As you no doubt already know and we’ve already discussed, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) kicks off this week. Interestingly enough, though, the WSOP is not the only tournament series that will be taking place at the Rio this summer. Caesars Entertainment is resurrecting the Carnivale of Poker, a once popular poker festival that ran for three years starting in 1998.
The old Carnivale of Poker was held at the Rio its first two seasons, years before the Rio became the home of the World Series of Poker. The third season saw Carnivale shift to Harrah’s. The tournaments attracted the biggest names in the game who were, of course, already in town for the WSOP. For example, the first Carnivale of Poker Main Event in 1998 was won by Huck Seed. Phil Hellmuth placed second, Berry Johnston was sixth, and Johnny Chan finished 9th.
The Carnivale of Poker is basically a stripped down, mostly No-Limit Hold’em version of the WSOP with lower buy-ins, in essence giving people in town for the WSOP the chance to get in on the fun at the Rio without breaking the bank. Not counting satellites, most of the buy-ins are $365 or $580, with one $1,125 tournament and one $5,000 Open Face Chinese poker event. The Main Event will cost $1,675 and will feature two starting flights. Those who bust out on Day 1A can re-enter on Day 1B.
The winners of each of the 21 events will receive a custom-made gold Carnivale of Poker medallion, with the winner of the Main Event receiving an extra special, super-duper gold medallion with diamonds. There will also be a points leaderboard for the festival; at the end of the Carnivale of Poker, the top ten points earners will receive a share of a $100,000 prize pool, funded by Caesars.
2013 Carnivale of Poker Schedule
June 3, 2013 – 11:00am
$365 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
June 4, 2013 – 11:00am
$580 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
June 4, 2013 – 5:00pm
$365 Omaha Hi-Low 8-Split or Better (2-Day Event)
June 10, 2013 – 11:00am
$365 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
June 11, 2013 – 11:00am
$580 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
June 11, 2013 – 5:00pm
$365 H.O.R.S.E. (2-Day Event)
June 17, 2013 – 11:00am
$365 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
June 18, 2013 – 11:00am
$580 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
June 24, 2013 – 11:00am
$365 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
June 25, 2013 – 11:00am
$580 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
June 29, 2013 – 11:00am
$580 Bounty No-Limit Hold’em (1-Day Event)
July 1, 2013 – 11:00am
$365 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
July 2, 2013 – 11:00am
$580 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Handed (2-Day Event)
July 2, 2013 – 5:00pm
$365 Pot-Limit Omaha (2-Day Event)
July 8. 2013 – 11:00am
$365 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
July 8, 2013 – 8:00pm
$250 Mega Satellite for Main Event
July 9, 2013 – 11:00am
$580 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
July 9, 2013 – 8:00pm
$250 Mega Satellite for Main Event
July 10, 2013 – 11:00am
$1,125 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
July 10, 2013 – 8:00pm
$250 Mega Satellite for Main Event
July 11, 2013 – 11:00am
$1,675 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 1A
July 11, 2013 – 8:00pm
$250 Mega Satellite for Main Event
July 12, 2013 – 11:00am
$1,675 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 1B
July 13, 2013 – 11:00am
$580 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
July 13, 2013 – 5:00pm
$5,000 Open Face Chinese (2-Day Event)
July 14, 2013 – 11:00am
$365 No-Limit Hold’em (2-Day Event)
