Las Vegas (31 May 2017) – It’s the end of May, and that means only one thing: The World Series of Poker is back! The 48th annual WSOP promises to be the biggest ever, with new events, increased television coverage, and 74 bracelets.
The doors of the Rio convention center open Tuesday for cash games and satellites, and the first bracelet event begins the following day. The traditional Casino Employees event begins at 11:00 a.m on Wednesday. Then this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. we see our first new event of the summer – the $10,000 Tag Team tournament.
LIVE COVERAGE OF FULL MAIN EVENT & NEW STREAMING PARTNER
But the biggest change this year isn’t a new event. It’s the way the most world’s most famous and most prestigious tournament will be viewed. The WSOP Main Event will be available to view live every day, starting on Day 1A (July8) and continuing until a winner is crowned on July 22. Most days will televised live on ESPN, with additional coverage provided by Poker Central’s PokerGo app. Poker Central is also the WSOP’s new live streaming partner to provide coverage of other tournaments throughout the summer.
NEW EVENTS AND OLD FAVORITES
The 2017 WSOP schedule features eight new bracelet events, headlined by The Giant. The Giant has a buy-in of just $365, and five starting flights – every Friday night at 7:00 p.m. from June 9 through July 7. Each starting flight will play deep into the money, offering players the opportunity cash multiple times (much like Colossus). Players who advance will return in a combined field for Day 2 on July 8, and play to a winner on July 9.
Here’s the complete list of new events:
Event |
Date |
May 31, 3:00 PM |
Event #2: $10,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold'em Championship |
June 3, 3:33 PM |
Event #8: $333 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold'em ($333,333 Guarantee) |
July 9, 16, 12, 30, & July 7, 7:00 PM |
Event #19: THE GIANT - $365 No-Limit Hold'em |
June 12, 11:00 AM |
Event #23: THE MARATHON - $2,620 No-Limit Hold'em |
June 20, 11:00 AM |
Event #39: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty |
June 26, 3:00 PM |
Event #51: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship |
June 30, 3:00 PM |
Event #59: $2,500 Big Bet Mix |
July 1, 3:33 PM |
Event #61: $3,333 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold'em High Roller |
Two of the new events are online only. Including the $1,000 online event (July 7), a mainstay of the schedule for the past two years, there are now three online bracelet events, which form the backbone of WSOP.com’s online offerings over the next seven weeks.
Of course, the schedule also includes traditionally popular events, including The Colossus (May 31), The $111,111 High Roller for One Drop (June 2), The Millionaire Maker (June 10), The Seniors Event (June 16), The Monster Stack (June 24), The $50,000 Poker Players Championship (July 2), the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed event (July 5), and the Little One for One Drop (July 11).
HIGH STAKES CASH LOUNGE & NEW POY PRIZES
Another big change this year involves a revised floor plan in the Rio convention space throughout the WSOP. The new layout is highlighted by the King’s Cash Game Lounge in the Pavilion room. This is a “room within a room,” dedicated to high stakes live action. The 5,000 sq. ft. area will house 15 tables for cash games, and will provide upscale amenities and comforts for the high-stakes players at those games. The lounge is sponsored by King’s Casino Rozvadov, the host for the 2017 WSOP Europe.
King’s Casino Rozvadov is also sponsoring the 2017 WSOP Player of the Year competition, and is offering over $20,000 worth of prizes. The winner of the POY race will earn a free entry into the 2018 WSOP Main Event. And that winner will not be determined until the conclusion of WSOP Europe in November, so the player who leads in the POY standings after the conclusion of WSOP in Las Vegas will win a free entry (worth €10,000) into the Main Event at WSOP Europe.
The other major change to the floor plan involves moving the final table stage to the Brasilia room. This will now be the location for most final tables, and it will be the primary set for televised and streaming coverage. The Amazon room, where the main stage has been for the past several years, will now be used mostly for Day 1s.
Click here for a full schedule of bracelet events at the 2017 WSOP.