the daily tournament desk or Seminole Hard Rock's poker app for satellite schedules.
Larry Frank Memorial Charity Event
$300Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. Cocktail party starts at 5:30 p.m. First place wins $5,000 cash + a $3,500 Championship seat + a $1,100 WPT Prime seat. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida. It's the best charity-to-value ratio on the schedule.
WPT Prime Satellites
Lower tierThe WPT Prime circuit runs alongside the main tour with smaller buy-ins and still carries the WPT brand. Prime seats are often awarded in low-cost satellites. Great for a first-time tournament player who wants a WPT experience at a reasonable price.
Direct Buy-In
$3,500If your bankroll supports it, just pay direct. Unlimited re-entries are permitted through Level 9 of each flight (around 9:15 p.m.). You start with 50,000 in chips, blinds 100-200 with a 200 BB ante. There are multiple Day 1 starting flights.
The Venue — Why This Is a Special Event
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is not a normal poker venue. It's a $1.5 billion integrated resort featuring the world's first-ever Guitar Hotel — the 450-foot guitar-shaped tower that's become a South Florida landmark. If you're planning to play, you're also planning to experience one of the most over-the-top casino resorts in the country.
The Guitar Hotel
Three hotel towers, 1,271 luxury rooms, 42,000 sq ft Rock Spa. Poker hotel rates available during Showdown — call the desk.
45-Table Poker Room
One of the largest dedicated poker rooms in North America. Main Event is staged in the Grand Ballroom — not the everyday poker room.
Full Casino Floor
2,500+ slots · 200+ table games · live craps, roulette, and retail sports betting added in 2023.
20+ Food & Beverage
Everything from quick bites between levels to fine dining. Poker rooms are notoriously bad for food — this one isn't.
What to Expect: Format & Structure
The WPT Poker Showdown Championship is a multi-flight re-entry event. Here's what that means in practice:
- Multiple Day 1 flights. The Championship traditionally features two starting days — a Day 1A and Day 1B. You only need to survive one.
- Unlimited re-entries per flight. If you bust before Level 9 (~9:15 p.m.), you can re-enter the same day. Most series players budget for 2-3 bullets.
- 50,000 starting chips. Deep enough to actually play poker — not a turbo structure.
- Blinds 100-200 with 200 BB ante. Standard WPT main-event structure.
- Multiple days to a final table. Expect Day 2 on Sunday/Monday, Day 3 and beyond through the week, with the final 6 returning April 29 for televised play.
Plan for 12+ hour days. Starting levels are 60-90 minutes. You're playing for a deep run, not a quick result. Bring food, water, and pace yourself.
Study the payout structure before you play. Big multi-flight tournaments pay roughly top 15%. Understanding ICM matters when you're near the bubble.
If you haven't played a $3K+ tournament before, satellite in. It's cheaper, gives you tournament-practice hands, and removes the psychological pressure of putting $3,500 on one bullet.
Eat before the Day 2 bubble. Long levels, short dinner breaks. Your decision-making quality drops when you're hungry.
Why This Matters for South Florida Poker
The WPT Poker Showdown is one of four major Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood series each year. They're the anchor of the South Florida poker calendar:
- Lucky Hearts Poker Open (LHPO) — January. Also features a WPT Championship stop.
- Poker Showdown (this one) — April. WPT main tour stop.
- Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (SHRPO) — July 29 to August 11, 2026. The flagship event of the four.
- Rock 'N' Roll Poker Open (RRPO) — November 18 to December 2, 2026. MSPT Championship with a $2M GTD Main Event.
Attending one of these four series is the easiest way for a local player to experience WPT/MSPT-level tournament play without traveling. If you've been on the fence about trying a major, this is the one. It's in your driveway.
Even the $400 opener will burn through more than just the entry fee. Budget for multiple bullets, food, parking/gas, and potentially a hotel night if you go deep and Day 2 starts at noon. A realistic "I'm playing the $400 opener" budget is closer to $800-$1,200. A realistic "I'm playing the $3,500 Main" budget with possible re-entries is $7,000-$12,000. Don't play scared money.
After the Showdown — What's Next at Seminole Hard Rock
If you catch the bug, the Seminole Hard Rock poker calendar is packed through the rest of 2026:
- SHR Hollywood Deep Stack Series — May 12-25, 2026 (held in the Poker Room, lower buy-ins)
- Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open — July 29 to August 11, 2026 (the flagship series)
- Everglades Poker Open — September 15-27, 2026
- Rock 'N' Roll Poker Open with MSPT Championship — November 18 to December 2, 2026 ($2M GTD main)
- Fun in the Sun Poker Series — December 26-30, 2026
The One Thing to Remember
The WPT is in your backyard. The $3 million guaranteed Main Event at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood starts Friday, April 24. Satellites and side events run all week — so even if the $3,500 buy-in isn't in budget, you can find a path to play.