Season XXII of the World Poker Tour opened on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at NagaWorld Integrated Resorts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Players were greeted with a welcome speech by WPT Live Events Specialist, Danny McDonagh, alongside partner Connaissance Management General Manager, Erique Tan, and NagaWorld Senior Operations Manager, Christopher Paul Gros. 

“A very warm welcome to you all. On behalf of all the organizers, we thank you all for being here today. This is the fourth time the World Poker Tour has come to NagaWorld in Cambodia and without doubt the most exciting.

This is the first time the WPT Main Tour has come to Southeast Asia. There’s a million US dollar guarantee for the first time and the winners name will be engraved on this magnificent trophy – the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup… We are also very pleased that so many players have already committed to coming to this festival. We are expecting a number of new records to be set.”

With that, cards were back in the air with the NagaWorld Superstack headlining the opening day games. At sundown, the Superstack Turbo joined on the floor, concluding with Cheng Zhang as the first side event champion of the festival.