In 2019, the World Series of Poker has provided us with some great moments. From record-setting events like the Millionaire Maker and the “Big 50” to the stirring moment that Hossein Ensan captured poker’s World Championship, the WSOP has made history. That history, at least for 2019, will come to a close over the next couple of weeks as the 2019 World Series of Poker Europe begins play.
Third Year at King’s Casino in Rozvadov
The 2019 WSOP Europe, the eleventh running of the event, will be contested at the King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, beginning on Sunday afternoon with a €350 “WSOP Europe Opener” that should draw the players out of the woodwork to compete. Something else that will draw out the players is the guarantees on the tournament schedule compiled by the WSOP officials. Over €22 million is guaranteed prize pools will be spread among the 15 events that will be contested at the King’s Casino.
Showing the difference between the European and the U. S. markets, the WSOP Europe will have a markedly different schedule of events. Instead of being dominated by No Limit Hold’em tournaments, the WSOP Europe will feature several different disciplines of poker. There are two “short deck” (deuces through fives removed) tournaments, two Eight Game Mixed events (topped by a €25,000 Mixed Games Championship on October 21). There will also be a €250,000 Super High Roller tournament on the schedule, which will surely draw the deepest pocketed pros to the felt.
It all wraps up with the WSOP Europe Main Event, scheduled to begin on October 25 with the first of two flights. The €10,000 buy in event features a €5 million prize pool and a single reentry that can be used at any time during the two opening Day Ones. All totaled, the 15 bracelets awarded through the run of the WSOP Europe will be the most ever given on European soil.
Battle for WSOP Player of the Year Will Be Decided
14 of the events at the WSOP Europe will award points for the 2019 WSOP Player of the Year. The only event that won’t give out points is the High Roller tournament, which won’t be counted because of its extreme costs and the fact that all players could not afford the buy in. The other 14 events will have an effect on who might walk out of the Czech Republic with the WSOP Player of the Year award, however.
Currently in the pole position of the WSOP POY race is Australia’s Robert Campbell. Campbell was able to capture two bracelets at the Las Vegas WSOP to amass 3418.78 points to take the lead at the close of festivities back in July. With the action in Rozvadov, however, that’s not good enough as two of Vegas’s biggest sharks are circling in the water and will be on the hunt for the overall title.
If you want to talk about significant achievements in the history of the WSOP, perhaps we should be talking about Shaun Deeb’s run over the past two years of the WSOP. The 2018 WSOP Player of the Year, Deeb has remarkably backed up his efforts by making another deep run in 2019. With 3280.13 points, Deeb is trying to do something that has never been done in WSOP history – win the WSOP Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons.
The other notable making a run at Campbell is none other than Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu. The two-time WSOP Player of the Year, Negreanu (holding 3166.24 points) is looking to become the first player to ever win the WSOP POY three times. These three men, while battling with each other, will also have to contend with these players who have a shot from the Top Ten:
1. Robert Campbell, 3418.78 points
2. Shaun Deeb, 3280.13
3. Daniel Negreanu, 3166.24
4. Daniel Zack, 3126.13
5. Phillip Hui, 2881.67
6. Jason Gooch, 2643.72
7. Joseph Cheong, 2595.54
8. David ‘ODB’ Baker, 2480.06
9. Chris Ferguson, 2476.96
10. Anthony Zinno, 2443.22