The Global Poker Index (GPI) has announced the countries that qualified to participate in its first ever “Global Poker Masters” (GPM) event. The founder of GPI, Alexandre Dreyfus, envisions the GPM tournament growing into an international sporting event on par with the soccer World Cup or the Olympic Games.

The idea was conceived to align with his broader vision of “sportifying” poker and broadening the game’s appeal to a wider audience. By creating a more sophisticated ranking system for players, coupled with high-profile events and international competitions, GPI hopes to show off the global appeal of the game and increase the interest of large corporate sponsors.

Forty Players Total for Event

The tournament will unfold over two days and will be held during this year’s European Poker Tour (EPT) stop in Malta.