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LAS VEGAS (Feb. 2, 2012) – The 43rd annual World Series of Poker® (WSOP®) presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky – the world’s longest-running, richest and most prestigious poker series open to anyone 21 years of age or older – officially puts cards in the air on Sunday, May 27. The first open WSOP gold bracelet event will take place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 with a $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament. A total of 61 coveted gold bracelets will be up for grabs in 2012 – three more than last year.
To view the entire schedule, visit WSOP.com/2012, where guests will be able to download event structures, pre-registration forms and even link it to your Facebook, Twitter or other social network sites.
The annual poker extravaganza, which dates back to 1970, is televised exclusively on ESPN from Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The tournament series consists of a comprehensive slate of the game’s most popular poker variations and runs from May 27 to July 16 at Rio.
"This year’s WSOP schedule is very exciting,” said WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel, who will oversee the event for the seventh consecutive year. “We’re introducing some fantastic new events, while bringing back many successful stalwarts that the players love. We will expand our footprint this year to include a dedicated cash game, satellite and single-day tournament space, so players will have an easy time finding a desirable game without ever having to leave the Rio Convention Center.”
In terms of footprint, 2012 promises to be the biggest yet; an additional 92 poker tables will be put in play, with the Brasilia Ballroom providing the room for the extra tables. In total, the WSOP anticipates 470 poker tables in use throughout the summer – up from 378 during last year’s record-setting series.
Throughout June, the weekends will remain focused on the “weekend warriors” with affordable buy-in, No-Limit Hold’em tournaments for WSOP gold bracelets at $1,500 on Saturdays and $1,000 on Sundays. July 4 and 5 will feature a multi-day start $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament (Event #59) and serve as the appetizer prior to the start of the Main Event.
The 43rd annual WSOP concludes with the grandest spectacle in all of gaming – the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Championship, also known as “The Main Event” (Event #61), which begins play on Saturday, July 7 and will reach its final table of nine players on Monday, July 16, at which time play will be halted. Due to the increased table capacity, only three starting days will be necessary for the WSOP Main Event. Players must begin their journey to fame and fortune on Saturday, July 7 (1A); Sunday, July 8 (1B); or Monday, July 9 (1C). Day 2 play will restart on Tuesday, July 10, for all players from Days 1A and 1B. Players returning from Day 1C will play their Day 2 on Wednesday, July 11. All Day 2 survivors will combine for the first time to form Day 3 on Thursday, July 12.
With the elimination of off-days and the introduction of five full levels each day, those playing Day 1A can reach the final table in 10 days, while a Day 1C player can reach the final nine in just eight days. These changes provide many benefits to the players, most important is the reduced time commitment needed to enter the event. In addition, the costs associated with playing the event are reduced with less downtime between play. By shortening the WSOP Main Event by three full days and reducing the cost of spending, the expectation is greater participation that can take this event to new heights. It is important to note that changes to the WSOP Main Event do not include the tournament structure itself. The world’s best tournament structure remains untouched with 30,000 in starting chips, two-hour levels and Level 1 starting at 50-100 blinds with no ante.
The delayed final table for the Main Event will be moved up one week in order to accommodate the U.S. Presidential Election, slated for the first Tuesday in November. As such, the WSOP Main Event final table will be held in two stages, from nine players down to two on Sunday, Oct. 28, and heads up play on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The Penn & Teller Theater at Rio will host the finale in front of an anticipated live television audience on ESPN and ESPN2.
Other highlights of the 2012 WSOP schedule include:
The opening weekend features a $1,500 buy-in, No-Limit Hold’em tournament (Event #9A/9B) on June 2-3, which will allow re-entry for the first time. Players who participate in 1A on Saturday will have the option of buying-in to 1B on Sunday if they are eliminated during play on Saturday. Both starting times will be noon, and players do not have to re-enter. Day 2 for all returning players will be Monday, June 4.
The entire convention center of Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will once again be dedicated exclusively to the 2012 World Series of Poker, with poker tables in the 55,000 square-foot Pavilion Ballroom, the 39,000 square-foot Amazon Room and the 20,000 square-foot Brasilia Ballroom. The number of poker tables expected to be in play during the 2012 WSOP will be the largest amount ever deployed.
Playing Time: There have been a few tweaks to playing times for the 43rd annual WSOP. Almost all WSOP gold bracelet tournaments will begin at noon and 5 p.m. PST each day with a maximum of 10 one-hour levels being played for the noon starts if the field size is under 1,500 players. If the field size reaches 1,500 or more, 11 levels will be contested on Day 1. Thus, noon tournaments will end at 12:40 a.m. and include four 20-minute breaks and a 90-minute dinner break after Level 6. For events where an 11th level is necessary, play will extend to 2 a.m. with an extra break of 20 minutes after Level 10. This adjustment of playing time based on field size is intended to help keep tournaments to their three-day schedule and increase the chances of reaching the money by the end of the first day.
The 5 p.m. events will be comprised of a maximum of eight one-hour levels on Day 1. Day 1 play is expected to conclude at 2 a.m. and feature two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute break after Level 4.
For those advancing past the first day, re-starts for noon bracelet events will now be at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. for 5 p.m. tournaments, with a maximum of 10 levels being played each day until a champion is crowned. The Main Event features two-hour levels, with play beginning at noon each day.
The Senior’s Event will begin at 10 a.m. this year and The Big One for One Drop will begin at 1:11 p.m.
Registration for all bracelet events will remain open through four levels of play – or until all available seats have been sold. This means players can register as late as 4:40 p.m. for noon tournaments and 9:45 p.m. for the 5 p.m. tournaments. The only exception to this is the Main Event, which will remain open for its customary two levels, or four hours of play.
Pre-registration for the 2012 WSOP will be available online through World Series of Poker - Official Tournament Coverage and Results beginning Feb. 8, 2012.
All Caesars Entertainment properties in Las Vegas offer special reduced hotel room rates for entrants of WSOP bracelet events. Rates start as low as $69 for players staying at the host property of Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Imperial Palace offers rates as low as $35, and Bally’s, Flamingo, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Caesars Palace provide WSOP player rates as low as $45-$110 a night. Click here for the special WSOP player hotel rates.
The 2012 WSOP marks the 43rd running of the game’s most prestigious annual tournament. In 2011, WSOP generated the most entries ever (75,672) from 105 different nations. Players competed for more than $192 million and a total of 58 championship gold bracelets, globally recognized as the poker’s top prize, were awarded. Attendance and prize pool numbers in 2011 were both at historic highs.
Among the highlights of the 2012 schedule:
· 61 gold bracelet events over 50 days.
· Superb Structures & Starting Chips – All gold bracelet events in 2012 will feature triple the buy-in in starting chips and deep structures, providing plenty of room for play.
· New Event -- $560 Bracelet Bounty No-Limit Hold’em – To reward the fraternity of players with a WSOP gold bracelet, all are welcome to enter this one-day non-bracelet event which will feature bounties placed on any WSOP bracelet winners in the field. It will occur on Tuesday, May 29 at noon.
· New Event -- $3,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha – To inject this year’s WSOP with some early excitement, this event (Event #3) combines the two most popular games played today in a Heads Up format (512 player cap) and should be a thrilling rollercoaster ride for the game’s young guns. Players will alternate between games each 20-minute level. The new event debuts Tuesday, May 29 at noon.
· New Event -- $5,000 Mix-Max No-Limit Hold’em – Playing in this event will require players to have the skills to play 9-handed (on Day 1), 6-handed (on Day 2) and in a heads-up format if they can make it to the final 16 players in the event. Players will carry over their chips throughout play and be re-seeded when 16 players remain, with the highest chip total facing the lowest and so on. The event (Event #6) is structured as a four-day event and begins on Thursday, May 31 at noon. Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi won an event at WSOP Europe with a similar structure.
· New Event -- $2,500 Four-Handed No-Limit Hold’em – It’s not heads-up poker, nor is it a six-max; this new variation of four-handed No-Limit Hold’em will feature a maximum of four players. For action junkies who excel at No-Limit Hold’em, this is a game where aggression over patience is definitely required. This is Event #28 on the schedule and will debut Thursday, June 14 at noon.
· New Event -- $1,500 Ante Only No-Limit Hold’em – In a twist on traditional No-Limit Hold’em poker, this event will be played without the small and big blind bets. All players at the table will ante to begin every hand, with the person to the left of the button starting the action from there with a choice of either folding or bringing in the minimum chip amount in play. The event will create a lot of action and multiple-player pots. This is Event #49 and will start on Wednesday, June 27 at noon.
· New Event -- $1,000,000 buy-in, Big One for ONE DROP – Never before has a player had to pony up $1,000,000 just to enter a poker tournament. This is what players are accustomed to winning, but for the first time, the WSOP will put on a $1,000,000 buy-in bracelet event. The event (Event #55) will begin at 1:11 p.m. on Sunday, July 1 and play out as a three-day event, most likely leading to the largest first place prize in poker history. The event will be televised by ESPN and provide a donation of 11.1% from each player’s buy-in to support www.onedrop.org.
· New Event -- $560 Doubles No-Limit Hold’em – Find a partner and Dosey Doe. In this special one-day, non-bracelet event, players pair up and work together to win. Players will alternate playing each level, using one stack to guide their team to victory. The tournament is scheduled on Saturday, June 30 at 10 a.m.
· $50K Poker Players Championship – The Chip Reese Memorial Trophy is up for grabs at the $50,000 buy-in eight-game mixed event, also dubbed the “Poker Players Championship.” This eight-game format will serve as the true test of the game’s greatest all-around player. Event #45 starts on Sunday, June 24 at 5 p.m.
· The Seniors-Only No-Limit Hold’em Championship – Event #29 featuring a $1,000 buy-in for all poker enthusiasts 50 years of age or older will begin on Friday, June 15 at 10 a.m. In 2011, this event set a record when 3,752 players entered – the most ever on one day -- and the winner walked away with $557,435 for his $1,000 investment. In addition, a Seniors Second Chance $560 non-bracelet event will be offered at 7 p.m. for those looking for redemption.
· The Ladies Only No-Limit Hold’em Championship –The $1,000 buy-in Ladies World Championship (Event #51) will start on Friday, June 29 at noon.
· Daily Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em Tournaments – Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will host three different daily No-Limit Hold’em tournaments from May 27-July 16. Daily $235 buy-in events begin at 2 p.m., $185 buy-in tournaments at 6 p.m. and $135 tournament at 10 p.m. All daily one-day tournaments and non-bracelet events and will take place in the Pavilion Ballroom.
· Satellites Every Day! -- A complete array of satellites, from single-table to mega, will be offered from May 27-July 9. Mega satellites require buy-ins of $330 for the daily 4 p.m. and $550 for the daily 8 p.m.
All winners will be required to provide a valid picture ID. Tax forms will be completed for those with winnings in excess of $5,000 net of event buy-in. Players without a Tax Identification Number and foreign players from non-tax treaty countries are subject to up to 30 percent tax withholding. WSOP reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the tournament or any tournament event, in part or in whole, without notice.
To view the entire schedule, visit WSOP.com/2012, where guests will be able to download event structures, pre-registration forms and even link it to your Facebook, Twitter or other social network sites.
The annual poker extravaganza, which dates back to 1970, is televised exclusively on ESPN from Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The tournament series consists of a comprehensive slate of the game’s most popular poker variations and runs from May 27 to July 16 at Rio.
"This year’s WSOP schedule is very exciting,” said WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel, who will oversee the event for the seventh consecutive year. “We’re introducing some fantastic new events, while bringing back many successful stalwarts that the players love. We will expand our footprint this year to include a dedicated cash game, satellite and single-day tournament space, so players will have an easy time finding a desirable game without ever having to leave the Rio Convention Center.”
In terms of footprint, 2012 promises to be the biggest yet; an additional 92 poker tables will be put in play, with the Brasilia Ballroom providing the room for the extra tables. In total, the WSOP anticipates 470 poker tables in use throughout the summer – up from 378 during last year’s record-setting series.
Throughout June, the weekends will remain focused on the “weekend warriors” with affordable buy-in, No-Limit Hold’em tournaments for WSOP gold bracelets at $1,500 on Saturdays and $1,000 on Sundays. July 4 and 5 will feature a multi-day start $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament (Event #59) and serve as the appetizer prior to the start of the Main Event.
The 43rd annual WSOP concludes with the grandest spectacle in all of gaming – the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Championship, also known as “The Main Event” (Event #61), which begins play on Saturday, July 7 and will reach its final table of nine players on Monday, July 16, at which time play will be halted. Due to the increased table capacity, only three starting days will be necessary for the WSOP Main Event. Players must begin their journey to fame and fortune on Saturday, July 7 (1A); Sunday, July 8 (1B); or Monday, July 9 (1C). Day 2 play will restart on Tuesday, July 10, for all players from Days 1A and 1B. Players returning from Day 1C will play their Day 2 on Wednesday, July 11. All Day 2 survivors will combine for the first time to form Day 3 on Thursday, July 12.
With the elimination of off-days and the introduction of five full levels each day, those playing Day 1A can reach the final table in 10 days, while a Day 1C player can reach the final nine in just eight days. These changes provide many benefits to the players, most important is the reduced time commitment needed to enter the event. In addition, the costs associated with playing the event are reduced with less downtime between play. By shortening the WSOP Main Event by three full days and reducing the cost of spending, the expectation is greater participation that can take this event to new heights. It is important to note that changes to the WSOP Main Event do not include the tournament structure itself. The world’s best tournament structure remains untouched with 30,000 in starting chips, two-hour levels and Level 1 starting at 50-100 blinds with no ante.
The delayed final table for the Main Event will be moved up one week in order to accommodate the U.S. Presidential Election, slated for the first Tuesday in November. As such, the WSOP Main Event final table will be held in two stages, from nine players down to two on Sunday, Oct. 28, and heads up play on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The Penn & Teller Theater at Rio will host the finale in front of an anticipated live television audience on ESPN and ESPN2.
Other highlights of the 2012 WSOP schedule include:
The opening weekend features a $1,500 buy-in, No-Limit Hold’em tournament (Event #9A/9B) on June 2-3, which will allow re-entry for the first time. Players who participate in 1A on Saturday will have the option of buying-in to 1B on Sunday if they are eliminated during play on Saturday. Both starting times will be noon, and players do not have to re-enter. Day 2 for all returning players will be Monday, June 4.
The entire convention center of Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will once again be dedicated exclusively to the 2012 World Series of Poker, with poker tables in the 55,000 square-foot Pavilion Ballroom, the 39,000 square-foot Amazon Room and the 20,000 square-foot Brasilia Ballroom. The number of poker tables expected to be in play during the 2012 WSOP will be the largest amount ever deployed.
Playing Time: There have been a few tweaks to playing times for the 43rd annual WSOP. Almost all WSOP gold bracelet tournaments will begin at noon and 5 p.m. PST each day with a maximum of 10 one-hour levels being played for the noon starts if the field size is under 1,500 players. If the field size reaches 1,500 or more, 11 levels will be contested on Day 1. Thus, noon tournaments will end at 12:40 a.m. and include four 20-minute breaks and a 90-minute dinner break after Level 6. For events where an 11th level is necessary, play will extend to 2 a.m. with an extra break of 20 minutes after Level 10. This adjustment of playing time based on field size is intended to help keep tournaments to their three-day schedule and increase the chances of reaching the money by the end of the first day.
The 5 p.m. events will be comprised of a maximum of eight one-hour levels on Day 1. Day 1 play is expected to conclude at 2 a.m. and feature two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute break after Level 4.
For those advancing past the first day, re-starts for noon bracelet events will now be at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. for 5 p.m. tournaments, with a maximum of 10 levels being played each day until a champion is crowned. The Main Event features two-hour levels, with play beginning at noon each day.
The Senior’s Event will begin at 10 a.m. this year and The Big One for One Drop will begin at 1:11 p.m.
Registration for all bracelet events will remain open through four levels of play – or until all available seats have been sold. This means players can register as late as 4:40 p.m. for noon tournaments and 9:45 p.m. for the 5 p.m. tournaments. The only exception to this is the Main Event, which will remain open for its customary two levels, or four hours of play.
Pre-registration for the 2012 WSOP will be available online through World Series of Poker - Official Tournament Coverage and Results beginning Feb. 8, 2012.
All Caesars Entertainment properties in Las Vegas offer special reduced hotel room rates for entrants of WSOP bracelet events. Rates start as low as $69 for players staying at the host property of Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Imperial Palace offers rates as low as $35, and Bally’s, Flamingo, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Caesars Palace provide WSOP player rates as low as $45-$110 a night. Click here for the special WSOP player hotel rates.
The 2012 WSOP marks the 43rd running of the game’s most prestigious annual tournament. In 2011, WSOP generated the most entries ever (75,672) from 105 different nations. Players competed for more than $192 million and a total of 58 championship gold bracelets, globally recognized as the poker’s top prize, were awarded. Attendance and prize pool numbers in 2011 were both at historic highs.
Among the highlights of the 2012 schedule:
· 61 gold bracelet events over 50 days.
· Superb Structures & Starting Chips – All gold bracelet events in 2012 will feature triple the buy-in in starting chips and deep structures, providing plenty of room for play.
· New Event -- $560 Bracelet Bounty No-Limit Hold’em – To reward the fraternity of players with a WSOP gold bracelet, all are welcome to enter this one-day non-bracelet event which will feature bounties placed on any WSOP bracelet winners in the field. It will occur on Tuesday, May 29 at noon.
· New Event -- $3,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha – To inject this year’s WSOP with some early excitement, this event (Event #3) combines the two most popular games played today in a Heads Up format (512 player cap) and should be a thrilling rollercoaster ride for the game’s young guns. Players will alternate between games each 20-minute level. The new event debuts Tuesday, May 29 at noon.
· New Event -- $5,000 Mix-Max No-Limit Hold’em – Playing in this event will require players to have the skills to play 9-handed (on Day 1), 6-handed (on Day 2) and in a heads-up format if they can make it to the final 16 players in the event. Players will carry over their chips throughout play and be re-seeded when 16 players remain, with the highest chip total facing the lowest and so on. The event (Event #6) is structured as a four-day event and begins on Thursday, May 31 at noon. Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi won an event at WSOP Europe with a similar structure.
· New Event -- $2,500 Four-Handed No-Limit Hold’em – It’s not heads-up poker, nor is it a six-max; this new variation of four-handed No-Limit Hold’em will feature a maximum of four players. For action junkies who excel at No-Limit Hold’em, this is a game where aggression over patience is definitely required. This is Event #28 on the schedule and will debut Thursday, June 14 at noon.
· New Event -- $1,500 Ante Only No-Limit Hold’em – In a twist on traditional No-Limit Hold’em poker, this event will be played without the small and big blind bets. All players at the table will ante to begin every hand, with the person to the left of the button starting the action from there with a choice of either folding or bringing in the minimum chip amount in play. The event will create a lot of action and multiple-player pots. This is Event #49 and will start on Wednesday, June 27 at noon.
· New Event -- $1,000,000 buy-in, Big One for ONE DROP – Never before has a player had to pony up $1,000,000 just to enter a poker tournament. This is what players are accustomed to winning, but for the first time, the WSOP will put on a $1,000,000 buy-in bracelet event. The event (Event #55) will begin at 1:11 p.m. on Sunday, July 1 and play out as a three-day event, most likely leading to the largest first place prize in poker history. The event will be televised by ESPN and provide a donation of 11.1% from each player’s buy-in to support www.onedrop.org.
· New Event -- $560 Doubles No-Limit Hold’em – Find a partner and Dosey Doe. In this special one-day, non-bracelet event, players pair up and work together to win. Players will alternate playing each level, using one stack to guide their team to victory. The tournament is scheduled on Saturday, June 30 at 10 a.m.
· $50K Poker Players Championship – The Chip Reese Memorial Trophy is up for grabs at the $50,000 buy-in eight-game mixed event, also dubbed the “Poker Players Championship.” This eight-game format will serve as the true test of the game’s greatest all-around player. Event #45 starts on Sunday, June 24 at 5 p.m.
· The Seniors-Only No-Limit Hold’em Championship – Event #29 featuring a $1,000 buy-in for all poker enthusiasts 50 years of age or older will begin on Friday, June 15 at 10 a.m. In 2011, this event set a record when 3,752 players entered – the most ever on one day -- and the winner walked away with $557,435 for his $1,000 investment. In addition, a Seniors Second Chance $560 non-bracelet event will be offered at 7 p.m. for those looking for redemption.
· The Ladies Only No-Limit Hold’em Championship –The $1,000 buy-in Ladies World Championship (Event #51) will start on Friday, June 29 at noon.
· Daily Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em Tournaments – Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will host three different daily No-Limit Hold’em tournaments from May 27-July 16. Daily $235 buy-in events begin at 2 p.m., $185 buy-in tournaments at 6 p.m. and $135 tournament at 10 p.m. All daily one-day tournaments and non-bracelet events and will take place in the Pavilion Ballroom.
· Satellites Every Day! -- A complete array of satellites, from single-table to mega, will be offered from May 27-July 9. Mega satellites require buy-ins of $330 for the daily 4 p.m. and $550 for the daily 8 p.m.
All winners will be required to provide a valid picture ID. Tax forms will be completed for those with winnings in excess of $5,000 net of event buy-in. Players without a Tax Identification Number and foreign players from non-tax treaty countries are subject to up to 30 percent tax withholding. WSOP reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the tournament or any tournament event, in part or in whole, without notice.