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The World Series of Poker   - WSOP

General Information

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is an annual month-long poker tournament that begins with a series of preliminary events and concludes with the cash-rich main event where the champion usually becomes an instant millionaire due to the multimillion grand cash prize he or she receives. The WSOP brand is currently owned by Harrah’s Entertainment, the largest casino operator in the world.

For the past forty years, WSOP has established itself as the most prestigious event in the world of poker with thousands of players from all over the globe participating through direct entry or qualifying from a number of online and live satellite tournaments.

Public reception

Increasing support and participation from the players from all over the globe has prompted the WSOP organizers to increase the number of events in the yearly tournament. In 2006, there were 45 events offered and the WSOP Main Event alone attracted 8,773 players. With a buy-in of $10,000, the cash prize pool reached a record $82,676,084. The winner of the 2006 WSOP Main Event was Jamie Gold, a television producer by profession. He went home with $12 million which propelled him at the top of the WSOP All-time money list of winners. Following close behind was last year’s WSOP Main Event winner Jerry Yang who hauled $8.25 million for his efforts. The 2007 WSOP event saw a decline in participation in the Main Event to 6,358 players. Despite this development, the number of events increased from 45 to 55, a clear indication that the popularity of poker is not about to wane anytime soon.

The WSOP Main Event usually gets exposure in television via sports network ESPN and international affiliates. The final table competition is usually taped and shown at a latter date. However, the tour organizers have announced lately that the schedule of the final table competition will be moved in November in order for ESPN to cover the event live. This means that the final nine players will have to wait for about four months before the new winner can be determined. The reason behind this according to WSOP organizers is to bring the excitement and drama in the competition through live broadcast instead of the usual pre-taped format wherein the winners have been determined before the TV broadcast. The finalized date is from November 9 to 10 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Tournament Schedule

Here’s the official schedule of the WSOP tournament at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. There are 55 events that will be staged this year.

May 30 (Friday) – Event 1: $10,000 World Championship Pot-Limit Hold’em (3 days)

May 31 (Saturday) – Event 2: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em (4 days)

June 2 (Monday) – Event 3: $1,500 Pot Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 2 (Monday) – Event 4: $5,000 Mixed Hold’em (Limit/No-Limit) (3 days)

June 3 (Tuesday) – Event 5: $1,000 No Limit Hold’em (with rebuys) (3 days)

June 3 (Tuesday) – Event 6: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or better (3 days)

June 4 (Wednesday) – Event 7: $2,000 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 4 (Wednesday) – Event 8: $10,000 World Championship Mixed Event (3 days)

June 5 (Thursday) – Event 9: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em/Six Handed (3 days)

June 5 (Thursday) – Event 10: $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo or better (3 days)

June 6 (Friday) – Event 11: $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout (3 days)

June 6 (Friday) – Event 12: $1,500 Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 7 (Saturday) – Event 13: $2,500 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 7 (Saturday) – Event 14: $10,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud (3 days)

June 8 (Sunday) – Event 15: $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold’em Championship (3 days)

June 8 (Sunday) – Event 16: $2,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split-8 or Better (3 days)

June 9 (Monday) – Event 17: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em Shootout (2 days)

June 9 (Monday) – Event 18: $5,000 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball (w/ Rebuys) (3 days)

June 10 (Tuesday) – Event 19: $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha (3 days)

June 10 (Tuesday) – Event 20: $2,000 Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 11 (Wednesday) - Event 21: $5,000 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 11 (Wednesday) - Event 22: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. (3 days)

June 12 (Thursday) - Event 23: $2,000 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 12 (Thursday) – Event 24: $2,500 Pot Limit Hold’em/Omaha (3 days)

June 13 (Friday) – Event 25: $10,000 Heads Up No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 13 (Friday) – Event 26: $1,500 Seven Card Razz (3 days)

June 14 (Saturday) – Event 27: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 14 (Saturday) – Event 28: $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha (w/ Rebuys) (3 days)

June 15 (Sunday) – Event 29: $3,000 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 15 (Sunday) – Event 30: $10,000 World Championship Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 16 (Monday) – Event 31: $2,500 No Limit Hold’em (Six-Handed) (3 days)

June 17 (Tuesday) – Event 32: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 17 (Tuesday) – Event 33: $5,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Split 8 or Better (3 days)

June 18 (Wednesday) – Event 34: $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha (w/ Rebuys) (3 days)

June 18 (Wednesday) – Event 35: $1,500 Seven Card Stud (3 days)

June 19 (Thursday) – Event 36: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 19 (Thursday) – Event 37: $10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi/Lo Split 8 or Better (3 days)

June 20 (Friday) – Event 38: $2,000 Pot Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 21 (Saturday) – Event 39: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 22 (Sunday) – Event 40: $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball (3 days)

June 22 (Sunday) – Event 41: $1,500 Mixed Hold’em (Limit/No Limit) (3 days)

June 23 (Monday) – Event 42: $1,000 Seniors No Limit Hold’em World Championship (3 days)

June 24 (Tuesday) – Event 43: $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo Split 8 or Better (3 days)

June 25 (Wednesday) – Event 44: $1,000 No Limit Hold’em (w/ Rebuys) (3 days)

June 25 (Wednesday) – Event 45: $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E. (5 days)

June 26 (Thursday) – Event 46: $5,000 No Limit Hold’em/Six Handed (3 days)

June 26 (Thursday) – Event 47: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo 8 or better (3 days)

June 27 (Friday) – Event 48: $2,000 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 28 (Saturday) – Event 49: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

June 29 (Sunday) – Event 50: $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha (3 days)

June 29 (Sunday) – Event 51: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E (3 days)

June 30 (Monday) – Event 52: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em (3 days)

July 1 (Tuesday) – Event 53: $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shooutout (2 days)

July 3 (Thursday) – Event 54: $10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas Hold’em (Main Event – 13 days)

July 7 (Monday) – Event 55: $500 Casino Employees No Limit Hold’em (2 days)

A special tournament called “Ante Up For Africa” will take place on July 2. The event, organized by actor Don Cheadle and poker pro and WSOP bracelet-winner Annie Duke with the aim to assist the impoverished families in Africa, made its debut last year and was participated by 167 players. Each player shelled out $5,000 to create a cash prize pool of $835,000. The final two players during last year’s event opted to donate the entire winnings for the good cause.

It could not be denied that the buy-ins for the WSOP event can be very expensive for some aspiring players. This prompted a number of major online poker sites to come up with satellite tournaments, a series of tournaments that only ask for a small buy-in with the winner getting a seat in major tournaments such as the WSOP.

Here are a number of poker sites offering satellite tournaments for the WSOP Main Event.

Titan Poker

PokerStars

Pacific Poker

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