Ever since we learned back in April that the 2021 World Series of Poker would be live in the fall, we have been counting the days. There are currently just under 100 days to go until kick-off, by the way.
This week, the WSOP did us the kindness of publishing their schedule. As you might imagine, we have been studying it assiduously. Not surprisingly, some things remain the same as previous years, and some things have changed.
WSOP Schedule Similarities
Most of the old standards can be found within the 2021 WSOP schedule. You will find the $10,000 Main Event. There is a Ladies tournament. There are Seniors, and Super-Seniors events, as well as a range of PLO and mixed games. There is also the crowd-pleasing Tag Team event.
It appears that the WSOP will also continue the traditions of Daily Deep Stacks, satellites, and the Little One for One Drop.
Despite years of rumors of a venue change, the 2021 WSOP will play out at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
WSOP Changes
So what has changed?
A big theme this year is that the WSOP is bringing back freeze-outs in greater numbers. There are a number of tournaments in 2021 which are allowing only a single entry. No rebuys, no re-entries. Personally, I’m a fan. I hate playing tournaments where the guy with the ability to rebuy (or add on) the most, has a huge advantage. As I made my WSOP tournament plans this week, I leaned toward freeze-outs when possible.
There are also a number of new events. This year’s WSOP features a COVID-relief charity event. Also, on October 1 there is a Reunion event with a $5M prize pool. While the Seniors Event is a perennial favorite, this year for the first time there will be two starting days.
In what will certainly be a new favorite, the Poker Hall of Fame bounty tournament will invite living Hall of Fame members to freeroll into the $1,979 No-Limit Hold’em tournament open to all players. Each participating player will have a bounty corresponding to the year they were inducted into poker’s most exclusive club and the 2021 PHOF inductee will be announced.
Craziest New WSOP Event
In what I imagine as a moment of sheer insanity, the WSOP decided to introduce a $1,000 Flip N Go. In this event, each player will be all in preflop on the first hand. They will be dealt three cards (as in Pineapple) and select two to play. One player will win the table and fast forward into the money, where the tournament will then play out under a traditional structure. Who wants to play $1,000 for a single bingo hand? I guess we will find out!
I don’t know about you, but I’m already working through my WSOP schedule. I am also waiting to see what other offerings will be in town this October to round out my WSOP experience with a few tournaments elsewhere in Vegas. Planet Hollywood Goliath Tag Team Switch, anyone?
