2012 was a pretty amazing year on World Poker Tour, with too many exciting moments to count both on and off the felt. Of course, that didn’t stop us from asking WPT Host Vince Van Patten to share his top moments of the year with us. Take a look at which plays, players, and events caught the attention of the Hollywood home gamer, and let us know what your favorite moments were from the past year on tour.
Moment #5: The WPT Venice Grand Prix at the Casino de Venizia Ca Vendramin Calergi
What can I say? It was a fabulous event in an amazing venue. Getting the chance to play in – and host – this tournament inside that 16th century masterpiece was a true thrill and an experience I’ll never forget.
Moment #4: Watching Matt Salsburg Win in Paris
As a Hollywood guy, it was fun to watch a a prolific Hollywood writer and producer, Matt Salsberg (his credits include HBO’s Entourage and Showtime’s Weeds) beat some of the game’s best pros at the WPT Grand Prix de Paris. I loved it!
Moment #3: Opening our First Event in Jacksonville, Florida – The WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open
This was another fantastic tournament stop on the WPT. I loved everything about this event from the beautiful beaches to the glamorous casino, the incredibly friendly staff, and the enthusiastic players who all turned out to make this one of the most fun events of the year.
Moment #2: Tony Dunst Making a WPT Final Table
It’s always great when you see someone you know run deep in a tournament. In this case, it was even more fun because we were railing one of our own from the WPT. It’s too bad Tony couldn’t claim the title, but a fifth-place finish in Jacksonville was a great performance. I was really proud of him.
Moment #1: Joe Serock Becomes WPT Season X Player of the Year
Like Mike, I think this was a definite high-light of the year. What better way was there to end Season X than with an incredibly dramatic race for the tour’s most prestigious title? In the end, watching Joe Serock – a laid back, humble, good guy – finish first was just plain fun. I’m very happy for him.
