With a live WSOP most likely happening this fall, it appears schedules in the online scene will just be as packed if not more. Online players tuning in to this year’s WSOP events can expect an action-filled schedule throughout the year with three circuits currently lined up to run on the GGNET – Natural8 platform. The first festival, WSOP Super Circuit Online Series, is set to begin next week running until month-end for over $100 million in guaranteed prizes to be awarded. An exciting time ahead, more details on the upcoming festivals are highlighted below.
“The bar has been set with last year’s record-breaking series, but we’re hoping to raise it even higher this year. One of our goals is to provide as many people the chance to become champions as possible. However, we know not everyone can or is comfortable traveling yet, so continuing a robust online bracelet offering in 2021 is a must.”, noted Gregory Chochon, Director of the World Series of Poker.
GGPoker Head of Poker Operations, Steve Preiss added, “When GGPoker & WSOP partnered in 2020, we broke world records. Our plans for 2021 are to offer even more to our customers. With massive tournaments, WSOP gold bracelets & rings, and a route into the live WSOP Main Event in November, we hope players will love what we have in store for them.”
WSOP Online international schedule unveiled
Similar to the previous year’s online festivities, the WSOP Online 2021 International series will host two separate schedules dividing the US market from the international leg. Events open to players outside the US will be hosted on the GGNET – Natural8 platform running from August 1 up until September 12, 2021.
The six-week series is set to award a total of 33 bracelets throughout the schedule with the equivalent number of bracelet events to likewise run on its US counterpart. Players in the US will have to settle for a smaller field and have the chance to compete for its 33 bracelet events on the main WSOP.com client from July 1st to August 1st.
The astonishing success of last year’s World Series of Poker Online events took everyone by surprise as the final numbers revealed new record-breaking results in online poker history. Nearly $150 million in cash prizes was awarded across its 54-event schedule with the biggest individual prize ever awarded of $3.9 million having been claimed by Bulgaria’s Stoyan Madanzhiev after taking down the festival’s Main Event. On the other hand, 2020’s online-live hybrid $10,000 WSOP Championship Main Event was also met with positive results as Argentina’s Damian Salas took home the top prize of over $1.5 million along with the most coveted title of all.
Apart from the smashing prizes the champions earned, the 2020 festivities impressively broke a few other records worth noting. The $5,000 Main Event alone, was awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest prize pool in a single tournament, having generated a whopping $27.5 million in cash prizes. The Big 50 event recorded a total of 44,576 entries, nearly double of its live edition back in 2019 while now holding the title for most entries in WSOP history. Considering its huge success, it would be tough for the 2021 events to top last year’s results but at the same time, greatly suggests that a good season is likely to come.
WSOPc to kick off in few days
The WSOP Super Circuit Online Series is the first festival on everybody’s schedule as players get ready for its kick off beginning this May 1st. Running until the 30th, the WSOPc boasts of a massive $100 million in guaranteed prizes across its 18-Ring event schedule. Buy-ins range from as low as $25 for its multi-day BIG 25 event to its most expensive event being the $840 Bounty Hunters Championship.
Another first for this year is the 2 Cash Game Rings up for grabs, each set to be awarded for a Hold’em and a PLO cash game winner. Nine players with the top weighted BB ranks will get the first ever opportunity to compete in the ultimate Cash Game Final Table for prestigious WSOP rings on top of their recorded profits.
Highlights of the festival include:
• Event #1: $100 Super Circuit Kick-Off, $1M GTD
• Event #7: BIG 25, $1M GTD
• Event #11: $400 COLOSSUS, $2.5M GTD
• Event #15: $400 PLOSSUS, $1M GTD
• Event #18: $525 Main Event, $5M GTD
Starting flights for its $100 Super Circuit Kick-off event will begin to run as early as tomorrow, April 29th with Day 2 set to finish this Sunday for the $1M guaranteed prize pool. Stretching throughout the month, the series will close out with its highlighting $525 Main Event awarding the lion’s share of its $5 million guaranteed prizes on a new champion this coming June 5th. Players will get the chance to qualify to Day 2 via multiple starting flights running from May 16-30.
Aside from the hefty top prize to be awarded, the Main Event winner will additionally receive a $50,000 sponsorship and become the first member of Team Champions. The new team will carry every WSOP Online Series champion under their wing to create one of the most outstanding line-ups in poker history.
2021 GGPoker WSOP Super Circuit Online Series Ring Event Schedule
| Date | Day | Time (GMT) | Event Name | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May-02 | Sunday | 20:05 | #1: $100 Super Circuit Kick-Off, $1M GTD [Day 2] | $100 | $1,000,000 |
| May-01 | Saturday | 18:05 | #2: $210 Beat the Pros [WSOP Edition] | $210 | $500,000 |
| May-02 | Sunday | 18:05 | #3: $400 DOUBLE STACK MILLION No Limit Hold’em | $400 | $1,000,000 |
| May-04 | Tuesday | 18:05 | #4: $800 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max Championship | $800 | $1,000,000 |
| May-08 | Saturday | 18:05 | #5: $315 BOUNTY GIANT No Limit Hold’em | $315 | $500,000 |
| May-09 | Sunday | 18:05 | #6: $365 GIANT No Limit Hold’em | $365 | $1,000,000 |
| May-09 | Sunday | 20:05 | #7: BIG 25, $1M GTD [Day 2] | $25 | $1,000,000 |
| May-11 | Tuesday | 18:05 | #8: $800 Deepstack No Limit Hold’em Championship | $800 | $1,000,000 |
| May-15 | Saturday | 18:05 | #9: $525 Bounty Deepstack No Limit Hold’em | $525 | $500,000 |
| May-16 | Sunday | 18:05 | #10: $100 HUNDRED STACK No Limit Hold’em | $100 | $500,000 |
| May-16 | Sunday | 20:05 | #11: $400 COLOSSUS, $2.5M GTD [Day 2] | $400 | $2,500,000 |
| May-18 | Tuesday | 18:05 | #12: $800 Pot Limit Omaha Championship | $800 | $250,000 |
| May-22 | Saturday | 18:05 | #13: $210 Bounty 6-Max No Limit Hold’em | $210 | $500,000 |
| May-23 | Sunday | 18:05 | #14: $77 LUCKY 7’s No Limit Hold’em | $77 | $500,000 |
| May-23 | Sunday | 20:05 | #15: $400 PLOSSUS, $1M GTD [PLO, Day 2] | $400 | $1,000,000 |
| May-25 | Tuesday | 18:05 | #16: $840 Bounty Hunters Championship | $840 | $1,000,000 |
| May-29 | Saturday | 18:05 | #17: $52.50 Ultra Deepstack Bounty Turbo NLHE | $53 | $250,000 |
| May-30 | Sunday | 20:05 | #18: $525 Main Event, $5M GTD [Day 2] | $525 | $5,000,000 |
Satellites for the live WSOP Main Event
With many poker enthusiasts hopeful and eager to attend this year’s live festivities, it seems almost certain that its events will be somewhat short of its regular turnout, especially with some international travel restrictions remaining in place. However, good news awaits those looking to venture out later this year as the WSOP partners with GGNET – Natural8 to host online satellite tournaments for its live WSOP $10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship happening this November.
The Main Event, expected to begin on November 4, 2021 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, will have everybody’s attention as thousands of players come to compete for the most prestigious title in the industry. Running annually for over 40 decades, this year’s champion will join the likes of Chris Moneymaker, Joe Cada, Jonathan Duhamel and Joe McKeehen’s monumental victories.
WSOP Winter Online Super Circuit
Last on the schedule, WSOP’s Winter Online Super Circuit events will similarly run on the GGNET-Natural8 platform later in the year, with dates yet to be confirmed. Last year’s festival was also met with success as the brand ended the year having awarded over $100 million in guaranteed prizes. A total of 18 WSOP circuit rings were given away throughout the month-long schedule with player Paulius Plausinaitis having claimed the $1.2 million top prize from the $1,700 Main Event.
Judging from this year’s busy schedule from the WSOP brand alone, it is safe to say that the poker industry is actively thriving despite last year’s setbacks. Recovering from the multitude of postponed events, both the live and poker scene appears to be in full swing ultimately ready to give players that much needed action on the felt and excitement in the air.
