It’s that time of the year again! The WSOP is back with 68 bracelet events, 11 new tournaments and a promise to pay 1,000 people in the Main Event, as well as crowning a brand new world champ – get all the info you need here…
You’ve got to hand it to the organisers of the World Series of Poker. Each year they make the world’s premier poker festival that bit bigger, with new events and innovations aiming to keep everyone happy, from the Hellmuths down to the recreational players.
Last year there was a record 65 bracelet events. This year it’s been upped to 68 (download the full schedule here), with 11 new events including one that’s set to be contested online. (Before you get too excited, it’s only open to WSOP.com account holders in Nevada!)
If you’re thinking of going, there’s never been a better time. The 2015 WSOP boasts the lowest buy-in event ever – the $565 Colossus, which is set to break records. The $5m guarantee shows the WSOP is expecting in advance of 10,000 players and will definitely be hoping to beat the 8,773 players that entered the 2006 Main Event.
All events with buy-ins under $10k have significantly bigger starting stacks. The Colossus, $1k and new $777 buy-in events have 5,000 chips (100BBs), the $1,500s give you 7,500 (150BBs) and the $5,000s a whopping 25,000 (250BBs).
The pros should be happy too, with 13 different $10k Championship events and a new $25k PLO high roller event. The $50k Players Championship is back, but it plays out six-handed this year, down from seven in 2014. There’s no $1m One Drop, but the smaller $111,111k event will still attract the biggest players and richest businessmen.
And there’s still time to qualify. 888poker are the official sponsors and you can play satellites daily, with a Steps program that starts at just $0.01. If you can clear your diary, you should set aside some time and money and give it a go – playing in the Main Event is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it could change your life.
It certainly changed Martin Jacobson’s life. He won the $10m first prize last year. The money up top is likely to be less this year as the WSOP are paying 1,000 players, but it will still be the most sought after bracelet in Vegas. Who will enter the history books in 2015?
The n00bs
There are 11 new events this year – these are the best of them
May 29 – June 2: Colossus NLHE ($5m gntd)
Some pros think the $565 buy-in is devaluing the WSOP. Stuff that. This gives everyone a fantastic opportunity to sample the atmosphere and win a bracelet, plus it’s likely to attract a world record field. We can’t wait.
June 27-29: Draftkings 50/50 $1,500 NLHE
If you want to give yourself the best chance of cashing in a WSOP event this is it – 50% of the field will get a return. Payout information hasn’t been released yet, but this will still play down to a single winner.
June 29 – July 2: 8-Handed high roller PLO
This $25k buy-in will attract a stellar field and we’d recommend tuning in on July 2 for a live PLO masterclass.
July 3-5: 6-handed $10k Dealers Choice
Are you a good all-round player? Are you sure? The 6-Handed Dealers Choice event plays through 19 different games including NLHE, razz, stud, Omaha, badugi, baducy and Big O (five-card Omaha). You’ve got to feel for the dealers in this one.
Remember you can watch nearly all of the final tables live this year – click here to find out how.
Fancy playing the 2015 WSOP? Click here to win satellite seats in a special PokerPlayer bounty tournament with Sofia Lovgren.
Or you can qualify through official partner 888poker for as little as $0.01. Click here to see their satellites.
