Phil Laak was telling me about the last time he played in Sydney – something about getting lost trying to find a coffee shop at 3 AM between Day 1 and Day 2. “The jet lag actually helped my game,” he insisted. “I was so tired I stopped overthinking.”
That conversation popped into my head when I saw the news drop: WPT is heading back to The Star Sydney this September, and they’re going big. Real big.
Two Championships, One Festival
The schedule hits different this time. We’re talking a full festival running September 10-30, anchored by not one but two championship events. The AUD $5,000 WPT Australia Championship sits at the top (that’s about $3,300 USD for those keeping track at home), while the AUD $1,500 WPT Prime Australia Championship gives the grinders another shot at glory.
Both finals will be streamed, which matters more than you might think. Australian poker has always punched above its weight class internationally, but getting those Aussie pros in front of global audiences? That’s been the missing piece.
Ladies Event Gets Its Due
What caught my eye buried in the announcement: they’re running a Ladies Championship. Not a side event, not an afterthought – a proper championship with the full WPT treatment.
Jackie Glazier texted me about it yesterday. She’s been pushing for more women’s events in Australia for years. “It’s about time,” she said. “The women’s game here is strong. We just needed the platform.”
Natural8’s Satellite Machine
Natural8 (that’s GGPoker’s skin in parts of Asia) is already cranking up their satellite engine. If history’s any guide, we’ll see packages starting around $50 by July. Maybe earlier.
The satellite strategy for Australia is always interesting because of the travel component. Players aren’t just winning a buy-in – they need flights, hotels, the works. A Main Event package probably runs $5-6K all in.
Why September Matters
Timing is everything in poker, and September in Sydney? That’s spring Down Under. Perfect weather, tourist season winding down, and crucially – it’s far enough after the WSOP that pros have recovered but not so late that they’re thinking about holidays.
WPT knows what they’re doing here. September also dodges the Aussie Millions in January and gives players a reason to make the trek twice in one year.
I remember talking to Matt Savage about scheduling these international stops. “You want players fresh but hungry,” he told me. “September in Australia? That’s the sweet spot.”
The Streaming Factor
Both championship final tables getting the full production treatment changes things. Australian poker has incredible characters – think Gary Benson’s table talk, Michael Addamo’s silent assassin routine – but they’ve been playing to half-empty rails.
Streaming puts them in front of the world. And with Australia’s time zone, these finals will hit prime time in Asia while still catching the European morning crowd. Smart.
The Star Sydney itself deserves a mention. If you haven’t played there, picture a casino that feels more like a resort. Harbor views, proper restaurants (not just poker room sandwiches), and a poker room that actually gets natural light. Revolutionary concept, I know.
They’re keeping the full schedule under wraps for now, but expect the usual mix – turbos for the weekend warriors, high rollers for the traveling circus, and enough mid-stakes action to keep everyone happy.
September can’t come soon enough. Time to renew that passport.
