If there is one thing close to playing in the actual event (it has been likened to Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day rolled into one), it is the day the schedule is announced for it. Yesterday, Caesars Entertainment and World Series of Poker officials announced the finalized schedule for the 44th Annual World Series of Poker.
“Dreams are dealt each year at the World Series of Poker,” said Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the WSOP, during the announcement of the schedule. “From the opening weekend, where we will make yet another millionaire, to the Main Event, which awards the largest single prize in the world, the WSOP is an annual affirmation about the strength and global appeal of the game.”
Although there are three months until the event actually kicks off, the announcement of the schedule gives players plenty of time to plan their travel, seize a hotel room and prepare for one of the spectacles of the sporting industry. The 2013 WSOP will kick off on May 29 (right after Memorial Day here in the United States) and will feature a plethora of tournaments that encapsulate nearly every discipline that the game of poker has to offer. With that said, there are some tournaments that are highlighted over the seven-week run of the schedule.
Of the 62 events that make up the schedule, the highlight will (of course) be the $10,000 Championship Event. On July 6, the first of three Day Ones will begin and the Championship Event will run down to its staple “November Nine” on July 15. The “November Nine” will return on November 4-5 to determine who will be the next World Champion of poker.
One of the other unique events for this year’s WSOP will be what is called “The Millionaire Maker.” Event #6 on the schedule, the $1500 tournament will start on June 1 and feature a two-flight starting procedure. If a player starts out in the first flight (at 11AM) and busts out before the second flight begins (5PM), that player has the option of rebuying back into the tournament for that second flight. No matter how many players take part, WSOP officials are guaranteeing a $1 million payout to the eventual champion of the event, which should draw a huge field battling it out for such a large prize.
After the traditional Casino Employees Event kicks off the festivities on May 29, the first ‘official’ bracelet tournament on the schedule will start that afternoon. It will be a $5000 Eight Handed No Limit Event, which is right in the range where the best poker professionals in the world will mix it up with skillful amateurs in an attempt to take the first official bracelet of the WSOP.
At the 2012 WSOP, the “Big One For One Drop” (the million-dollar buy in tournament) was arguably one of the most anticipated events. This year, there won’t be the million-dollar version of the tournament, but there will be two smaller versions. The “One Drop High Roller” will feature an $111,111 buy-in (with the 3% house fee being donated to Guy Laliberte’s One Drop charitable cause) and will start on June 26. The tournament will award a WSOP bracelet as well as a stack of cash to its victor.
Along with High Roller One Drop event, the “Little One For One Drop” will also take to the felt this summer in Las Vegas. The $1,111 (the $111 will be donated to One Drop) is an unlimited entry (through the first four levels) event that offers the first of two Day Ones on July 3. The champion of this tournament will also receive a coveted WSOP bracelet.
Finally, there is also a tournament that is getting a look from WSOP officials for possible inclusion in future WSOP schedules. Open Face Chinese Poker will be a “test event” (think of the Olympics and their tradition of trying out new sports on their schedule) beginning on July 13. One of the current rages among professional poker players, Open Face Chinese Poker has drawn considerable attention at other tournament locations (the OFCP event at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure proved the viability of the game) and the $5000 buy in tournament at the WSOP should draw a star-studded field.
And this only scratches the surface of what’s to come at this year’s WSOP! There will be “No Limit Weekends” throughout the WSOP, where a $1500 event on Saturday and a $1000 event on Sunday will hit the felt, the $50,000 Poker Players Championship makes its return, and a host of other specialties fill out the schedule. It’s time to punch your ticket, make the plans and pack the bags as the 44th Annual World Series of Poker is now set in stone. For a full look at the schedule, be sure to visit wsop.com to learn more and to pre-register for events.
