After eleven days of top-class action, WPT Seoul at the brand-new YY Poker Club comes to a close on Monday, with the final day of the INSPIRE Championship set to stream across World Poker Tour channels.
The event has proved a huge success, attracting 1,033 entries and generating a KRW 1.56 billion (approximately $1.17 million) prize pool, comfortably surpassing its KRW 1 billion guarantee. Dong Li Shen leads the way with a sizeable lead over the rest of the field.
With the final day just around the corner, we caught up with WPT commentator Aaron Paul Kramer, better known as “APK,” to get his take on the inaugural event and find out why poker fans should be tuning in.
Behind the Mic at WPT Seoul With APK
PokerNews: How much have you enjoyed commentating on WPT events, and what have you made of WPT Seoul as a festival?
APK: How much I’ve enjoyed commentating on WPT events is a twofold answer. Anytime I get to commentate, period, is when I’ve found myself at my happiest. Time seems to fly by, and I’m suddenly heading into the next break every time I’m behind the mic.
As far as getting to do it for the WPT here in Seoul, that’s just the icing on the cake. To be part of an inaugural event like this, with top-level production and staff, has been like a dream. I’ve found myself pinching my own arm each morning to make sure it’s actually reality!
WPT Seoul and everyone involved in making it happen should be insanely proud. I know I am!
PN: The new YY Poker Club and INSPIRE Resort are absolutely beautiful. You can’t have commentated in many better locations?
APK: You nailed it. You answered your own question, even! Both YY Poker Club and its dealers and staff, including those over at the incredible Ultra Lounge, have been the pinnacle of my short commentating career so far.
The entire facility, from the moment you walk into INSPIRE to the time you get to YY Poker Club, is in a lane of its own. I couldn’t recommend coming here more!
PN: What’s been your favorite moment so far, and why should people tune into the stream for the final day of the WPT Seoul Championship?
APK: There is no single moment I’ve enjoyed more than seeing both my own and Bobby James’ [fellow commentator] mom find each other in our stream chat and become friends. What’s more wholesome than that?
It’s been a long road of trying to ensure Bobby and I get to wind up in the booth together, so anytime it happens is a blessing. But we wouldn’t be here without the support of our mothers and families, so seeing those two worlds collide in real time in our stream chat was truly special for me.
I’d say there are a hundred reasons to tune in going forward. Outside of being part of poker history, hey, it’s a chance to meet our moms and try to ask some embarrassing behind-the-scenes questions about us! Good luck getting them to answer, though!
PN: Thanks for your time, APK. Great to catch up!
Photos courtesy of WPT.
Eliot Thomas
Editor, Poker & Casino