The World Series of Poker (WSOP) announced today a major change to its international tournament schedule. Starting in 2014, its two highlight poker festivals outside the United States will take place in alternating years, rather than during the same year, as was the case in 2013.
This year, WSOP Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC) made its debut in April at the famous Crowne Melbourne casino in Melbourne, Australia. The WSOP APAC lineup was comprised of five events, all differing in some way, shape, form, highlighted by the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event. Organizers of the festival had to have been thrilled when fan favorite Daniel Negreanu emerged as champion of the Main Event, a win that began his run to the eventual WSOP Player of the Year title.
WSOP Europe was held for the seventh time this year, taking place during October, just before the final table of the traditional WSOP Main Event. Though WSOP Europe has changed venues a number of times, it has established itself as one of the most popular poker series on the calendar.
Next year, though, WSOP Europe will not be on the schedule. Instead, WSOP APAC will move to October (specifically October 1-17), while WSOP Europe will be pushed to 2015. The two series will continue to alternate years thereafter, WSOP APAC in even numbered years and WSOP Europe in odd numbered years.
“We are excited to return to Melbourne in 2014 for WSOP APAC and the beginning of a new era for our international championships,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart in a press release. He explained some of the reasons for the change, saying, “The WSOP standard is bigger, better and different. Moving to a rotational approach, with one international event per year allows for better organization and more marketing in each region. We also want to do right by the players, and provide more value for their travel dollar. There is a glut of poker tournaments around the world, and our vision is to each year put on a single global showcase that can’t be missed.”
Crown Melbourne Chief Operating Officer, Xavier Walsh also chimed in, saying, “The new scheduling sits perfectly within the Melbourne events calendar, at the tail end of the Australian Rules Football finals and the beginning of the internationally renowned Spring Racing Carnival. This provides Crown with significant exposure in Asia, Europe and America, which will in turn form an integral part of Crown’s global marketing strategy to attract additional international visitors to Australia and Crown Melbourne.”
The WSOP also noted that the WSOP APAC date change gives Crown Melbourne several more months to organize satellites and various promotions, something which will potentially help the tournament fields grow beyond what they may have been in April.
