One other main poker event sequence is coming, and it gained’t require gamers to journey midway around the globe. PokerStars will host its World Championship of On-line Poker (WCOOP) sequence subsequent month, with at the least $85 million in assured money up for grabs.
The PokerStars Brand on a dwell poker desk. The platform is making ready for its World Championship of On-line Poker, which it should maintain in September. (Picture: PokerStars)
The WCOOP has come a great distance since its inaugural version in 2002. That yr, there have been solely 9 occasions accessible, with a complete prize pool of $730,000.
Some 20 years later, the sequence presents 322 tournaments. The prize pool for the upcoming sequence is very large, including to the $1.1 billion PokerStars has distributed since holding the primary WCOOP tournaments.
WCOOP Simply Weeks Away
There have already been a lot of superior tournaments this yr, together with the World Collection of Poker’s Most important Occasion. After a brief break within the motion, the WCOOP will run from September 4 by way of September 28, with choices on the tables for gamers of all ranges.
There are 104 numbered occasions and 12 World Championship tourneys. Nonetheless, buy-ins vary from $5.50 to $25,000, giving everybody an opportunity to make a run for the cash.
There may also be six Most important Occasions this yr, providing a assure of $14.35 million. In typical poker event style, No-Restrict Maintain’em (NLHE) and Pot-Restrict Omaha (PLO) will take high billing.
All six are on the schedule for September 25 and provide three ranges. Purchase-ins are $109, $1,050, and $10,300, with ensures starting from $2.5 million to $6 million. The $10,300 buy-in NLHE occasion presents the highest quantity, whereas the $10,300 buy-in PLO occasion has $1 million assured ready for the finalists.
As well as, each of these higher Most important Occasions double as Championship Occasions. Becoming a member of them will probably be 10 others, all of which include bragging rights to be referred to as a poker world champion.
The bottom Championship Occasion is the $530 ladies’s occasion on September 18, with a prize pool of $65,000. There are additionally fairly-priced HORSE, 6-Max, Razz, and others comprising the championship sequence.
Play Honest or Go House
Final yr, there have been 102 occasions within the WCOOP, which supplied $16 million in assured money. PokerStars billed it because the “largest WCOOP assure thus far,” however is trying to break the document this yr.
As well as, final yr’s sequence supplied 306 occasions that attracted gamers from 42 international locations. There have been 1,428,869 registrations, of which 294,277 got here by way of reentries. Nonetheless, it’s potential that a couple of of these registrations have been pretend.
Mark Teltscher, who gained a WCOOP Most important Occasion in 2007, tried to do this. The British participant allegedly used an account that he created below his sister’s title (his sister later admitted to utilizing an “agent” to play), costing him virtually $1.4 million.
PokerStars Sweetens the Pot
Because it seems to be to proceed to draw extra gamers, PokerStars goes to supply a lot of extras to the WCOOP this yr. For instance, there will probably be $100,000 in money accessible to those that make it to the ultimate spots on the varied leaderboards.
As well as, PokerStars is providing Spin & Go occasions on the platform. These will provide tickets to totally different WCOOP occasions, together with entry into the $10,300 NLHE Most important Occasion.
There may also be satellite tv for pc tournaments accessible main as much as the sequence. These will give gamers an opportunity to realize entry to the identical Most important Occasion.
Some regulars have already got a free move into the sequence. Anybody who gained an occasion final yr can take part on this yr’s Champions’ Freeroll. The highest 5 finalists may also obtain a seat on the $10,300 NHLE Most important Occasion.
