A quick update from the World Series of Poker Europe including PokerNews handling the media, a re-entry Main Event, and more.
I lived in a small village where you was more likely to find a sheep rooting through your bin than a mongrel. Cigarette machines were the most up to date technology. People received wages in cash, and their bedroom closet was the closest thing to a bank.
3,000 people were living in that village.
There are less than a thousand residing in Rozvadov, a village and municipality in the Czech Republic, and in 2016, the World Series of Poker entered into a multi-year agreement with Rozvadov’s King’s Casino to host the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE).
It’s safe to say that the poker world waits with baited bad breath to see how this one works out.
WSOP officials have just sent an email to the media, reminding us that the event begins in four weeks, and providing more information on the media coverage, as well as a few more snippets of information.
Here is a breakdown of that email.
Firstly, King’s Casino will warm up for WSOPE by hosting a World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) festival. The action begins on September 28. The organisers will slip 14 gold rings onto the fingers of 14 lucky punters.
The WSOPC King’s will have over €3m in guaranteed prize money.
Here is the schedule.
The Main Feast
The main feast runs Oct 19 – Nov 10.
There will be 11 gold bracelets, and €18m in guaranteed prize money, making it the most illustrious live tournament festival in the history of European poker.
The 160+ poker tables will be rammed, because, let’s face it, there’s not much to do outside.
Here are the highlights:
The €550 Colossus No-Limit Hold’em, ten starting flights, one re-entry per flight, and €2m in guaranteed prize money.
The €1,111 Little One for One Drop No-Limit Hold’em, two starting flights, re-entry, with a €500,000 guaranteed prize pool.
The €111,111 High Roller for One Drop with a 111 player cap, re-entry, and €10m in guaranteed prize money.
And for the first time in WSOPE history, the €10,350 WSOPE Main Event will allow players who bust the opportunity to re-enter. I’m not a fan.
For a full breakdown of the 11 events, click on this link.
Media Coverage
The WSOP and King’s Casino have awarded the media contract to PokerNews. Tony G’s team will provide the live updates, interviews, and a splash of colour. Live updates will also be available via WSOP.com, but I assume these will duplicate the PokerNews coverage.
The voyeurs amongst you will be pleased to know that both King’s and WSOP will provide 14 days of live stream coverage with a 30-minute delay.
Here is the schedule.
1. Mon. Oct. 23 – Event #1 – €1,100 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold’em – 2pm local/8am ET/5am PT
2. Wed. Oct. 25 – Event #3 – €1,100 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em – 11pm local/5pm ET/2pm PT
3. Thurs. Oct. 26 – Event #2 – €550 Pot-Limit Omaha – 2pm local/8am ET/5am PT
4. Sat. Oct. 28 – Event #4 – €1,650 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed — 2pm local/8am ET/5am PT
5. Mon. Oct. 30 – Event #6 – €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha — 2pm local/9am ET/6am PT
6. Thurs. Nov. 2 – Event #9 – €25,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller — 2pm local/9am ET/6am PT
7. Fri. Nov. 3 – Event #10 – €111,111 High Roller for One Drop – Day 1 — 2pm local/9am ET/6am PT
8. Sat. Nov. 4 – Event #10 – €111,111 High Roller for One Drop – Day 2 — 1pm local/8am ET/5am PT
9. Sun. Nov. 5 – Event #10 – €111,111 High Roller for One Drop – Final Table — 2pm local/9am ET/6am PT
10. Mon. Nov. 6 – Event #11 – €10,000 Main Event – Day 2 – 12 noon local/6am ET/3am PT
11. Tues. Nov. 7 — Event #11 – €10,000 Main Event – Day 3 – 12 noon local/6am ET/3am PT
12. Wed. Nov. 8 — Event #11 – €10,000 Main Event – Day 4 – 12 noon local/6am ET/3am PT
13. Thurs. Nov. 9 — Event #11 – €10,000 Main Event – Day 5 – 12 noon local/6am ET/3am PT
14. Fri. Nov. 10 — Event #11 – €10,000 Main Event – Final Table – 12 noon local/6am ET/3am PT
The WSOP will record the Main Event and the High Roller for TV.
PokerGO will not be involved. The global rights deal they signed in the summer only covers the WSOP and not WSOPE brand.
Those of you who like to waste your life on Twitter will be happy to hear that the WSOP has hired Kevin Mathers to take ownership of the @WSOP and @PokerRoomKings Twitter feed.
Player of the Year Race
And let’s not forget that we will crown a new WSOP Player of the Year (POY) at the end of the 11 bracelet events.
Here is the current leaderboard:
1. Chris Ferguson – 898.46 points
2. Ryan Hughes – 876.35
3. John Monette – 865.21
4. John Racener – 853.16
5. Ray Henson – 768.49
History could be made in the POY race.
It could be the first time someone wins the honour without winning a bracelet.
I would like to say that it could also be the first time that a lying, cheating, scumbag won the award, but that wouldn’t be true now would it.
