WPT Battle of Champions: The Most Exciting World Poker Tour Special Event

Besides WPT Ladies Night and WPT Bad Boys of Poker, the WPT Battle of Champions poker series is the most exciting special event of the World Poker Tour. This invitational event exclusively features the past champions of the tour, with a hefty prize at stake and the privilege to be considered as the ultimate champion of all champions. The first installment of this special poker tournament took place in Season 2 of the World Poker Tour, the second and third of the series in Season 4, and the fourth of the series in Season 5.

Held at the luxurious Bellagio casino hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, the very first installment of the WPT Battle of Champions poker tournament took place on December 19, 2003. Overall, 11 outstanding World Poker Tour champions entered the competition, where the winner is guaranteed a $250,000 pot money. The final table was made up of past WPT winners like Juha Helppi, Ron Rose, and Gus Hansen. Chris Karagulleyan, Howard Lederer, and Jose Rosenkrantz complete the final table cast. In the end, the smarter plays and timing of Rose helped him win over his equally talented opponents.

In the meantime, WPT Battle of Champions II was held at the Bicycle Casino in California on August 30, 2005. A major change occurred in the mechanics of the game, particularly the prize. Unlike in the previous season, the winner of this event would automatically advance to the WPT World Championship poker tournament at the end of World Poker Tour Season 4. The second installment pitted the likes of Noli Francisco, Phil Laak, and Hoyt Corkins, while also including past World Poker Tour winners such as Antonio Esfandiari, Mel Judah, and David Benyamine. After some very serious rounds of exciting plays and strategies, Benyamine was able to emerge on top of the poker tournament to become the second champion of champions in poker.

Also held in Season 4 of the World Poker Tour, WPT Battle of Champions III produced another classic encounter amongst the past champions of the tour. In this installment of the series, the final table was comprised of Eli Elezra, Daniel Negreanu, and Tuan Le. Meanwhile, the other half of the competition was made up of Johnny Stoltzmann, Michael Gracz, and Alex Brenes. However, only one would earn the right to be crowned the champion of champions in the end, and that title went to Le.

Moving on with WPT Battle of Champions IV, 13 past World Poker Tour winners showed up for the competition, with the sole winner earning the right to play at the WPT World Championship poker event at the end of World Poker Tour Season 5. Held on April 25, 2006, this very exciting special poker tournament pitted the likes of Scotty Nguyen, Mike Simon, and Freddy Deeb. In addition, present at the event were WPT champions Nick Schulman, Michael Mizrachi, and Joe Bartholdi Jr. In the end, Schulman emerged on top of the competition, which helped him earn a spot in the grand final event of the World Poker Tour.