NBA Legend Tony Parker First Qualifier For WSOP Main Event

  • San Antonio Spurs legend Tony Parker qualified for the WSOP Main Event.
  • Parker qualified by winning the PM Group’s Texas Hold Em Charity Poker event.
  • The WSOP Main Event takes place in November 2021.

LAS VEGAS - NBA legend Tony Parker has become the first player to qualify for the World Series of Poker Main Event.

Parker won The PM Group's Texas Hold ‘Em Charity Poker event in January, which qualified him for the WSOP Main Event.

The WSOP Main Event is the proverbial biggest event in poker - a no limit hold ‘em tournament that has a $10,000 buy-in.

Parker is no stranger to the biggest of stages. The former San Antonio Spur won four NBA Championships, and was the NBA Finals MVP in 2007. One thing’s for sure about Parker - he’s cool under pressure. The tournament he won added a cool $25,000 to his bankroll, along with the qualification for the WSOP.

Gregory Chochon, World Series of Poker director, is obviously overjoyed about having someone of Parker’s stature in the Main Event.

"He is very excited to play the Main Event for the first time," said Chochon. "Because of his career, he never had the time to participate but he is ready for the challenge. We always promote poker as a sport, so Tony's qualification is great news!"

The World Series Of Poker Main Event is still months away, with an expected start date of November 4, 2021. Between now and then, more players will qualify and join Parker on the stage as members of the Main Event. However good they are, Parker’s unique experiences at the highest level of sports competition in the NBA could give him an edge.

He’s no poker newcomer either - he’s a brand ambassador for BetClic, and he’s reportedly run his own charity poker events for years.

We’ll see if his unique experiences can propel him to success on the Main Event stage.