The biggest event in the annual poker calendar has already been announced and it’s time for poker players and spectators to start getting excited. The World Series of Poker returns to Las Vegas this summer, and the 51st edition of this marquee event will attract some of the world’s biggest stars. The best in the business will flock to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in June and July, and there is a cornucopia of different games and tournaments for them to take part in. Here is a full rundown of the dates and events for the WSOP, and some ideas about how to prepare for the momentous occasion online.
What is the WSOP and When is it Taking Place in 2020?
The WSOP is the pivotal poker event of the year, and it dates all the way back to 1970. At the inaugural tournament, there were only seven players who took part. These card sharks were invited to play at Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas, and they took part in numerous variants of poker including Texas Hold’em, razz, and seven-card stud. It didn’t follow the traditional tournament format known today, and instead the peers voted Johnny Moss as the winner at the end.
Ever since 1971, the WSOP Main Event has taken place in a tournament format, and the number of entrants has swollen each year. Back in that second year, there were only six players. But by 1982, it was over 100. By 1991, there were 215 entrants. The Las Vegas tournament really boomed in the 2000s, though, thanks to the rise of online poker sites. In 2003, the online amateur Chris Moneymaker took down the grand prize of $2.5 million. This inspired more people to have a go, and in 2004 the number of entrants spiked to 2,576 from 839 the previous year.
The 2019 WSOP was the second-biggest event in the tournament’s history, with 8,569 people taking part in the Main Event. WSOP 2020 is expected to be equally as big as its predecessor. Because this epic occasion incorporates so many different events, it goes on for a number of weeks.
The first event of the WSOP will be held on May 26, and it will run throughout June and into July. The last event of the series is set for July 10 and 11. This intense and exciting series features more than 81 events, which is why it takes place over in excess of 40 days.
What are the Different Events on Offer?
The landmark tournament at the WSOP is always the Main Event, which attracts players in their thousands each year. Ever since amateur player Chris Moneymaker won in 2003, anyone with internet experience of poker has held the belief that they can do the same. Indeed, there have been numerous unknown entities to take down the major jackpot in the $10,000 buy-in competition. The most recent was Scott Blumstein in 2017, who had done most of his playing at online poker rooms before heading to Vegas.
The Main Event is open to anyone, and is scheduled to run from July 1-3. It follows a freezeout format with levels going up every 120 minutes. This tournament requires the highest endurance levels of any poker game, and to make it to the final stages requires extreme discipline.
For people who don’t want to stump up the $10,000 buy-in for the Main Event, or simply don’t fancy their chances in it, there are plenty of other options. The most popular buy-in level for the WSOP is $1500, and there are 25 events at that price point for players to consider. For this stake, there are plenty of different poker variants for players to choose from as well.
Some of the events that players can choose from in the $1500 buy-in range are the Omaha Hi-Lo tournament on May 28, the Seven Card Stud game on June 2, and the Millionaire Maker No Limit Hold’em event on June 5 and 6. Another notable game is the tournament finale, The Closer, which takes place on July 10 and 11.
The Same Sort of Variety Can Be Found Online
The WSOP is renowned for having a wide range of poker variants on offer, all with different buy-in stakes, number of entrants, chips, levels, and re-entry allowances. At the Las Vegas event, there is something to suit any player, and spectators have numerous options as well.
In terms of live poker, the WSOP could aptly be described as a scaled-down version of the online poker world. Because poker is now considered to be a mind sport, a lot of the WSOP games will be televised and spectators can watch it online just as they would with traditional sports. Those who want to find a similar playing experience can play at online poker sites. It is easy to find a poker tournament online in your preferred strain of poker, with everything from the people’s favorite, Texas Hold’em, to forgotten classics like Stud.
The internet is the perfect place for amateur poker players to gain the knowledge and skills required to rub shoulders with the game’s elite at the WSOP. Modern players spend a lot of time in the online poker rooms, gradually moving from low to high stakes as they master their trade. Since Moneymaker did it, a vast number of other notable names like 2014 winner Martin Jacobson have risen through the ranks by playing online first. Internet play seems to help players get a stronger grasp of the mathematical side of the game.
The WSOP 2020 has a tough act to follow after the success of the 2019 event. But there is no doubt that all the biggest names in the business will be there once again, trying to win more bracelets. For fans of poker, summer can’t come quick enough.
Hossein Ensan won last year’s Main Event
