The WSOP Pro-Amateur Bracelet Tournament will pit professional players against amateur players.
Regional newsWSOP Paradise will launch a $250,000 buy-in Pro-Amateur bracelet event in December, where pros and amateurs will compete separately, merging after making the money, with the winner receiving a gold bracelet. Pros versus Joe's will take place in the 2026 WSOP Paradise series this December. More precisely, this is a $250,000 buy-in WSOP Pro-Amateur (Pro-Am) event, pitting professional poker players against amateurs, a unique event sure to add a lot of excitement to the Bahamas. The three-day event will award a gold bracelet to the winner. What exactly is this? There is precedent for poker events pitting pros against recreational players. Poker Central (now PokerGO) hosted a knockout tournament in 2015 where one table was played by celebrities down to one player, while another table featured pros. The ultimate winners—actor Kevin Pollak and poker legend Vanessa Selbst—engaged in a best-of-three match, with Selbst emerging victorious to claim $1 million. Triton Poker has done something similar before, including last year's $250,000 Triton Invitational at WSOP Paradise, an invite-only multi-table tournament where Kayhan Mokri won $7,725,000. However, the WSOP Pro-Amateur format is different. Unlike the Triton Invitational, professionals don't need to be invited by amateurs; they can register directly. Amateurs, on the other hand, must apply and receive WSOP approval. The WSOP Pro-Amateur Committee reviews applications and makes individual decisions based on each applicant's eligibility. At the start of the tournament, amateurs and professionals play separately. Once the tournament enters the money bubble, the two groups merge and play normally until a bracelet winner is determined. The WSOP Paradise will be held from December 2nd to 17th at the Baha Mar Hotel & Resort. The schedule currently includes 21 bracelet events, including the Super Main Event with a guaranteed prize pool of 1TP, 4T, and 50 million. Want to go from simply "understanding" Texas Hold'em to "winning" it? If you want to learn more about Texas Hold'em, you can continue reading: The Origins of Texas Hold'em: Why is it the most popular poker game in the world? Texas Hold'em Hand Rankings and Comparison Rules (Essential for Beginners) Texas Hold'em Betting Tutorial: Check / Bet / Call / Raise and Betting Strategies Analysis The Importance of Position in Texas Hold'em? Why is Late Position More Advantageous? How to Play Texas Hold'em: 10 Minutes for Beginners



