Poker Summer Showdown: ClubWPT Gold Takes on WSOP with Record $50 Million Series

The online platform ClubWPT Gold (CWG) has announced its biggest series yet, the Summer of Gold, boasting a total guarantee of $50 million. The ambitious plan is clear: to stand up to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and offer players a massive alternative from the comfort of their homes.

“They Can Have the Strip, We'll Take the Summer”

The Summer of Gold series marketing campaign reflects an open rivalry. The slogan “They can have the Strip, we'll take the summer” directly targets the scheduling clash with WSOP in Las Vegas.

The CWG series kicks off on May 24 and runs until June 28, 2026, almost completely overlapping with the main program of the world championship, which begins in the Nevada gambling city on May 26 and ends on July 15.

Introducing the Series of the Summer🚨

🏝️Summer of Gold🏝️

50,000,000 Guaranteed 🤑

May 24 - June 28 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/8PLg0BQJYR
— ClubWPT Gold (@ClubWPTGold) May 11, 2026

While the complete tournament schedule is not yet fully revealed, CWG has disclosed key elements of the series:

76 Crown Series events: These tournaments are the flagship of the season, with winners receiving not only cash but also physical trophies and limited edition t-shirts.
6 Gold Millions events: Each of these tournaments traditionally carries a guarantee of $1 million.
4 prestigious WPT events

Details are also missing for the mentioned four WPT events. Currently, it is only possible to speculate whether they will be held online or live in Las Vegas as a direct competition to WSOP tournaments.

An Intensifying Rivalry

The battle between ClubWPT Gold and WSOP is not new. Last year, the rivalry escalated to a point some experts labeled “industrial sabotage.” CWG then offered some players a $1 million bonus if they won a WSOP bracelet while wearing a ClubWPT Gold patch.

This led to a controversial final table at the Millionaire Maker event, where winner Jesse Yaginuma was accused of collusion with heads-up opponent James Carroll to secure the mentioned million-dollar bonus. As a result, WSOP did not award an official bracelet, and both participants received a lifetime ban from the series.

This year's approach from Summer of Gold seems to be a more traditional business move. Instead of directly interfering with competitor tournaments, CWG offers players more playing options, bigger prizes, and a wider selection of events, ultimately benefiting the entire poker community.

It's unclear if ClubWPT Gold has any more surprises up its sleeve, but one thing is certain: this upcoming poker summer will be even more exciting thanks to the $50 million guarantee.

Sources: ClubWPT Gold, X, PokerNews