With Christmas just around the corner, it usually means that the announcement regarding the World Series of Poker’s schedule for the coming year is about to be released. Not looking to disappoint the little girls and boys who will play on poker’s biggest stage (and to allow for some planning for trips), Caesars officials have released the schedule with a few changes from year’s past.
The 49th Annual World Series of Poker will take place from May 30 to July 15, featuring a monstrous 78 tournament schedule for poker players to take part. The traditional $500 Casino Employees Event kicks off the roster, but the “big guns” will be in action soon afterwards. For the first time, a $100,000 “High Roller” tournament will take place (the $111,111 “One Drop” event notwithstanding) on the first weekend of the 2018 WSOP. Beginning on June 1, the $100K event will feature one re-entry and should draw the crème of the tournament poker world to the tables.
That first weekend isn’t overlooking the Average Joe, either. There are going to be two specially monikered events – the $300 No Limit Hold’em “GIANT” and the $500 No Limit Hold’em “COLOSSUS” – that begin on June 1 and 2, respectively. These tournaments feature multiple starting days (five in the case of the GIANT and six for the COLOSSUS, each with one re-entry) which will build massive prize pools and a hearty payout for the eventual champion.
On Sunday (June 3), a non-Texas Hold’em event will take center stage and could be one of the bigger tournaments in that discipline’s history. The $300 Pot Limit Omaha “GIANT” will start, featuring five Day Ones that will be held each Sunday for the run of the 2018 WSOP. If players don’t forget about it, the tournament could draw one of the largest crowds ever for a PLO event. Day 2 of the tournament will bring all the players together on July 2 and the champion will be determined on Independence Day.
The Millionaire Maker comes back for another run the very next weekend. Beginning on June 9, the tournament will guarantee $1 million for its eventual champion. The $1500 event features one re-entry and should easily crack its million-dollar guarantee for the victor.
For the deep pocketed pros, there’s the annual playing of the $50,000 Poker Players’ Championship. Featuring an eight-game mix that challenges the best in the world, the PPC is recognized as “the” tournament that is a true test of a poker player’s abilities on the felt. Past champions include the late Chip Reese (the inaugural champion), Michael Mizrachi (the only man to win the event twice), former World Champion Scotty Nguyen, John Hennigan, Brian Rast and defending champion Elio Sion.
The most important tournament for most of the poker playing public will of course be the $10,000 Championship Event. Day 1A will kick the fight off for poker’s World Championship on July 2 (a Monday), with Days 1B and 1C held on the next Tuesday and Wednesday. Day 2A – featuring the combined Days 1A and 1B fields – will be played on Thursday, with Day 2B (the Day 1C survivors) playing out on Friday. The entirety of the Championship Event field will come together for the first time on Saturday.
Perhaps one of the biggest changes is that, in a break from the past, the start of the $10,000 Championship Event won’t mark an end to the bracelet events. This move is presumably to give players a reason to stick around if they’ve been knocked out of the Championship Event. This year, there will be 13 events played out AFTER the start of the Championship Event on July 2, including the $1 million buy in “Big One for One Drop,” the $1111 “Little One for One Drop,” the $10,000 Six Handed No Limit Hold’em World Championship and a new event, the $1500 “The Closer.”
Across the board, there is something for every poker player and their budget. It promises to be another big year for Caesars and the WSOP and it all starts in just over five months. For a full look at the WSOP schedule, visit the WSOP website today.
