Qualification
Up until the second season in 1997, qualifying was based on results in high profile tournaments, or by invitation from the sponsoring company. Since 1997 the Pro Tour is a qualification-only tournament with qualifying events held throughout the world.
There are several ways to qualify, the most common being:
- By finishing in the Top 25 of the previous Pro Tour.
- Through a Pro Tour Qualifier (PTQ) tournament, a tournament open to those not already qualified.
- Finishing in the top 4 of a Grand Prix.
There are no "wild card" invites. Very rarely, though, players can receive sponsor's exemptions, such as past pro tour participant David Williams (of 2004 World Series of Poker fame) received in his invitation to the 2005 season Pro Tour LA. Former world champion Kai Budde also received such an invitation to play participate in 2006 Worlds in Paris. Players in the Hall of Fame get permanent level 5 status in the Pro Player's Club, and therefore a permanent invite to all Pro Tour
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