It's time to get excited as the 46th annual World Series of Poker kicks off on Wednesday next week at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. A total of 68 coveted WSOP gold bracelets (more than in 2014) and nearly $200 million is at stake, and we will do our outmost to report, on daily basis, about all the events.
Besides regular events such as the Main Event and the $10k H.O.R.S.E. championship, there are 11 new events this year - including the first ever online bracelet event on Thursday July 2, with the final two players to battle each other face-to-face at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.
Other notable highlights of the 2015 schedule (text from WSOP's website):
• Enhanced Starting Chips - Gold bracelet events in 2015 under the $10,000 price point have all increased the starting chip stack players will have at the outset from what used to be three times the buy-in, to this year which will be five times the buy-in in most instances. Please consult individual structure sheets to learn more.
• ONE DROP Charity - After terrific success with charitable giving the past three years, with more than $16 million donated to charitable causes via the WSOP, all events will continue to offer an opportunity to donate. The "1% for ONE DROP" returns, where players cashing in any event, may donate 1% of their winnings to ONE DROP. In addition, Events #58 & #61 will each have specific charitable components to help raise funds for WSOP charitable partner, the ONE DROP organization (www.ONEDROP.org)
• The Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Championship - On Friday, June 19 at 10:00 a.m., Event #40 featuring a $1,000 buy-in for all poker enthusiasts 50 years of age or older. This year, a Super Seniors gold bracelet event has been added too, for those age 65+. It will take place Sunday, June 21 at 10 a.m. as Event #43.
• The Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship - On Friday, June 26 at 12 p.m., featuring a $10,000 buy-in for the Ladies Championship (Event #53). Ladies enjoy a special discounted buy-in of $1,000. This continues to be the largest ladies poker tournament annually.
• Daily Deepstack No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments - The Rio will host three different daily No-Limit Hold'em tournaments from May 27 to July 14. The first one, at 3 p.m. daily, is a $235 buy-in that averaged more than 1,000 entries last year. At 6 p.m., players can play the daily $185 buy-in tournament and at 10 p.m., a daily $135 tournament will be offered. These are one-day structured tournaments, and non-bracelet events. These events will take place in the Pavilion Ballroom and in 2014 attracted a record 66,805 entrants.
• Satellites Every Day! - A complete array of satellites, from single-table to mega, will be offered fromMay 27 - July 7. Mega satellites with buy-ins at $330 for the daily 5 p.m. and $550 buy-in for the daily 8 p.m. start. And $75 Turbo-Mega-Satellites begin at 8 a.m. daily. New this year to the satellite offerings, is a daily 10 a.m. $185 buy-in Mega Satellite, played as No-Limit Hold'em.
source: wsop.com
