The 2025 World Series of Poker schedule is here! And while the core lineup remains largely intact, several big changes stand out. This year’s series introduces new events, tweaks tournament formats, reduces freezeouts, and adjusts blind levels, re-entries, and scheduling slots.
With an 11-page schedule, the details can be overwhelming, but we’ve broken down the key highlights—the biggest changes, new tournaments, and what’s missing from previous years.
For the full calendar of events, check out our exclusive WSOP 2025 in-depth guide, now updated with every event, Day 1 flight, dates, times, buy-ins, and more. If you’re looking for the highlights—what’s new, what’s missing, and key details from today’s PR, keep reading.
This year’s schedule features 100 live bracelet events, marking the first time it reaches three digits. The series begins on May 27 and runs through July 16, with the Main Event starting on July 2.
WSOP now has new owners—its long-time successful partner, GGPoker. Despite the change in ownership, the schedule remains largely the same, with several changes.
Let’s start with the new events.
WSOP 2025 New Events
WSOP is adding a handful of new tournaments, catering to both mixed game lovers and high rollers. Six in total.
- T.O.R.S.E — A fresh take on H.O.R.S.E, replacing Limit Hold’em with Triple Draw. It takes the place of the $3K HORSE, which has been removed.
- Battle of the Ages — A unique two-day event split into two sections: one exclusively for players over 50 and the other for those 50 and younger. It comes for a buy-in of $1000.
- New High Roller Tournaments — A $25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed 8-Handed and a $100,000 PLO have been added.
- New Super Turbo Bounty — A $5,000 Super Turbo Bounty NLH has been introduced to the schedule allowing one re-entry.
- PLO Double Board Bomb Pot — The $1,500 Mixed Bomb Pot Double, previously a mix of NLHE/PLO, is now a PLO-only event.
Fewer Freezeouts, More Re-Entries
While not many may have noticed, this year’s schedule has fewer freezeouts. As per our count, there are 24 tournaments with no re-entries. Last year’s schedule had 35 freezeouts.
Furthermore, more events now allow re-entries, giving players extra chances to fire bullets.
This includes some Super Turbo Bounty tournaments and even a few Championship events, such as the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha Championship, $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, and $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship to name a few.
This move favors players who prefer flexibility and have deep bankrolls, though it may disappoint purists who enjoy single-shot tournaments.
More Flights for Popular Events
WSOP is doubling down on its most successful events, adding extra flights to accommodate more players.
- Mystery Millions, Colossus, Monster Stack, and the Mini Main Event all get additional starting flights, with four to five in total.
- The Colossus buy-in has been increased from $400 to $500, with a new starting stack.
More flights mean more opportunities for players to jump in, but then they will also likely have to compete with larger field sizes, though the average field size per flight will drop.
Structural Tweaks: Longer Blind Levels & Adjustments
Several tournaments have seen structural adjustments to improve playability.
- Blind level changes: Many events that previously had 40/60/90-minute levels have now standardized to 60/90 minutes.
- $100,000 High Roller NLH: The blind levels have been extended to 60 minutes from 40, while its late registration period has been shortened.
- $50,000 Poker Players Championship: Now offers ten levels of late registration instead of nine.
- The $500 WSOP Kickoff NLH Freezeout has been moved to a later date, with a minor blind level tweak with late registration available until first 12 levels instead of 11.
These changes have been implemented likely following the player’s feedback, with longer blind levels allowing for deeper play.
Scheduling Adjustments: Some Events Moved Forward, Others Pushed Back
Several tournaments have been shifted to different time slots:
- The series starts off with $1000 Mystery Millions.
- $300 Gladiators of Poker has been moved to a later slot.
- The Tag Team event has been rescheduled.
- Main Event satellite days now run from July 1 to 7, adding an extra day this year. Additionally, more side events will run alongside the Main Event’s Day 1 flights.
These slot adjustments won’t drastically impact players, but they do create slight shifts in how the overall series is structured.
Event Removals & Name Changes
A few tournaments have been cut from the schedule entirely:
- $5000 Champions Reunion Freezeout
- $1000 Flip & Go by GGPoker
- $3,000 HORSE (replaced by TORSE)
Additionally, some events have been rebranded:
- The $500 Casino Employees Event is now called Industry Employees
- The Independence Day event has been renamed Summer Celebration, though its $800 buy-in remains unchanged.
Increase in Average Buy-ins & Fees
While the buy-ins remain consistent with last year, ranging from $300 to $250,000, the average buy-in has risen significantly. Last year, the average buy-in across the series was $9,817. This year, it has increased to $10,960, marking a nearly 12% rise.
Some buy-in fees have also increased this year, including a rise from 16% to 17% for $500 buy-ins and from 15% to 16% for $600 buy-ins. High roller events have seen the most notable increases: the fee for the $50,000 buy-in has gone up from 4.50% to 5%, the $100,000 buy-in has risen from 3.25% to 3.50%, and the $250,000 buy-in has jumped from 0.40% to 1.50%.
Final thoughts: For most players, WSOP 2025 will feel very similar to last year’s edition—just with a few extra chances to re-enter, some deeper structures, and a couple of fresh twists. With an expanded lineup, a mix of familiar favorites and new additions, satellites running internationally and at WSOP Online for US online poker players, and GGPoker now officially at the helm, WSOP 2025 is shaping up to be another massive summer of poker.
