How long does the qualifying period last and how does a person qualify to enter?
The qualifying period lasts for 30 consecutive weeks. Each and every week, the top six players on the Duplicate Poker leaderboard will automatically be awarded one entry to play in the DPWC. At the end of 30 weeks, a total of 180 players (6 x 30) will qualify for the regional competition.
To compete for "top six" spot on the weekly leaderboard all that is required is to play at Duplicate Poker and accumulate as many points as possible. The overall (weekly) leaderboard consists of points accumulated in both tournaments and sit and go's held at the site over the course of a seven-day period.
What is the leaderboard?
The overall leaderboard ranks the top players ranked at Duplicate Poker. Players are measured by the day, week, month, and year. However, only the weekly rankings will be used to determine each week's top six players. Each weekly period runs from midnight Eastern Standard Time on Monday through the following Sunday night.
Who can enter?
Anyone eligible to play at Duplicate Poker is also eligible to participate in the DPWC. Unfortunately, residents of some states are not eligible to participate.
What if I qualify for a spot in the DPWC and then I finish in the top six of the weekly leaderboard a second time? Do I receive two entries?
No. Players may earn only one entry over the course of the year. If a player is ranked in the top six at the weekly leaderboard and that player has already been awarded an entry, the player is passed over and the next ranked player takes the spot.
How much does it cost to enter?
Absolutely nothing. Once a player qualifies by accumulating enough leaderboard points to make the weekly top six, entry is free. This is one of the few competitions with a "world championship" title that does not require participants to post an entry fee or pay their own expenses. In fact, players who make it to the land-based venue for the semi-final and final rounds will receive an airfare package, hotel accommodations, and meals during their stay. This is Duplicate Poker's way to encouraging many players to participate and enjoy the experience of playing in a big time championship event.
How much prize money awarded to winners?
The total prize pool for the 2008 DPWC amounts to $120,000. All prize money is posted by Duplicate Poker.
What happens during the initial qualification phase?
All players who finish in the top six places on the weekly leaderboard will be required to respond to e-mails from site officials confirming they will play in the regional round. Players will be required to provide contact information and other data. Each qualifier will also be required to prove his or her residency at the time of qualification, by producing such documentation as a state-issued driver's license, or other means of proof. If a player fails to respond to repeated e-mails requests or is deemed ineligible, that vacant spot will be filled by the next player ranked on the relevant weekly leaderboard.
What is the regional round?
The 180 players who qualify for the 2008 DPWC will be divided into six groups of approximately 30 players each. On Sunday, September 14th, six separate long-form tournaments will be held at Duplicate Poker – one tournament for each of six geographical regions. Assignments and starting times will be announced later. At the conclusion of each tournament, each of the six top-ranked players will become members of that regional team. The highest-ranked player from each region will be the captain. However, the top ranked player may also appoint another team member as captain, if he/she so chooses. Each team will also include one alternate, to be selected jointly by the captain and/or officials at Duplicate Poker. The alternate will travel to the next rounds with the rest of the team and will play as a fill-in should any member of the team not be able to participate.
What is a team?
The top six players from each region (plus one alternate) constitute a team. Teams are divided into the following geographical regions by residency at the time of qualification:
TEAM A: Central U.S.
CO, ID, KY, NM, NV, OK, PA, TN, UT, VA, WV, WY
TEAM B: Midwest U.S.
IA, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
TEAM C: Northeast U.S.
CT, DC, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT
TEAM D: Western/Southern U.S.
AK, CA, HI, OR, WA, AL, GA, MS, NC, TX, Virgin Islands
TEAM E: Europe
All European Qualifiers
TEAM F: International Team
All non-U.S. and non-European Qualifiers
What is the quarterfinal round?
The quarterfinals will take place at a live-venue and will include 36 players in the competition (plus six alternates). Six players from each of the six teams will participate. The quarterfinal round consists of two live poker sessions. Each session will include 36 duplicated deals/hands. At the conclusion of the second session, the points of all players will be added together to get a cumulative total for each team. These rankings will be based upon the net number of chips won/lost by players in corresponding seats. The four teams ranked the highest will advance on to the next round. The two teams with the lowest point totals will be eliminated during this round.
What is the semifinal round?
Semi-finals will be played during the evening of the first day. Members of the four surviving teams will be distributed evenly at four different tables. Three sessions will be dealt out, consisting of 24 duplicated deals in each session. No team member or alternate may play in more than two of the three sessions – which means each team member is expected to play in two sessions. This rule ensures that each team member will participate during this round. At the end of the third session, players will be ranked in order based on their net number of chips won/lost. The top two ranked teams will advance to the championship finals.
What is the championship round?
The last two teams will play in the championship finals. This round begins during the afternoon of the last day of the competition. The two teams will be divided at two tables, with two players each. They will play six heads-up matches consisting of 16 deals/hands in each match. Each team member plays in this round.
The player with the higher number of net total chips at the end of each match is awarded 1 point. The loser receives 0 points. The team with the highest point total over the six matches is the 2008 Duplicate Poker Team World Champion.
Who is the individual champion and how is that determined?
The three individual prize winners will be determined by the three highest point totals earned by players in the finals. In the event of a tie, individual prize money and ranking will be divided equally amongst the tied players. The player with the highest number of points in the final round becomes the 2008 Duplicate Poker World Champion.
How will the prize money be distributed?
$120,000 in total prize money will be divided as follows:
TEAM PRIZES –
1st -- $35,000
2nd -- $24,500
3rd -- $17,500
4th -- $14,000
5th -- $10,000
6th -- $7,000
INDIVIDUAL PRIZES –
1st -- $5,000
2nd -- $4,000
3rd -- $3,000
How is Duplicate Poker played in a live format?
Players are seated at poker tables just as in a regular tournament. Players start with a pre-determined number of chips in their stack. Each deal/hand, the number of chips won or lost is tracked by an official scorer. At the conclusion of the session, all deal/hand results are calculated and a net total of chips won or lost is determined. That number is compared against the players sitting at corresponding seats in order to determine a final ranking of players and results.
How is the Duplicate Poker "World Champion" determined?
The team that wins the final round of competition is designated as the 2008 DPWC team champion. The top three ranked players from the final round are designated as the top three players, with the number one ranked player as the official 2008 DPWC individual champion.
What rights do I waive by participating in the DPWC?
All players who participate in the regional rounds and live tournaments agree to allow Duplicate Poker to use their name, likeness, voice, and image for marketing and promotional purposes. Additional details can be found under "terms and conditions."
Note: We reserve the right to modify, implement, and/or amend any of the above terms and conditions at our discretion. Changes will be posted at our website. We also reserve the right to cancel this competition at any time for any unforeseeable reason.
Enter Duplicate Poker to register for the Duplicate Poker World Championship!