The 2019 World Series Of Poker

The 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is now officially underway! The annual series has kicked off its satellites, registration, and live action. The first open event begins at noon tomorrow (May 29).

This year’s WSOP marks the 50th edition of the annual event. Horseshoe founder Benny Binion hosted the inaugural event in 1970 as a way to bring the best poker players in the world together.

Of course, back then, that group fit comfortably at a single table. Last year’s Series featured 123,865 entries and $267 million in awarded prizes – a far cry from seven players determining the World Champion by secret ballot.

Here are the scheduled events for this year’s Series. This year’s edition figures to be one of the largest ever.

The 89 events are more than any other previous year. As a sign of the times, 9 events will be contested entirely online at WSOP Nevada and WSOP New Jersey.

2019 WSOP schedule

Date	Time	Event	Buy-in
Wed, May 29th	11:00 AM	$500 Casino Employees Event	$500
Wed, May 29th	12:00 PM	Super Turbo Bounty	$10,000
Thu, May 30th	11:00 AM	BIG 50 - Flight A	$500
Thu, May 30th	3:00 PM	$1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo Eight or Better	$1,500
Fri, May 31st	11:00 AM	BIG 50 - Flight B	$500
Fri, May 31st	3:00 PM	50th Annual High Roller NLH	$50,000
Sat, Jun 1st	10:00 AM	BIG 50 - Flight C	$500
Sat, Jun 1st	3:00 PM	$2,500 Limit Mixed Triple Draw	$2,500
Sun, Jun 2nd	10:00 AM	BIG 50 - Flight D	$500
Sun, Jun 2nd	3:30 PM	No-Limit Hold’em (Online)	$400
Sun, Jun 2nd	6:00 PM	Short Deck No-Limit Hold’em	$10,000
Mon, Jun 3rd	11:00 AM	$600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack	$600
Mon, Jun 3rd	3:00 PM	$1,500 Dealer's Choice	$1,500
Mon, Jun 3rd	6:00 PM	$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em	$5,000
Tue, Jun 4th	10:00 AM	$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty	$1,000
Tue, Jun 4th	3:00 PM	$1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw	$1,500
Wed, Jun 5th	11:00 AM	$1,500 HORSE	$1,500
Wed, Jun 5th	3:00 PM	Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em	$10,000
Wed, Jun 5th	4:00 PM	$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed	$1,500
Thu, Jun 6th	11:00 AM	$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout	$1,500
Thu, Jun 6th	3:00 PM	Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better	$10,000
Fri, Jun 7th	10:00 AM	Millionaire Maker - Flight A	$1,500
Fri, Jun 7th	3:00 PM	$1,500 Seven-Card Stud	$1,500
Sat, Jun 8th	10:00 AM	Millionaire Maker - Flight B	$1,500
Sat, Jun 8th	3:00 PM	No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw	$10,000
Sun, Jun 9th	11:00 AM	$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack	$1,000
Sun, Jun 9th	3:00 PM	$1,500 Eight Game Mix	$1,500
Sun, Jun 9th	3:30 PM	6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha (Online)	$600
Mon, Jun 10th	11:00 AM	$600 Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack	$600
Mon, Jun 10th	12:00 PM	$2,620 No-Limit Hold'em Marathon	$2,620
Mon, Jun 10th	3:00 PM	$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo 8 or Better	$1,500
Tue, Jun 11th	11:00 AM	No-Limit Hold'em	$1,000
Tue, Jun 11th	3:00 PM	H.O.R.S.E.	$10,000
Wed, Jun 12th	11:00 AM	$1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha	$1,000
Wed, Jun 12th	3:00 PM	$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed	$3,000
Thu, Jun 13th	10:00 AM	Seniors No-Limit Hold'em	$1,000
Fri, Jun 14th	10:00 AM	$1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em - Flight A	$1,000
Fri, Jun 14th	3:00 PM	Dealers Choice 6-Handed	$10,000
Sat, Jun 15th	10:00 AM	$1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em - Flight B	$1,000
Sat, Jun 15th	3:00 PM	$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout	$3,000
Sun, Jun 16th	11:00 AM	$800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack	$800
Sun, Jun 16th	3:30 PM	Knock-Out Bounty No-Limit Hold’em (Online)	$600
Mon, Jun 17th	10:00 AM	$1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em	$1,000
Mon, Jun 17th	12:00 PM	$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha	$1,500
Mon, Jun 17th	3:00 PM	Seven Card Stud	$10,000
Tue, Jun 18th	11:00 AM	$600 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em / Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack 8-Handed	$600
Tue, Jun 18th	3:00 PM	$2,500 Mixed Big Bet	$2,500
Wed, Jun 19th	11:00 AM	$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Bounty	$1,500
Wed, Jun 19th	3:00 PM	High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha	$25,000
Wed, Jun 19th	3:30 PM	Turbo No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack (Online)	$500
Thu, Jun 20th	11:00 AM	$1,000/$10,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em	$10,000
Thu, Jun 20th	12:00 PM	$2,500 No-Limit Hold'em	$2,500
Thu, Jun 20th	3:00 PM	Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw	$10,000
Fri, Jun 21st	10:00 AM	Monster Stack - Flight A	$1,500
Fri, Jun 21st	3:00 PM	$2,500 Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better, Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo 8 or Better	$2,500
Sat, Jun 22nd	10:00 AM	Monster Stack - Flight B	$1,500
Sat, Jun 22nd	3:00 PM	Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed	$10,000
Sun, Jun 23rd	11:00 AM	$800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack 8-Handed	$800
Sun, Jun 23rd	3:00 PM	$1,500 Razz	$1,500
Sun, Jun 23rd	3:30 PM	Double Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Online)	$1,000
Mon, Jun 24th	10:00 AM	$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty	$1,500
Mon, Jun 24th	12:00 PM	Tag Team No-Limit Hold'em	$1,000
Mon, Jun 24th	3:00 PM	Poker Players Championship	$50,000
Tue, Jun 25th	11:00 AM	$600 No-Limit Hold'em DEEPSTACK CHAMPIONSHIP	$600
Tue, Jun 25th	3:00 PM	$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better	$1,500
Wed, Jun 26th	10:00 AM	$400 Colossus - Flight A	$400
Wed, Jun 26th	3:00 PM	Razz Championship	$10,000
Thu, Jun 27th	10:00 AM	$400 Colossus - Flight B	$400
Thu, Jun 27th	3:00 PM	$1,500 Omaha Mix	$1,500
Fri, Jun 28th	10:00 AM	$888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em - Flight A	$888
Fri, Jun 28th	3:00 PM	Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8	$10,000
Fri, Jun 28th	5:00 PM	$888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em - Flight B	$888
Sat, Jun 29th	10:00 AM	$888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em - Flight C	$888
Sat, Jun 29th	3:00 PM	$1,500 Limit Hold'em	$1,500
Sun, Jun 30th	10:00 AM	$888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em - Flight D	$888
Sun, Jun 30th	3:00 PM	Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8	$10,000
Sun, Jun 30th	3:30 PM	No-Limit Hold’em Championship (Online)	$1,000
Mon, Jul 1st	11:00 AM	$1,000 Mini Main Event	$1,000
Mon, Jul 1st	3:00 PM	$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed	$5,000
Tue, Jul 2nd	11:00 AM	SALUTE TO WARRIORS - $500 No-Limit Hold'em	$500
Tue, Jul 2nd	3:00 PM	Limit Hold’em Championship	$10,000
Wed, Jul 3rd	12:00 PM	$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship - Flight A	$10,000
Wed, Jul 3rd	3:30 PM	High Roller No-Limit Hold’em (Online)	$3,200
Thu, Jul 4th	12:00 PM	$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship - Flight B	$10,000
Fri, Jul 5th	12:00 PM	$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship - Flight C	$10,000
Sat, Jul 6th	11:00 AM	$1,000 + $111 Little One for One Drop - Flight A	$1,111
Sun, Jul 7th	11:00 AM	$1,000 + $111 Little One for One Drop - Flight B	$1,111
Sun, Jul 7th	3:30 PM	6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em (Online)	$800
Mon, Jul 8th	11:00 AM	$1,000 + $111 Little One for One Drop - Flight C	$1,111
Mon, Jul 8th	3:00 PM	$3,000 Limit Hold'em 6-Handed	$3,000
Tue, Jul 9th	11:00 AM	$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty	$1,500
Tue, Jul 9th	3:00 PM	$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em	$3,000
Wed, Jul 10th	11:00 AM	$1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em Pot-Limit Omaha	$1,500
Wed, Jul 10th	3:00 PM	$1,500 50th Annual Bracelet Winners Only No-Limit Hold'em	$1,500
Thu, Jul 11th	11:00 AM	$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack	$1,500
Thu, Jul 11th	3:00 PM	High Roller No-Limit Hold’em	$100,000
Fri, Jul 12th	11:00 AM	The Closer - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Flight A	$1,500
Fri, Jul 12th	3:00 PM	$3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed	$3,000
Sat, Jul 13th	11:00 AM	The Closer - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Flight B	$1,500
Sat, Jul 13th	3:00 PM	6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em	$10,000
Sun, Jul 14th	11:00 AM	The Closer - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Flight C	$1,500
Sun, Jul 14th	3:00 PM	$3,000 HORSE	$3,000
Sun, Jul 14th	3:30 PM	Summer Saver No-Limit Hold’em (Online)	$500
Mon, Jul 15th	12:00 PM	$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em	$5,000

How to watch the 2019 WSOP

As has been the case the past three years, Poker Central will be coordinating broadcast coverage of the WSOP. Through a combination of partnerships and its own network, PokerGO, fans will have the ability to watch more of the WSOP than ever before.

Thanks to a new deal with CBS, Poker Central will offer broadcasts of 41 non-Main Event tournaments this year. Here is the schedule for those broadcasts:

Date	Time	Network(s)	Event
30-May-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access/ PokerGO	$10,000 Super Turbo Bounty Final Table (Event #2)
31-May-19	1:00 PM	PokerGO	$500 Casino Employees Final Table (Event #1)
2-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better Final Table (Event #4)
3-Jun-19	TBD	PokerGO	High Roller – $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em for the 50th Annual Final Table (Event #5)
4-Jun-19	7:00 PM	CBS All Access	$600 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Final Table (Event #9)
5-Jun-19	1:00 PM	PokerGO	$10,000 Short Deck No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #8)
6-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access/ PokerGO	$5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #11)
7-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	BIG 50 – $500 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #3)
8-Jun-19	1:00 PM	PokerGO	$10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #15)
9-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Final Table (Event #18)
10-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Final Table (Event #20)
11-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access/ PokerGO	$10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Final Table (Event #21)
12-Jun-19	1:00 PM	PokerGO	Millionaire Maker – $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #19)
13-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo 8 or Better Final Table (Event #27)
14-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access/ PokerGO	$10,000 HORSE Final Table (Event #29)
15-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$2,620 No-Limit Hold’em Marathon Final Table (Event #26)
16-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #32)
17-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access/ PokerGO	$3,000 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout Final Table (Event #36)
18-Jun-19	3:00 PM	CBS All Access	$800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Final Table (Event #37)
19-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table (Event #40)
20-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access/ PokerGO	$10,000 Seven Card Stud Final Table (Event #41)
21-Jun-19	7:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Bounty Final Table (Event #44)
22-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller Final Table (Event #45)
23-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access/ PokerGO	$1,000/$10,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em (Event #47)
24-Jun-19	9:00 PM	CBS All Access	$800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack 8-Handed Final Table (Event #53)
25-Jun-19	1:00 PM	PokerGO	$10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Final Table (Event #52)
26-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	Monster Stack – $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #50)
27-Jun-19	3:00 PM	PokerGO	$50,000 Poker Players Championship Final Table (Event #58)
28-Jun-19	1:00 PM	PokerGO	$50,000 Poker Players Championship Final Table (Event #58)
29-Jun-19	7:00 PM	CBS All Access	$400 COLOSSUS Final Table (Event #61)
30-Jun-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1,500 Omaha Mix Final Table (Event #63)
1-Jul-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Final Table (Event #65)
2-Jul-19	9:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1,000 Mini Main Event Final Table (Event #69)
3-Jul-19	7:00 PM	CBS All Access	$888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #64)
4-Jul-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed Final Table (Event #70)
11-Jul-19	5:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1000 +$111 Little One for One Drop Final Table (Event #75)
12-Jul-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$3,000 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #79)
13-Jul-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access/ PokerGO	$100,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller Final Table (Event #83)
14-Jul-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$1,500 50th Annual Bracelet Winners Only No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #81)
15-Jul-19	7:00 PM	CBS All Access	The Closer – $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table (Event #84)
16-Jul-19	1:00 PM	CBS All Access	$10,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed Final Table (Event #86)

In addition, Poker Central will team with ESPN once again to bring extensive showings of the Main Event in prime time. Every day of the big event will see coverage on one of ESPN’s two main channels. Here is that schedule:

Date	Time	Network	Event
July 3, 2019	8:30 PM - 2:00 AM ET	ESPN2	WSOP Main Event Day 1A
July 4, 2019	9:00 PM - 11:00 PM ET	ESPN2	WSOP Main Event Day 1B
July 5, 2019	8:00 PM - 12:30 AM ET	ESPN2	WSOP Main Event Day 1C
July 6, 2019	6:00 PM - 10:30 PM ET	ESPN2	WSOP Main Event Day 2AB
July 7, 2019	2:30 PM - 6:00 PM ET	ESPN	WSOP Main Event Day 2C
July 8, 2019	10:00 PM - 2:00 AM ET	ESPN2	WSOP Main Event Day 3
July 9, 2019	7:00 PM - 11:00 PM ET	ESPN	WSOP Main Event Day 4
July 10, 2019	8:00 PM - 11:00 PM ET	ESPN	WSOP Main Event Day 5
July 11, 2019	12:30 AM - 2:00 AM ET	ESPN2	WSOP Main Event Day 6
July 12, 2019	9:00 PM - 11:00 PM ET	ESPN	WSOP Main Event Day 7
July 12, 2019	11:00 PM - 2:00 AM ET	ESPN2	WSOP Main Event Day 7 (Play to Final Table)
July 14, 2019	10:00 PM – TBD ET	ESPN2	WSOP Main Event Day 8 (Nine to Six Players)
July 15, 2019	10:00 PM – TBD ET	ESPN	WSOP Main Event Day 9 (Six to Three Players)
July 16, 2019	9:00 PM – TBD ET	ESPN	WSOP Main Event Day 10 (Three Players to Winner)

In other words, there is no reason that WSOP fans cannot get a sense of what’s going on this year. Make sure to check your subscriptions and plans to tune in.

Things to watch for at the 2019 WSOP

Every edition of the WSOP features changes, storylines, and items of interest to the observing public. This year’s version is no different, so here are some of the more notable features to come during the 2019 WSOP.

Online WSOP events multiplying at a rapid pace

In the past years, the WSOP has awarded bracelets at nine online events overall. This year, tournament officials will double that amount, with nine bracelet-bearing events scheduled for this year alone.

The plan to hold so many online bracelet events is particularly audacious, given that WSOP.com could lose a significant portion of its players’ pool after the second event. The Department of Justice‘s plan to enforce the Wire Act broadly threatens the multi-state compact that allows players from New Jersey to play in these events.

However, the news from Washington has not deterred tournament officials. Clearly, the WSOP sees the future online, and there will be bracelets going out because of it.

Big Blind Ante rules them all

The ante system in tournament play has always been imperfect. The mere coordination aspect for dealers causes a massive waste of time in the aggregate.

Last year, tournament officials toyed around with the big blind ante format, in which the combined antes are the responsibility of a single player. As the name implies, the task usually falls to the big blind, although the dealer sometimes picks up the tab.

Apparently, last year’s experiments were successful. At the 2019 WSOP, all no-limit hold’em events will feature the big blind ante format.

Starting stacks getting higher and tournaments getting longer

Whether the poker community admits it or not, part of the draw of poker tournaments is the bang for the buck aspect. Players pay a flat fee and get a certain amount of “play” for their investment.

This dimension is important, though, because it’s what keeps the recreational players coming back each year to donate more money to the prizepools. So, accordingly, the WSOP has increased the starting stack sizes this year.

As a result, WSOP tournaments will run longer this year, too. The result will be a more deliberate poker session, but hopefully, a more fruitful one for those who make the money.

Average Joe likes buy-ins low

The 2019 WSOP has all of the usual high buy-in events that have made the Series famous. Along with all the usual $10,000 buy-in tournaments, there is a $25,000 buy-in PLO event, 2 $50,000 NLHE tournaments, and a high roller competition that requires $100,000 to join.

With that said, there are also plenty of tournaments featuring sub-$1000 buy-ins. The lowest event is one of the online clashes. In that tournament, a mere $400 will buy players a chance at a gold bracelet of their very own.

Gavin Smith getting his due

Finally, the poker world is still recovering from the untimely death of poker pro Gavin Smith in January. The amiable Canadian passed away suddenly at the unfair age of 50, leaving friends and family bewildered at his departure.

So, his closest compadres are celebrating his life at this year’s WSOP in the most appropriate ways. On May 28, the WSOP will host the Gavin Smith Memorial Tournament, which will benefit the Gavin Smith Trust.

Friends and family will also gather May 29 at The Space Comedy Club. Comedy for the Caveman will feature appearances from Joe Stapleton, Jess Welman, and others who knew Smith the best.

—

In short, this WSOP will be a special one, to be sure. Make sure to join into the festivities as much as you can.