Boris Becker entered in the biggest poker tournament of all time

Well-known poker events are always enriched by the appearance of celebrities. Boris Becker is no stranger to the scene - in fact, he has already gained some experience at the felt table in his life. After a long break, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) recently announced his comeback. Becker will be taking part in the WSOP Paradise 2024. The jackpot of 50 million dollars makes the competition the biggest poker tournament of all time.

It's a minor sensation: Boris Becker is returning to the poker table after eight years. The former tennis champion and three-time Wimbledon winner will take part in the WSOP Paradise 2024 in the Bahamas in December, a tournament that the organisers are billing as the biggest in the history of poker with a prize pool of 50 million dollars.

It's not impossible that Becker will make it really far at WSOP Paradise 2024, but it's rather unlikely. But that's not the point either. He will be joined by other well-known faces from the sport and poker scene. The participation of such celebrities adds extra glamour to the event. In particular, they attract fans of other sports and, not least, sensationalists who simply want to see how the outsiders perform. It is not known whether Boris Becker has certain rituals like real poker pros before important tournaments.

An incredible 50 million is at stake - in addition to Becker, other celebrities will be playing for the jackpot in the revamped Paradise Island

The WSOP Paradise 2024 is not only the big poker comeback for Boris Becker - it also promises to be one of the poker tournaments of the year in general. With a guaranteed prize pool of 50 million US dollars, the Super Main Event on 12 December will eclipse all previous records. Participation in the competition requires a buy-in of 25,000 dollars. Incidentally, a German professional recently won the highest jackpot in online poker to date.

In a press release, the WSOP drew attention to the end-of-year highlight early on, but it was only gradually that all the details were announced: The newly designed Paradise Festival is organised by GGPoker as the owner of the WSOP and offers an extensive selection of high-roller and super-high-roller events.

An impressive line-up of prominent participants will be taking part:

1. Four-time NBA champion Tony Parker, who is taking on the challenge again after his stint last year, is hoping for a better ranking in 2024.
2. Sergio Agüero, former world-class footballer and passionate poker player, is also expected at the felt table. The Argentinian has long since made a name for himself in the poker community and has already made an appearance at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
3. The participation of poker legends such as Daniel Negreanu, the GGPoker ambassador and six-time bracelet winner, and former WSOP Main Event champion Jamie Gold, who won the biggest prize pool at the time in 2006, will provide additional appeal.
4. Other niche stars such as UFC fighter Colby Covington and boxer Steven ‘The Irish Takeover’ Cairns will also bring a special flavour to the field.

The event will be held on Atlantis Paradise Island, which has been extensively renovated at a cost of 150 million dollars and will now not only feature a luxurious casino, but also first-class restaurants and accommodation. The poker elite and all fans can expect thrilling games in an unrivalled atmosphere, which should make the tournament an unforgettable experience.

These events will take place as part of the WSOP Paradise 2024

With a mix of classic formats and high-roller events, the Paradise Festival from 6 to 18 December aims to set new standards in the poker world. The competitions are not only designed for experienced professionals, but also offer amateurs who qualify via satellites the chance to win a slice of the gigantic prize pool.

• The highlight is undoubtedly the Super Main Event on 12 December, where a guaranteed jackpot of 50 million US dollars is at stake.
• Other highlights include the Triton Million on 7 December with a double buy-in of USD 500,000 and the Pot-Limit Omaha Super High Roller on 8 December with a buy-in of USD 100,000. These tournaments are aimed at the most exclusive high-rollers and guarantee action-packed poker games at the highest level of excitement.
• Fans of varied formats will also get their money's worth. The Dealer's Choice Championship on 9 December not only requires strategic know-how, but also versatility, as there are various poker variants to choose from. For fans of fast matches, there is also The Closer - NLH Bounty Turbo, which will conclude the festival on 18 December.

The complete overview of the event - from more affordable entry tournaments such as the WSOP Mini-Main Event to prestigious high-stakes formats - is shown in the table below:

Data from https://www.wsop.com/2024/paradise/

Conclusion

Image source: Screenshot von https://www.wsop.com/2024/paradise/