One of the best parts of playing on ClubWPT is the satellites into live events. One day you're grinding the online tables from the comfort of your home, the next you're on a plane to a high-profile World Poker Tour Main Event.
Two players are on that exact journey right now.
Metti Saliu and Jonathan Batye, two ClubWPT players, won satellite packages to the $3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown starting this Friday, April 28. Both of them took slightly different routes to get here.
Saliu, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. has played on ClubWPT for years.
"Three years ago, the pandemic shut down my local card room," shared Saliu. "I saw the ClubWPT Diamond Membership for more cash and prizes, so I joined." He's seen success since then, but this is the first big package he's won for a tournament entry. "I played a satellite, it was winner take all," said Saliu.
He was so close to getting down to Seminole last year. "I played the same satellite last year and came in second," said Saliu. "I had that taste in my mouth from last year. This year I played well, but I was down to one big blind, but I bounced back, ran well, and took it down."
Second place last year, one big blind and a dream this year, and now living that dream by heading to Seminole Hard Rock this week, Saliu is ready for his biggest tournament challenge to date. "This has been my best year on ClubWPT," said Saliu. I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing, I have trust in my game, and we'll see how it goes."
You don't have to play for years to win a package on ClubWPT. Jonathan Batye is proof of that.
Batye won entry into the upcoming Main Event while on a free trial on ClubWPT. "I had nothing invested and won the $5,500 package," shared Batye. "So, basically I have a chance to win possibly a million dollars from nothing. Everyone loves a massive freeroll.
Though this is his first time traveling for a poker tournament, Batye comes in with unmatched confidence. "I always expect to win every tournament I play. You have to in order to win. I'm a huge believer in positivity in poker and in life."
Batye, a concrete worker by trade, now heads to Florida to take on his biggest poker challenge to date, with inspiration in mind. "I'm excited for the challenge. Daniel Negreanu is my favorite player. I draw inspiration from many styles, but his are most prevalent in my game. I'm excited to meet some WPT talent, too."
Two players, one Main Event, and big hopes to turn their ClubWPT memberships into something extraordinary. Whether you play on the club for years like Saliu, or you're on a free trial membership like Batye, these are the poker experiences you don't forget.
Best of luck to both ClubWPT qualifiers this weekend, we'll keep track of them this weekend when we're there in the field.
