After a year’s hiatus, the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) is back—and official partner GGPoker is running a slate of satellites to the Main Event.
The operator’s Road to WSOP Europe promotion is already underway and is offering dozens of feeder events daily. Steps tournaments are available from just €25, leading up to €1050 satellites, each of which guarantees at least one seat at the WSOPE Main Event.
As with previous editions, the 2021 festival takes place at the King’s Resort in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. The series runs from November 19 until December 8 and features 15 bracelet events.
- TOP BONUS — $600 deposit matched or up to $100 in rewards
- TOP FOR MTTs — GGMasters freezeout guarantees $2.5 million a week
- TRUSTED Holds a License from the UK Gambling Commission and the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. Available in many countries in Europe, South America, and Asia
The €10,350 Main Event begins on December 3 and carries a €5 million guarantee. This figure matches those of the previous two WSOPE festivals–an ambitious target given the inherent uncertainties as live poker festivals return to European soil.
John Scanlon, Director of Live Events and Sponsorships at GGPoker, is bullish about the upcoming showcase.
“WSOP Europe is always one of the best live events on the poker calendar, and the only way to win your seat online is through GGPoker,” he said in a recent press release. “I hope that as many GGPoker players as possible will join us in Rozvadov this December!”
Players Relishing a Return to the Felt
It is the first time that GGPoker has offered WSOPE satellites. Two years have passed since the last run-out of the festival, when the Main Event drew a field of 541 runners, and a resultant prize pool of €5.1 million.
That was the second-largest Main Event in WSOPE history. The €5 million promised for this year’s edition shows enormous confidence on the part of WSOP, as the live tournament circuit takes its first tentative steps into a post-Covid world.
It certainly feels achievable though. There is a huge appetite for return of live poker, which can only have been heightened as so many European players were unable to attend WSOP events in the US.
In the circumstances, WSOP 2021 has itself pulled in some huge fields. The $400 Colossus attracted 9399 players—28% down on gargantuan figure of 13,109 last time it ran, but an incredibly respectable figure nonetheless given the dearth of foreign players. It all bodes well for attendances in Rozvadov.
Main Event Seats Already Being Snapped Up
GG’s Road to WSOP Europe mirrors the campaign it ran for the WSOP in Las Vegas. That promotion saw more than 150 players win seats the most famous Main Event in the world, among some 250 players who found their way in through official GGPoker promotions, satellites and direct buy-ins.
The European version has already generated 20 tickets for December’s blue ribbon tournament, and dozens more will likely be awarded in the lead up to the festival.
The difference to note here is that the Vegas packages were worth $12,500, and included money to cover travel and accommodation costs. The Road to WSOP Europe prizes are just Main Event seats, as opposed to all-inclusive packages, there are no expenses thrown in. Nor are seats transferable: they cannot be swapped or sold. However, any extra tickets won will be converted into €10,000 worth of tournament dollars.
GGPoker also offered some WSOP tickets through its innovative new ClubbGG app. There are no such tickets yet available for WSOPE but pokerfuse will be keeping a close eye on the situation and publish any updates accordingly.
Prospective attendees should be aware that the Covid-19 situation is still very much in flux. Regulations in the Czech Republic were updated on November 1, and players should familiarize themselves with the new rules before leaving. Full details are available on the King’s Resort website.
The WSOPE Road to Europe promotion is ongoing, and currently open-ended.
