Wsop 2021 Set For Online Poker And Live Poker Action
The World Series of Poker is back!
In 2020, the pandemic forced the World Series of Poker to cancel its live Las Vegas series of poker tournaments for the first time ever. While most Australians cannot make the trek to the United States in June and July for the poker action, some do and many more follow the action from home. This year, players will return to Las Vegas but later in the calendar year.
And the WSOP is keeping the online component of the series that did so well last year on Natural8 and GGPoker. This international series will run again. And the WSOP Europe will return as well.
WSOP Online Again
The World Series of Poker had an online component for the last several years. However, the only way to play gold bracelet events online was to be in the states of Nevada or New Jersey in America. Those few events were only available in parts of the US, though residency was not required.
Last year, the pandemic forced the WSOP to offer its bracelet events online on a global scale for the first time. The WSOP partnered with GGPoker and sister site Natural8 to host an entire series of events for players in many countries, including most in the Asia-Pacific region. While Australia didn’t allow it, players could travel a relatively short distance – shorter than traveling to America – to play.
In total, the 2020 series was a resounding success.
- Total tournaments: 54
- Total entries: 239,754
- Total prize money: $147,789,550
- Total number of nations represented: 166
The series will run online again for players around the world on GGPoker and Natural8. The US WSOP Online series will begin on July 1, but there is no starting date yet for the international WSOP.
Details will be forthcoming.
WSOP Live in Las Vegas
For more than a decade, the World Series of Poker hosted its live poker summer series in Las Vegas in June and July, often the hottest months in the Nevada desert climate. Last year, though, there was no live series anywhere, and players missed it.
This year, the WSOP is preparing for its return to the live arena but with some changes. It will take place later in the year, mostly due to the need to wait for as many people as possible to receive Covid-19 vaccines. This will allow travel to resume, as well as the opportunity to offer events with large gatherings.
Undoubtedly, there will be some social distancing required, fewer tables pushed close together, and fewer reasons for players to stand in line. The WSOP will work with the state of Nevada, gaming regulators, and health officials to ensure a safe playing environment.
It seems that the WSOP will do anything to make it happen this year.
It will be at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino starting on 30 September and running through 23 November. And the Rio is already accepting bookings with discounted rates using the WSOPM promotional code. Caesars’ properties will offer rooms at all of its Vegas casinos, with rates at the Rio said to be as low as $60 per night.
WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart said, “This year, more than ever, we embrace our role at the WSOP to deliver memorable experiences and bring this community of poker lovers back together. In 2021, the theme is, get vaccinated and get back to Vegas.”
Main Event Highlights Schedule
With the series so far in the future, the WSOP has yet to release any type of schedule. Executives and organizers continue to watch the progression of vaccine distribution and monitor Covid-19 protocols as they try to put the series together.
They did reveal a few hints about the opening weekend, which will run from Thursday, 30 September through Sunday, 3 October. There will be a tournament with a charity component to benefit frontline health workers in some way. High rollers can get started right away with a $25K buy-in HORSE mixed-game event. And the big draw will be “The Reunion” tournament with a $5M guarantee, though the buy-in remains to be determined.
As for the Main Event, it will require the traditional $10K buy-in and offer no reentries. And this year, there will be four starting days.
- Days 1A-1D: Thursday, 4 November through Sunday, 7 November
- Days 2A-B: 8 November (for 1A and 1B survivors) and 9 November (for 1C and 1D)
- Day 3: 10 November (all survivors combine)
Play will then thin the field through until the tournament’s conclusion on Wednesday, 17 November. The WSOP will release details of the playdown, final table setup, etc. in the coming months.
WSOP Europe Another Option
Many Aussies prefer the WSOP Europe for many reasons, not the least of which the travel distance required. This year, this series will return, too, again to King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.
This series will actually begin before the Las Vegas series ends, as it is set for Friday, 19 November through Tuesday, 8 December.
Again, the WSOP needs to complete the full series details, but there will be 15 gold bracelet events in total. One of them will cater to the high-stakes players with a €50K buy-in High Roller, and the other will be the highlight as a €10K buy-in WSOP Europe Main Event.
As with the US series, Stewart anticipates easier travel by the end of 2021. “It’s important to us that we have an excellent tournament schedule available to our European players,” he said.
