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The World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is otherwise known as the WPT, and it's a series of tournaments that feature some of the best poker players in the world. The WPT was originated in the US by Steven Lipscomb, who is a TV producer and attorney. He is now the CEO of World Poker Tour Enterprises, which controlled the Tour until the end of 2009. The WPT started giving bracelets to its champions in 2008, and those who won titles before that were also given bracelets.
The WPT had its first season in the end of 2002 and the beginning of 2003, ending with the championship at Vegas' Bellagio Casino. The first season showed on TV on the Travel Channel in spring 2003, and it made its network debut in February 2004 (airing against the Super Bowl's pregame show). WPTE announced in 2007 that it was moving the show to the Game Show Network for the sixth season, and the first tournament aired on that network in 2008. The series moved again, to Fox Sports Net, in 2008.
The allure of the World Poker Tour and most others is that anyone who can afford the buy-in fee (usually ranging from $2,500 to $25,000) or win a smaller tournament can get in and compete against the best players in the world. The WPT has a Walk of Fame, which includes greats such as Gus Hansen and Doyle Brunson, as well as James Garner.
The WPT's first 3 seasons are out on DVD, and a series of spinoff tournaments, the PPT or Professional Poker Tour, debuted in 2004. The series' broadcast was delayed because of a rights dispute with the Travel Channel, and only aired for one season because the WPTE could not find a TV home for a second season.