Chino Rheem Misses Free Seat In $5M Dollar WPT Championship

He's made his "choice" to stay in Las Vegas....forgetting the $15k freeroll.

There are a host of big names on the felt and in the field at the Borgata Spring Open 2014 World Poker Tour Championship event. One of the most prominent names that’s missing, other than Phil Ivey, is the winner of last year’s WPT Championship, David “Chino” Rheem.

Wanna wish all my homies best of luck at Borgata @WPT Championship event! I won’t be there to defend last years title so play well! #yup— David Rheem (@ChinoRheem) April 21, 2014

With a $15,400 price tag and Rheem’s past money problems, perhaps its understandable that Rheem might not make the trip out of Las Vegas to the East Coast to defend his title.

Except that it’s a total freeroll.

The World Poker Tour Championship event one of the very few events, on any tour, where the previous year’s champion gets a free seat the following year. Rheem had a seat just waiting for him. It looks like this may have been a surprise though to Rheem when it was brought to his attention by poker pro Robert Mizrachi.

@ChinoRheem I think you have a free roll since u won last year. I would find out— Robert Mizrachi (@PokerRob24) April 22, 2014

“@PokerRob24: @ChinoRheem I think you have a free roll since u won last year. I would find out”

What freeroll?— David Rheem (@ChinoRheem) April 22, 2014

Just to make sure we reached out to the World Poker Tour President Adam Pliska and asked if it was in fact true that Rheem had free entry to the $15,400 event.

He replied with a decisive, “Yes that’s correct.”

We also confirmed via WPT officials the seat is/was non-transferable or convertible.

With the WPT Championship well underway and Chino hanging in Las Vegas, it looks like the opportunity to grab a part of the $5 million guaranteed prizepool has passed him by.

What’s he doing instead? Rheem hints that he may be taking a leadership class/lecture from the semi-controversial Daniel Negreanu-touted Choice Center.

@DanFleyshman @PokerRob24 I’m doing choice instead.. It is what it is..— David Rheem (@ChinoRheem) April 22, 2014

Of course “choice” in this context could be any number of things. Whatever it is, we hope it’s worth it.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VACPG) helpline at 1-888-532-3500

published 11 years ago • by Jeff • permalink

Keep Reading:

WSOP 2024 Streaming Schedule Has Landed!

The PokerGO schedule has over 300 hours of WSOP coverage coming your way.

Couple of Days Left to Join Exclusive ClubWPT Choctaw Freeroll

There is still time to sign up to ClubWPT and secure your seat in the exclusive WPT Choctaw freeroll awarding a $5,000 package for the Championship event.

ClubWPT Isn’t Just for “Fun” Players Anymore

ClubWPT now offers a lot of value for serious players as well, featuring some of the best and softest WPT live qualifiers available anywhere.

Mark Your Calendar: PokerStars Reveals SCOOP 2024 Dates

PokerStars’ flagship Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) is returning for its 16th edition in May.

Win a Free WPT Championship Seat with ClubWPT & Pokerfuse

The exclusive freeroll taking place on April 1 will send the winner to play in the WPT Choctaw Championship event in style!

« Back to Homepage

F5 Poker. Everything Poker. Always Refreshing.