The 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe dates were announced on Monday. The tournament series returns to the Casino at the Empire in London on September 17th and runs through October 1st. A total of four bracelet events will be awarded.
The announcement of the 2009 WSOP Europe schedule comes just one month away from the start of the tournament series in Las Vegas at the Rio on May 26th. In London, the action will return to the Casino at the Empire in historic Leicester Square. The gambling establishment now opens its doors around the clock and has ballooned in popularity thanks in part to serving as the host of the prestigious event. Michael Silberling, COO of London Clubs International, commented in a press release distributed by Harrah’s, “The Casino at the Empire has quickly become the destination for poker in the U.K. We look forward to hosting the best players in the game for the WSOPE this fall and will continue to offer the finest poker action daily for those in Leicester Square.”
Pre-registration is already open in London at any London Clubs International venue. In addition, interested poker players can register in person at the Rio for the four bracelet events. Betfair, WSOP Europe’s presenting sponsor, will also qualify its members in droves. Last year, the site even reached out to U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, who sparked interest from the poker community after telling his hometown newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, that he wanted to play in the WSOP. The Las Vegas tournaments are sponsored by Everest Poker, which, like Betfair, does not accept players from the United States.
WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack is already looking forward to the action unfolding in September from the British city: “The World Series of Poker Europe has quickly established itself as the most prestigious tournament outside the United States. Winning a gold bracelet is recognized globally as the top prize in the sport and we look forward to awarding four more bracelets in 2009 at the Casino at the Empire in London.” The four pieces of hardware up for grabs in London will be in addition to the 57 at stake in Las Vegas. The final table of the Main Event at the Rio will once again be pushed back until November and is slated to take place sometime between the 7th and 10th of the month.
Here is the schedule of events that will unfold at the Casino at the Empire:
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
Event #1: £1,060 No Limit Hold’em Day 1A
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009:
Event #1: £1,060 No Limit Hold’em Day 1B
Monday, Sept. 21, 2009
Event #2: £2,650 – Pot Limit Hold’em/Pot Limit Omaha
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
Event #3: £5,250 Pot Limit Omaha
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009
Event #4: £10,350 Main Event Day 1A
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009
Event #4: £10,350 Main Event Day 1B
The winner of the third WSOP Europe Main Event will be crowned on October 1st. In 2007, Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad, who was playing in one of her first major live tournaments, won the inaugural Main Event for £1 million. The tournament featured a battle of current Betfair pros heads-up, as Obrestad squared off against John “Kunkuwap” Tabatabai. Last year’s WSOP Europe Main Event final table concluded with John Juanda pocketing £868,800. He barreled through a talented final nine that included Team PokerStars Pro member Daniel Negreanu, Scott Fischman, and the runner up in the Las Vegas Main Event, Ivan Demidov.
Satellites with a $1,570 price tag to the WSOP Europe Main Event will take place at the Rio on July 9th through 11th. The action kicks off at 5:00pm each day. The WSOP Europe events attract players from around the world. In fact, six different nations have claimed the seven bracelets that have been given away over the past two years: Denmark (twice), Afghanistan, Germany, Italy, Norway, and the United States.
The Casino at the Empire does not mandate membership in order to enter. In addition to the four bracelet events, cash games and satellites will also be held, although specific details were not released on Thursday. ESPN will return as the television partner of the 2009 WSOP Europe festivities and will air 10 hours of coverage. ESPN 360 will also provide action to poker enthusiasts in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Brazil.