- The WSOP has released its 2014 schedule, confirming that the Main Event winner will walk away with a guaranteed $10m.
- 16 events have buyins over $10k, with the second Big One for One Drop charity event topping the list at a price of $1m.
- Badeucy and Badacy will make their first showing at the WSOP in the Dealer’s Choice 6 max event.
- Lower buyins for mixed game and PLO events—37 events at $1,500 or lower— have been designed to appeal to a wider audience.
- Later registration and more convenient start times have also been introduced to maximize attendance.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has officially confirmed that this year’s Main Event will guarantee the winner $10 million, as it has released a schedule full of innovations.
Ty Stewart, WSOP Executive Director, announced: “We’re seeking to send a loud message that 2014 is the year to come or come back again to the signature event in poker.” The 2014 series will consist of 65 events, running from May 27 to July 14.
The 45th Annual WSOP also marks the return of many of the $10,000 buyin Championship events which have been increased to 13, and cover a full range of poker disciplines:
- 2 – 7 Triple Draw Lowball — May 29 – 31
- Omaha Hi – Lo Split – 8 or Better — June 1 – 3
- 2 – 7 No Limit Draw Lowball — June 3 – 5
- Seven Card Razz — June 6 – 8
- HORSE — June 8 – 10
- Pot Limit Hold’em — June 12 – 14
- No Limit Hold’em 6-Max — June 14 – 16
- Seven Card Stud Hi – Lo Split – 8 or Better — June 17 – 19
- No Limit Hold’em Heads Up — June 19 – 21
- Limit Hold’em — June 26 – 28
- Seven Card Stud — July 1 – 3
- Pot Limit Omaha — July 3 – 5
The $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event follows immediately on July 5.
Other notable events include the second $1 million Big One For One Drop, which enabled Antonio Esfandiari to leap to the top of the all time tournament winnings leaderboard when it was first held two years ago. The big charity event is accompanied by a little brother $1,111 Little One for One Drop which overlaps the first two Day 1s of the Main Event itself.
Two new poker varieties Badeucy and Badacy will make their debut in the $1,500 Dealers Choice Six-Handed event. Badeucy is a triple draw split pot game with half the pot won by the best 2-7 triple draw lowball hand and half the pot won by the best badugi hand—aces are high.
Badacy is also a triple draw split pot game—straights and flushes do not count and aces are low. Half the pot goes to the best five card low hand and half the pot is won by the best badugi hand.
Mixed game events are now offered at two buyin levels, $1500 and $10,000. In 2013 they were priced at $5000 each. Event #3 is a $1k Pot-Limit Omaha event—the first time an event other than No Limit Hold’em has been on the schedule at this buyin. Also new in 2014 is the $1500 buyin Monster Stack event that features 15,000 chip starting stacks as opposed to the standard 4,500 typically found in $1500 buyin events.
The extremely popular $1500 Millionaire Maker which guarantees a $1 million first prize remains on the schedule, as does the $50,000 Players Championship.
The Seniors event returns for players 50 and older and looks to build on its record field size in 2013 of 4,407 entrants. Also returning is the Ladies $10,000 Championship event and the Daily Deepstack non-bracelet events with buyins ranging from $135 – $235.
WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel explains: “We have tweaked our schedule and feel very good about the opportunities it presents poker players of all levels.”
The afternoon bracelet events have been moved to a 4pm start time and will include 10 one-hour levels with 15-minute breaks after every two levels. Late registration will be open until the start of Level 7 (approximately 10:45pm) and daily play will last until 3am.
In addition to the satellites being offered online at wsop.com, live satellites will take place daily through the start of the Main Event with buyins as low as $75 for the Turbo-Mega-Satellites.
Registration is currently available online and players can register in person at the Rio beginning March 1.
At the end of a long series, the November Nine will be decided on July 14, and will reconvene on November 10 and 11 to play out the final table.
