In just two and a half months, the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) will kick off from the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. A total of 57 bracelets will be up for grabs in 2009, two more than in 2008. Players from over 100 countries will attend poker’s most prestigious tournament series. Pre-registration is now open for each of its events.
Required paperwork can be found by visiting the WSOP Registration website. Each event has its very own PDF file that can be completed online and then submitted via mail or fax. Players are asked to complete their first name, last name, middle initial, date of birth, Total Rewards card number, telephone number, street address, drivers license number and expiration, and e-mail address. Below this section are two checkboxes for payment information. Cashier’s checks and wire transfers are the only two options available for players not located in Las Vegas. Cashier’s checks can be made payable to the “World Series of Poker” and mailed to the Rio along with the completed PDF. Wire transfers are also accepted, but require that the form be faxed back to WSOP officials along with a player’s bank account information.
Pre-registration is open until two weeks before an event is scheduled to begin. In addition, each tournament has a predetermined capacity. Once that capacity is met, registration will close and alternates will not be accepted. WSOP officials are encouraging players to sign up early, else risk a tournament being sold out. Las Vegas residents can head over to the Rio and sign up for WSOP tournaments in person using cash or casino chips. Any player who registers prior to an event must bring a valid ID to the tournament area in order to receive their chip stack and seat assignment.
In addition to the 57 bracelet events, registration is also open for the $5,000 buy-in Ante Up for Africa tournament. The special charity event is hosted by Ultimate Bet pro Annie Duke and Don Cheadle, who co-founded the organization. Last year, two-time WSOP bracelet winner John Hennigan took down the event for $136,000. Also reaching its final table were Michael Degusta, Dan Shak, Phil Hellmuth, Matt Calhoun, Jerry Cantrell, Jordanna Schutz, Ray Romano, and Casey Affleck.
Third party registrations for 2009 WSOP events “are not permitted unless submitted by official WSOP sponsors, official WSOP promotions, or product licensees,” according to its website. In addition, internet gambling and online poker sites that accept U.S. residents will not be allowed to buy in players. This year, Milwaukee’s Best Light will return as the official beer sponsor of the WSOP. ALL IN is the tournament series’ official energy drink and bottled water supplier. Everest Poker’s logos will once again appear on WSOP table felts and inner rings. The multi-year agreement between the online poker site and Harrah’s was inked last March.
Here are the deadlines to pre-register for each event as part of the 2009 WSOP:
Event 1: Casino Employees No Limit Hold’em – May 13th
Event 2: 40th Annual No Limit Hold’em – May 14th
Event 3: Omaha High-Low Split Eight or Better – May 15th
Event 4: No Limit Hold’em – May 16th
Event 5: Pot Limit Omaha – May 18th
Event 6: World Championship Seven Card Stud – May 18th
Event 7: No Limit Hold’em – May 19th
Event 8: 2-7 Draw Lowball – May 19th
Event 9: No Limit Hold’em Six-Handed – May 20th
Event 10: Pot Limit Hold’em/Omaha – May 20th
Event 11: No Limit Hold’em – May 21st
Event 12: World Championship Mixed Event – May 21st
Event 13: No Limit Hold’em – May 22nd
Event 14: Limit Hold’em Six-Handed – May 22nd
Event 15: No Limit Hold’em – May 23rd
Event 16: Seven Card Stud – May 23rd
Event 17: Ladies No Limit Hold’em World Championship – May 24th
Event 18: World Championship Omaha High-Low Split Eight or Better – May 24th
Event 19: No Limit Hold’em Six-Handed – May 25th
Event 20: Pot Limit Hold’em – May 26th
Event 21: H.O.R.S.E. – May 26th
Event 22: No Limit Hold’em Shootout (1,000 player max) – May 27th
Event 23: World Championship 2-7 Draw Lowball – May 27th
Event 24: No Limit Hold’em – May 28th
Event 25: Omaha/Seven Card Stud High-Low Eight or Better – May 28th
Event 26: Limit Hold’em – May 29th
Event 27: Pot Limit Omaha High-Low Split Eight or Better – May 29th
Event 28: No Limit Hold’em – May 30th
Event 29: World Championship Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em – May 30th
Event 30: Pot Limit Omaha – May 31st
Event 31: H.O.R.S.E. $1,500 – May 31st
Event 32: No Limit Hold’em – June 1st
Event 33: World Championship Limit Hold’em – June 1st
Event 34: No Limit Hold’em – June 2nd
Event 35: Pot Limit Omaha – June 3rd
Event 36: No Limit Hold’em – June 4th
Event 37: World Championship Seven Card Stud High-Low Split Eight or Better – June 4th
Event 38: Limit Hold’em – June 5th
Event 39: No Limit Hold’em – June 6th
Event 40: World Championship Pot Limit Omaha – June 6th
Event 41: No Limit Hold’em Shootout (1,000 player max) – June 7th
Event 42: Mixed Event – June 7th
Event 43: Seniors No Limit Hold’em World Championship – June 8th
Event 44: Seven Card Razz – June 8th
Event 45: World Championship Pot Limit Hold’em $10,000 – June 9th
Event 46: Omaha High-Low Split Eight or Better – June 9th
Event 47: Mixed Hold’em (Limit/No Limit) – June 10th
Event 48: Pot Limit Omaha High-Low Split Eight or Better – June 11th
Event 49: World Championship H.O.R.S.E. – June 12th
Event 50: Limit Hold’em Shootout (1,000 player max) – June 12th
Event 51: No Limit Hold’em – June 13th
Event 52: Triple Chance No Limit Hold’em – June 14th
Event 53: Seven Card Stud High-Low Eight or Better – June 14th
Event 54: No Limit Hold’em – June 15th
Event 55: 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball (Limit) – June 15th
Event 56: No Limit Hold’em Six-Handed – June 16th
Event 57: WSOP Main Event – June 19th
The $10,000 buy-in Main Event kicks off on July 3rd and features four starting days. The tournament will play down to its final nine players on July 15th. They’ll return to the Rio between November 7th and 10th to determine a winner. The finale of the Main Event may air on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 on ESPN, although the cable network has not yet announced its schedule.
