The wait is over for those wondering what alternate plan the World Series of Poker is going to follow this summer.
Instead of live poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, this year’s festival has pivoted to a World Series of Poker Online with 85 events played across WSOP.com and GGPoker.
While WSOP has hosted online bracelet events every summer dating back to 2015 — including altered plans for a record 14 this year — the coronavirus has forced the entire Series to migrate into the virtual realm for 2020.
The 2020 WSOP was going to be a record-setter, initially scheduled to feature 101 bracelet events across live and online channels.
In its place, WSOP has created a new online-only series of tournaments that will begin on July 1 for players in Nevada (WSOP NV) and New Jersey (WSOP NJ). Players in Delaware that use sister site 888 Poker are, unfortunately, not included.
Then starting Sunday, July 19, more WSOP events will run on the GGPoker Network to allow players in Asia, Europe, and other countries outside the US to compete. By law, GGPoker can not serve players located in the US.
From the press release:
Consistent with GGPoker’s terms of service, play on the platform is prohibited from the United States. Any player discovered to be attempting to play from inside the US border will be deemed ineligible and prize money subject to forfeiture.
As a whole, the 2020 WSOP Online features one bracelet event each day during July on WSOP.com, plus 54 events on GGPoker that run all the way through Sept. 6.
So far only the US portion of the 2020 WSOP Online schedule is available (see below). According to WSOP, “GGPoker plans to unveil its bracelet schedule on a rolling basis.”
Reflecting software limitations, WSOP Online events in the US will all be either no-limit hold’em or a variant of Omaha. Indeed, the great majority of the events — 27 of 31 — will be NLH. Buy-ins range from several $400 events to a $3,200 High Roller.
According WSOP, the international series of events on GGPoker will have “a broad range of buy-ins and game formats.” In other words, expect some additional variants (e.g., short deck) as found on the GGPoker Network.
At the end of last month, WSOP announced it was moving the invite-only Global Casino Championship (GCC) online.
Organizers originally scheduled the GCC to take place at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina. It will now run on WSOP NJ and WSOP NV on September 13.
The WSOP Season Finale Online Circuit series is currently playing out on WSOP sites as well, featuring 12 WSOPC ring events and ending on June 14.
Despite the online additions, the 2020 WSOP itself officially remains postponed for the time being.
Event | Date | Time | Event | Buy-In |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | July 1 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Kick-Off | $500 |
2 | July 2 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed Deepstack | $1,000 |
3 | July 3 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em | $400 |
4 | July 4 (Sa) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Super Turbo | $500 |
5 | July 5 (Su) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Freezeout | $1,000 |
6 | July 6 (M) | 3:00 p.m. | PLO8 6-Handed | $600 |
7 | July 7 (Tu) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Knockout Deepstack | $800 |
8 | July 8 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Freezeout | $500 |
9 | July 9 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 6-Max | $1,000 |
10 | July 10 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em MonsterStack | $600 |
11 | July 11 (Sa) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Turbo Deepstack 6-Handed | $500 |
12 | July 12 (Su) | 3:00 p.m. | The BIG 500 No Limit Hold'em | $500 |
13 | July 13 (M) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em High Roller Freezeout | $1,500 |
14 | July 14 (Tu) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em High Roller | $3,200 |
15 | July 15 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | PLO 8-Max HR | $1,000 |
16 | July 16 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Turbo | $500 |
17 | July 17 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em | $777 |
18 | July 18 (Sa) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed Turbo DeepStack | $1,000 |
19 | July 19 (Su) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em | $400 |
20 | July 20 (M) | 3:00 p.m. | PLO 6-Handed | $500 |
21 | July 21 (Tu) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $777 |
22 | July 22 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Turbo Deepstack | $500 |
23 | July 23 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Knockout | $500 |
24 | July 24 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed | $400 |
25 | July 25 (Sa) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Summer Saver | $500 |
26 | July 26 (Su) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Grande Finale | $500 |
27 | July 27 (M) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Freezeout | $400 |
28 | July 28 (Tu) | 3:00 p.m. | Omaha 8 6-Max | $1,000 |
29 | July 29 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Turbo Deepstack 6-Handed | $600 |
30 | July 30 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Seniors Event | $500 |
31 | July 31 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Championship | $1,000 |