Vince Van Patten is best known in the poker community as the host and commentator for the World Poker Tour over the last 20 years. He is also an avid high-stakes cash player and dives into tournaments when his schedule allows.
He is also a former tennis champion on the ATP Tour, achieving a top 25 world ranking in both singles and doubles. Vince eventually transitioned to the very popular game of pickleball and competes on the APP Professional Pickleball Tour in men’s pro over-50s singles.
What were some of the highlights in poker for you this past year?
Believe it or not, I played only a few cash games, and I did pretty well. I had only played in one tournament until the WPT events this December at the Wynn. At the WPT Festival of Events, I cashed in the $5M Freeroll event, and at the WPT Championship, I finished 265th for $19,600. So, not too bad.
I'm just happy that the World Poker tour keeps getting better and better each year. It's a great blessing.
Did you enjoy playing in the history-making freeroll event?
It was so much fun. Everyone enjoyed it. It was different. It took the minds of Adam Pliska and the World Poker Tour’s staff behind the scenes. We had to conjure up something that would grab people and excite them to come out and play. How about running a $5,000,000 freeroll? What a great idea.
I've been in the game for 50 years playing poker; I've never seen a freeroll for $5,000,000. It was very exciting.
Chase Bricker won the $5M freeroll, picking up $1 million for a $0 buy-in.What was the most challenging part of this last year for you?
I play a lot of pickleball, and I hurt my hip. I am going to get a hip replacement in four weeks. But I don't mind because I love pickleball very much. Walking from my room to the poker room was tough at the Wynn. It was a nice little walk but a little difficult.
Did you think about getting one of the little carts that Doyle Brunson drove through the halls of the WSOP?
I did. I might still have to do that. But I’m not old enough to do that yet, so I'm staying away from it.
What are your goals for the coming year and work with the WPT?
We're going to have another great year with the World Poker Tour. It’s going to be bigger and better. We always try to think about what players want and what keeps driving people to play with us on the tour. In a lot of ways, it’s like we’re a family. That's special. All of us involved are rooting for each other.
Personally, I just want to keep my fitness up. I'm a professional player now on the pickleball tour, so I get to travel there, too. I want to get in the best shape of my life, have fun, and enjoy life.
February's WPT Cambodia, at Nagaworld in Phnom Penh, is the next scheduled stop on the World Poker Tour.What did you think about the WPT vs WSOP competition for players in December? Should perhaps the WSOP move the Bahamas event to early January?
I think so. They're in competition with the WPT, and they don't want to play nice. They want to take some of our players. We don't really care.
It's a little disappointing, but what are you going to do? It's their privilege to do that. I know people love their tour as well. So, no harm, no foul. We'll just keep doing what we do.
Images courtesy of WPT
