2013-2014 CIRCUIT SEASON KICKS OFF AT FOXWOODS THURSDAY
Sometimes people scoff at the popular World Series of Poker sentiment, “First the ring, then the bracelet.” Sometimes the players of the WSOP Circuit didn’t get the credit they deserve as tough players with poker chops.
This shouldn’t be a problem anymore.

Over the summer, the Circuit grinders didn’t just perform. They excelled. Seemingly every week, a new Circuit player was binking a bracelet or making a big final table. It started with Jonathan Hilton at the 2013 WSOP National Championship. It continued in Vegas though, as Jonathan Taylor, Bryan Campanello, and Loni Harwood all took the skills they polished on the Circuit and used them to become some of the breakout stars of the summer.

If that weren’t enough, Ryan Riess, Riess the Beast, ended the summer with a giant bang, making the WSOP Main Event final table and proclaiming via social media that he wouldn’t be turning to the big name pros for help—he was seeking advice from his fellow Circuit players.

It was a big summer for the Circuit, especially Riess. This time last year, the 23-year-old was preparing for his senior year at Michigan State University. Playing poker professionally was just a thought in the back of his mind, until a big score at the Hammond Circuit event inspired him to finish school and hit the grind. Less than a year later, Riess’ experience on the Circuit last season have him playing for what could be $8.3 million.

Tomorrow, a new Circuit season and a whole new crop of hopefuls will make their names known over the course of ten months and 22 stops. The 2013-2014 season begins in Foxwoods with a 12 event series that boasts $1 million in guarantees.

The popular New England resort and casino joined the Circuit family less than one year ago. Back in the spring, the debut Circuit event drew good numbers, including a Main Event with 615 entries and an almost $200,000 payday for its first champion, Kevin Saul.

This year’s series promises to be just as big thanks to the guarantees on most of the ring events. The opening weekend features an $1,125 tournament in addition to a $580 re-entry tournament that will certainly generate a big prize pool. The full schedule of Foxwoods events is available on WSOP.com.

Saturday August 17th marks the start of the $1,675 Main Event. As in previous seasons, this event is a single re-entry tournament that allows players who busted in Flight 1A to re-enter Flight 1B and take another shot at the ring and the seat in the 2014 National Championship.

One of the best parts of the Circuit is the road to the National Championship, but this year that trip will have a different final destination: Atlantic City. After the success of this year’s Championship event in New Orleans, the WSOP Circuit is going to continue to spread its wings and award the first-ever gold bracelet in New Jersey.

Grinders can earn their way into this prestigious event one of three ways: They can win one of the 22 Circuit Main Events, they can earn Casino Champion honors at one of the 22 Circuit events, or they can secure one of the 50 at-large bids based on points accumulated throughout this season, just like reigning champ Jonathan Hilton did.

The points race begins in Connecticut tomorrow and the WSOP Circuit Blog will be back and on hand to track all of our winners, big stories, big personalities, and points. We’ll also give you a glimpse at what life is like on the Circuit away from the tables, be it bowling at the Foxwoods High Rollers lanes or hitting the slopes in Lake Tahoe.

Foxwoods is just the beginning of another great season of Circuit action. Check out the complete schedule of Circuit events to see when we are coming to your area and you can take your shot at the ring, and then maybe take a shot at the bracelet at the 2014 WSOP National Championship.