The World Series of Poker evolves every year; not everybody likes every change that is made, but it does appear that WSOP officials do take player suggestions into account and try to adjust to the times. Case in point: 2015, when the very first online bracelet event was held. It was by all indications a success and now, two years later, the online presence of the world’s most anticipated poker festival has expanded, as there are now three bracelet events on WSOP.com.
As mentioned, the first online bracelet event was held in 2015 and it debuted to mixed reactions, with many celebrating the attempt by the WSOP to move more into the internet age, while others complained that the purity of the WSOP was being ruined. No matter, it still happened. The $1,000 buy-in event attracted 905 players.
One interesting aspect of the 2015 online event was that the six-handed final table of the tournament was played live at the Rio in Las Vegas (it was originally to be just the heads-up portion). At first, the final table was scheduled for July 3rd, the day after the final table was determined, but because of player concerns that travel could be very difficult from the further parts of Nevada (the event was played only on WSOP.com Nevada), the six-handed competition was pushed back one day.
In 2016, the online bracelet event returned, again $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em, but this time, re-entries were permitted. 927 unique entries were registered to go along with 320 re-entries, bringing to the total registrations to 1,247. This tournament was originally scheduled to be completely online, but in a late alteration, the final six players once again met up at the Rio to play it down to a champion.
Which brings us to this year. In 2017, there will be three online bracelet events:
Event #8 – June 3rd at 3:33pm PT – The $333 Little Grind Online Bracelet
Event #61 – July 1st at 3:33pm PT – The $3,333 Big Grind Online Bracelet (highest buy-in ever on WSOP.com)
Event #71 – July 7th at 2:00pm PT – The $1,000 Classic Online Bracelet
Unlike the previous two years, all three of these bracelets events will be played completely online. That is, unless there is a last minute change again.
“In just four short years WSOP.com Nevada has gone from no online bracelet events to three this year with millions of dollars in guarantees and bonuses,” said WSOP.com head of online poker Bill Rini in a late April press release. “As awareness of our offering has grown, we have seen continued growth. It is our mission to keep growing our selection of games and believe players of all levels and from inside and outside Nevada will find something to their liking while in town for the WSOP.”
WSOP.com in Nevada will also be hosting loads of World Series of Poker-related tournaments this summer as part of its “Summer Grind Tour.” Tournaments include satellites to the live and online WSOP bracelet events, WSOP Main Event satellites, as well as Sit-and-Go and Step Tournament qualifiers for WSOP events.