With the World Series of Poker (WSOP) placed on hold until the Octo-Nine resumes business in a few months, it is time for the big boys to kick-start their new poker tours. 

One of the most prestigious tours on the circuit is the World Poker Tour (WPT), and these days, the tour duly lives up to its name, with tournaments held all over the world. 

Season XI kicked off with two events each side of the water. While ‘Mad’ Marvin Rettenmaier was making history in Cyprus, by becoming the first ever back-to-back WPT champion, Anthony Gregg was taking down the first WPT event to be held on Stars and Stripes coloured soil.

It was in Philadelphia, and the WPT Parx Open Poker Classic and Gregg capped off what has so far been a superlative year for the American. 

Gregg first burst onto the poker scene when he finished as the runner-up in the 2009 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), earning $1,700,000. 

Two rather barren years followed, before Gregg announced himself on the live tournament scene once more.

He started the year with another PCA final table appearance, this time finishing in 6th place for $364,000, a third place finish in an EPT8 Monte Carlo Grand Final side event for $109,317 followed in May.

Next was a 4th place finish for $114,711 in a World Series of Poker (WSOP) event in the summer and, finally, Gregg finished in the top spot with his victory at the Parx Open Poker Classic.