As 2019 draws to a close, and we reminisce on the leg wobbling poker we witnessed, and experienced, in the past 12-months, save a couple of those thoughts for the future – for the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
The 51st annual poker extravaganza returns May 26 – July 15, with the first gimmick being the number of days (51). More tricks to come, but for now, we’re aware of 15-events, thanks to a press release from our darlings at Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE).
Lamentably, the highest buy-in of those 15-events is the $10,000 that more than eight-thousand people will put down in the hope of banking something in the region of $8 – 10 million bucks. That means our high roller brethren will have to wait to see what the most iconic brand in poker has in store for them.
There’s not too much to shout about from the initial press release except for the announcement that late registration for the $10,000 WSOP Main Event stretches even further into the distance. In 2019, players were able to register as late as the start of Day 2. In 2020, players can register throughout Level 6, which is on Day 2 – meaning players can skip Day 1 in its entirety, a decision that’s drawn a divisive response from the poker community.
In response to an op-ed written on PokerNewsDaily by Earl Burton carrying the title “ANOTHER Ludicrous Decision From The WSOP With Late Registration,” CIE’s Vice-President of Corporate Communications, Seth Palansky, stating that the decision makes the WSOP Main Event more consistent with other events, “in fact, 2-6 shorter than most $10,000 buy-in events.”
The WSOP Main Event
If you want to compete in the $10,000 WSOP Main Event, then the starting flights are Wednesday, July 1, Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3. Players who compete in the first two flights, return on July 4 to compete in Day 2. Those who start on July 3, take July 4 off and return to play Day 2 on Sunday, July 5. Fields merge on Monday, July 6 for Day 3. The play ends, Friday, July 10, when the final table comes into view. July 11 is a day off. ESPN/ESPN2 will air the final table live: July 12-14.
Incredible numbers turned out for the 2019 WSOP Main Event. Hossein Ensan conquering a field of 8,569-entrants to win the $10m first prize, the second-highest attendance of all time (2006: Jamie Gold – 8,773), and if you work for CIE one imagines that taste of record-breaking success, will lead to a push to break that record this year.
Outside of the WSOP Main Event’s close shave on that record, the 2019 WSOP as a whole was a record-breaking year for CIE, with more than $293m in prize money distributed to more than 187,000 entrants from 118 different countries.
Opening Weekend
It’s become blasphemy not to have an opening weekend gimmick that drags people into Las Vegas in their droves, and in 2020, the series copies the celebrated success of the 2019 Big 50.
Once again, on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, players can compete in the Big 50 for a $500 buy-in; receiving 50,000 chips, and playing 50-minute levels. There are four starting flights: Thursday, May 28, Friday, May 29, Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31. Last year, Femi Fashakin overcame the largest attendance in poker history (28,371), to pick up the $1,147,449 win in its inaugural year.
The WSOP has released details on 15 ‘anchor’ events.
Here they are.
Rio Sale
Despite CIE selling the Rio to Dreamscape Companies for $516.3m at the beginning of December, and rumours that the gaff is heading for rubble, Palansky has confirmed that the WSOP will remain at its current home until at least 2021.
A press release from Dreamscape and CIE backed up Palansky’s confirmation, stating that Caesars will continue to run the Rio for the next two years, paying $45m per year rent, with a $7m option to extend into the third year.
The Rio first felt the buzz of WSOP events in 2005, with every single one of them moving to the new location from downtown Binions in 2006.