While attending the 2024 WPT World Championship festival at Wynn Las Vegas, I sat with ClubWPT Vice President Jeremy Clemons. Amidst all the buzz surrounding ClubWPT Gold, it’s important to ensure that the core essence of ClubWPT remains in focus. For 15 years, ClubWPT has been a staple in the online poker space, and I wanted Cardplayer Lifestyle readers to have increased clarity about what it is and how it continues to thrive.
What’s the difference between ClubWPT and ClubWPT Gold?
“ClubWPT operates on a sweepstakes model for online poker, offering members the chance to compete in tournaments for real cash and prizes, along with added benefits like poker educational material, exclusive WPT content, and more. It’s a way for everyday players to live the poker dream by qualifying for live events.”
Over the years, ClubWPT has expanded its offerings, adding membership tiers to cater to a range of players. Initially, the platform offered only a VIP level at $33.95/month. However, about four years ago, they introduced the Diamond level, which costs $149.95/month and provides additional benefits, such as smaller tournament fields, more prizes, and a $100 LearnWPT membership.
“Diamond level is designed for serious players who want to take their game to the next level.”
How many ClubWPT members have qualified for packages to this year’s WPT World Championship or its side events?
Last year, ClubWPT sent approximately 100 players to live events. This year, the number has tripled, reflecting the program’s rapid growth and increasing popularity.
The breakdown is impressive: 200 WPT Prime Championship seats, 30 WPT World Championship seats, and over 50 seats to the ClubWPT Gold $5 Million Freeroll Invitational.
“A major factor behind this growth was the introduction of our $100/month Super SATurday membership level,” Clemons noted. “This level is entirely focused on satellite opportunities, awarding a minimum of five seats to live WPT events every Saturday.”
What does the package include beyond the event seat?
The World Poker Tour brand prides itself on creating unique, memorable experiences for its players. Clemons explained:
“Every brand associated with the World Poker Tour – what sets us all apart is how we treat our players. It’s more than a transactional process when players qualify for our events. We really try to get personal.”
ClubWPT winners receive a wide range of perks. They are assigned dedicated player hosts to personalize their experience. They also have opportunities to interact with WPT talent such as Lynn Gilmartin, Vince Van Patten, Tony Dunst, and Matt Savage through meet-and-greets and exclusive parties. Additional benefits include VIP registration lines, branded merchandise, photo opportunities with the WPT roster, and access to exclusive parties for qualifiers.
The highlight for many qualifiers is the prestigious Player of the Year Award, which includes a seat in the WPT World Championship. Clemons emphasized, “It’s about creating a holistic experience. We want players to leave feeling fulfilled, even if they don’t cash.”
Josh Guindon’s Incredible Journey
One of this year’s most inspirational stories is that of Josh Guindon, an ER doctor from the Boston area who discovered poker through ClubWPT just two and a half years ago. Josh’s meteoric rise in the poker world is a testament to his hard work and determination, making him a standout representative of the ClubWPT community.
Josh began his journey by winning a seat to the WPT DeepStacks event at Venetian, where he cashed for an impressive $20,000. Building on this momentum, he qualified for several additional events, including WPT Voyage and the tournament at bestbet Jacksonville. These experiences helped him refine his skills, gain valuable live tournament experience, and build his confidence at the tables.
Image credit: Hendobmob.com
This year, Josh achieved a remarkable milestone at the ClubWPT Gold $5 Million Freeroll Invitational. Not only did he make the final table, but he finished in 7th place, earning $30,000. Adding to his achievements, he pulled one of the event’s two $100,000 bounties, cementing his place as one of the standout performers of the tournament.
“Josh is well-studied and seeks advice from pro players,” Clemons shared. “He’s very intelligent and is also running really well. He’s a great representative for our brand because he’s a bit on the younger side compared to a lot of our other qualifiers.”
Josh’s story exemplifies what makes ClubWPT unique. It offers players from all backgrounds a chance to live the poker dream. Despite being relatively new to the game, Josh has achieved what many poker enthusiasts only aspire to, and his journey inspires others to follow in his footsteps.
“We’re very proud of Josh’s performance,” Clemons said. “All our other ClubWPT members want to be like Josh and are very inspired by what he’s done.”
Well done my friend. https://t.co/E8O20ZfhNN
— jeremyclemons (@jeremyclemons) December 14, 2024
What can ClubWPT players do to replicate Josh’s success?
Josh’s achievements are not just the result of good fortune; they reflect his commitment to studying the game and utilizing the tools available through ClubWPT and LearnWPT. He also builds relationships with seasoned professionals, learning from them in a personal and meaningful way.
“Certainly, Josh has put in the work to study and utilize the tools at his disposal courtesy of LearnWPT,” Clemons explained. “He’s met lots of top pros through having made these multiple deep runs and does his best to develop relationships with them as well as absorb poker knowledge.”
Josh’s confidence at the tables and the respect he commands from his opponents demonstrate the level of skill and preparation he brings to the game. As Clemons observed, “When I watch him compete at the highest levels, I see that he gets a lot of respect from the players he’s competing against. He looks like he fits the part at the table, has a lot of self-confidence, and that’s great to see.”
Conclusion
ClubWPT will continue to grow its presence at live events, providing opportunities for players to chase their poker dreams. With innovative membership levels and a commitment to exceptional player experiences, the platform is creating a pathway for anyone to experience the thrill of the World Poker Tour.
“Our memberships are very appealing to lots of players because it enables them to invest just a little money and play unlimited amounts of poker for a month and have unlimited opportunities to win packages to our live events,” Clemons said.
The feedback from members drives ClubWPT to keep innovating. “We will keep surprising and delighting so many more of our ClubWPT members with these types of experiences,” Clemons concluded.
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