In October, as I scrolled through Twitter, I saw a variety of contests popping up for the ClubWPT Gold $5M Freeroll, and right away I was curious what it was all about. ClubWPT Gold is a new platform being launched by the World Poker Tour. This freeroll represents WPT’s way of super-charging their 2024 WPT World Championship festival in Las Vegas. There would be a $5 million prize pool, with only 2,000 players invited, 25% paid, mystery bounties added deep in the tournament and even 100 seats awarded to the $10K World Championship event itself.
It’s one thing to play in a WPT event, but this was clearly a one-of-a-kind happening and it immediately had my attention. I had to find a way to get in. After hearing about the opportunity, it was clear that this was a chance I couldn’t miss out on.
The Beginnings of a Poker Dream
I started doing my homework. I made a list of every WPT ambassador I could find, following them all on Twitter. I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t miss out on any contest or giveaway related to the tournament. Every day, I checked for updates, hoping I would catch the next opportunity. It wasn’t enough to just be passive; I was determined to make my own luck.
Then, in mid-October, I saw it—a contest from Ethan Yau; a.k.a., Rampage Poker. The idea behind it was simple but felt perfect for me. He was asking contestants to show off their own poker punts. The challenge was to create any content around this concept, and as someone with a deep love for both poker and video editing, I knew exactly what I needed to do.
My video would cut deep for any tournament player. I’d be playing at a big final table, facing pressure from the big stack. I’d call off my tournament life with many shorties still alive—sending my opportunity up in flames through ICM suicide. But the twist? After my elimination, I’d meet the Poker God, who would tell me that I could only redeem myself by not punting in the upcoming ClubWPT Freeroll tournament.
The Video That Won It All
My girlfriend Megan has always been so supportive of my hobby, interested in my playing and curious about such a niche game. If I were to win a passport, we would go to Vegas together and introduce her to this crazy world of tournament poker. She loved the idea and helped me film the video that I would go on to submit to Rampage.
The plot required costumes—a southern cowboy look and a Jesus costume to represent the Poker God. I scoured online shops for the most affordable options and began plotting out the sketch. Within a week, the video was filmed, edited, and ready to go.
I submitted the video to Rampage’s contest with a feeling proud of what we worked on. But I knew the competition would be tough, and there was no guarantee here. Regardless, I was proud of what we made and hoped it would stand out.
I’m using my One Time, @rampagepoker. Let me prove it to you in Vegas. #WPTGoldPunt pic.twitter.com/6mN9495eAG
— Jonathan Coffman (@jcoffmanky) October 25, 2024
Winning the ClubWPT Gold Golden Passport
Two weeks later, the moment arrived. I had been anxiously watching the contest for updates, and when I saw that Rampage had liked my tweet, I felt a surge of hope. I turned to Megan and started to tell her what had just happened. But before I could even finish my sentence, a direct message from Rampage popped up in my inbox.
He told me that I had won the ClubWPT Gold Golden Passport.
The news was so surreal that it completely took us by surprise. We were sitting around on a lazy Sunday afternoon, then, suddenly, we were planning a trip to Las Vegas. We rushed to search for flights, checked hotel rates, and started outlining our itinerary for the trip. Within hours, we had booked a long weekend to attend the event. Our excitement was off the charts as we realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary.
Preparing for the ClubWPT Gold $5M Freeroll
Once the initial excitement settled, I began to seriously think about the upcoming tournament. As someone who typically plays micro stakes poker tournaments online, this event would be a whole new ballgame. The ClubWPT Gold Freeroll tournament has a fixed number of entries, pays out to 25% of the field, and introduces the added complexity of being a mystery bounty event later on, as the field whittles down. There are a lot of unknowns to navigate, and the strategy would have to differ significantly from the standard tournaments I was used to.
In preparation, I turned to one of my favorite poker authors, Dara O’Kearney. I had read nearly all of his strategy books and had even met him once before. As soon as I knew I would be playing a mystery bounty tournament, I bought the book Mystery Bounty Strategy by O’Kearney and Barry Carter. It was a quick read and immediately helpful, but it didn’t stop there.
O’Kearney and Carter released a free seminar specifically designed to help players adjust to the unique elements of this kind of tournament. As soon as I saw the announcement, I knew I had to watch it. I made it my priority to consume this content before the event, and I plan to rewatch it once more before the tournament this week to ensure I have a solid grasp of the strategy.
The @ClubWPTGold $5M Freeroll has the craziest payout structure ever:
✅ Flat payouts early
✅ Top-heavy late
✅ Mystery bounty
✅ Random $10,300 seat prizes@daraokearney & have have ‘solved’ this payout structure & you can see our new course for FREE
👉 https://t.co/4K5xOdwe9P pic.twitter.com/phqqlPlTiE— Barry Carter (@Barry_Carter) November 22, 2024
In addition to all of this, I’ve made an effort to get some bounty tournament experience online. While most of the online games I played were small-stakes PKOs (Progressive Knockouts), they still provided some valuable insight into how players react when there are more than just chips at stake.
The Calm Before the Storm
As the tournament draws near, I’ve started to reflect on my goals and expectations. There is a lot to be excited about. The prize pool is massive, and the structure is such that a significant portion of the field will be paid. Even a modest cash would be something to brag about, and the chance to have a WPT cash on my Hendon Mob page would be a huge achievement for a weekend warrior poker player like me.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the event is the unpredictable nature of the field. With so many entries coming from giveaway contests, it is impossible to predict how players will approach the tournament. Many of them are likely recreational players like myself, maybe regulars in $1/3 or $2/5 cash games. But, I also noticed that more experienced players have recently won their seats into the event, and that’s made things more interesting.
In terms of strategy, I know the event will have its share of variance, especially once mystery bounties are in play. In the end, I can only go in holding myself accountable for staying aware of player dynamics and adjusting to each situation accordingly. I’d love to make a deep run and collect the biggest bounties, but ultimately, my goal is to stay focused on the process. If I can avoid making mistakes and play with confidence, I’d consider it a success—no matter where I ended up finishing.
Conclusion
The journey to winning the ClubWPT Gold Golden Passport has been a whirlwind of excitement, preparation, and learning. I’m beyond thrilled to be part of this unique event, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity. As I head into the tournament, I’m ready to face whatever challenges come my way, all while holding myself accountable for making the best decisions I can. Whether I come out on top or not, I’ll walk away from this experience proud of how I played, having redeemed myself in the eyes of the Poker Gods.
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