The World Championship of Amateur Poker (WCOAP) is set to return to Dusk Till Dawn in Nottingham from August 20 to 25, bringing together hundreds of recreational players chasing medals, bracelets, and a shot at poker glory.
Early Start for the Main Event
Although the main festival kicks off on August 20, action gets underway a few days earlier with Day 1a of the £210 NLHE World Amateur Poker Championship on August 17. The Main Event features four single-entry flights, each playing down to 15% of the field. Survivors from each flight return for Day 2, already in the money.
Players are allowed to enter multiple Day 1s, but only one stack can advance. Any prior qualifying stack is forfeited—along with its min-cash—if a player registers for another flight after qualifying.
In 2024, the Main Event drew 518 runners, generating a £90,650 prize pool. Nick Bowyer came out on top, banking £15,000 along with a bracelet and gold medal.
Packed Schedule Across Multiple Formats
The WCOAP is often seen as the amateur counterpart to poker’s elite festivals, and this year’s edition lives up to that billing with a diverse schedule.
Championship titles will be up for grabs in formats such as:
- T.O.R.S.E.
- Pot-Limit Omaha
- NLHE 6-Max and Mix Max
- Crazy Pineapple
- NLHE/PLO Round of Each
- Omaha 8/Stud 8
- Mixed Triple Draw
- Mystery Bounty and Shootouts
There’s also a £350 High Roller, an 8-Game Championship, and a full slate of turbo and novelty events designed to test all-around ability.
A Look Back at 2024
Last year’s WCOAP hosted 22 events, catering to a wide range of poker styles and bankrolls. The results highlighted several standout performances:
- Main Event: 518 entries | £90,650 prize pool | Nick Bowyer – £15,000
- High Roller: 107 entries | £33,170 prize pool | Gholamreza Moghaddam – £10,780
- Mini Main Event: 296 entries | Justin Titchiner – £2,800
- NLHE Bounty: 202 entries | Ricky Cross – £3,540
- 8-Game Championship: 90 entries | Vadims Veksins – £3,360
- Limit Hold’em & NLHE Shootout: Dave Howard won both, plus a final-table finish in Triple Stud
Howard’s triple-deep run made him one of the festival’s breakout names, underscoring the level of competition that’s become a hallmark of the WCOAP.
Countdown to Kickoff
With over 20 events on the schedule, including team competitions and mixed-game challenges, the 2025 WCOAP promises six days of non-stop poker in a uniquely welcoming atmosphere. Whether chasing your first cash or your next bracelet, this is the place to be for amateur players ready to make their mark.
