Philip Kessel: New WPT Global Ambassador

Author

Vargoso

Published

10/9/2024

Updated

10/9/2024

In October 2024, WPT Global Poker announced that hockey player and three-time Stanley Cup winner Phil Kessel would join the room as an ambassador. He will be the first non-poker professional athlete to sign a contract with WPT Global.

Why does WPT Global need a hockey player?

Until recently, eight people held the title of “WPT Global Ambassador." They were all professional poker players from different countries, most Americans.

On October 9, the trend changed when WPT Global Poker announced that Phil Kessel, hockey player, and three-time Stanley Cup winner, would be the room's new ambassador.

Kessel is an American citizen, but in his new role, he will be a member of WPT Global’s “Team Canada,” which already includes Patrick ‘Egption’ Tardif and Xuan Liu. Hockey is the most popular sport in Canada, and Philip is a well-known player.

Although Kessel says he has played poker for over 20 years, his achievements are limited to seven small cashes at the WSOP from 2012 to 2023. We could then call Phil the first recreational player on the WPT Global team.

As a welcome, Phil will have his own tournament on November 27 at WPT Global, the Iron Man Poker, in which there will be special prizes such as a package to play the WPT World Championship with an experience to play golf and dine with Kessel during the event.

Kessel will participate in the Playground Festival in Montreal from October 14 to 30.

Phil's achievements

On October 2, Kessel turned 37 and did not participate in the last NHL season; then, we can assume that the player is using his experience there to take a new path in his career.

During his 20 years in hockey, Phil has won several awards: