A version of the 2018 WSOP schedule got leaked last week, but the folks at the World Series of Poker HQ finally released the official schedule. The 2018 WSOP will be in its 49th year featuring 78 bracelet events. The cheapest buy-in will be $365 and the largest is $1 million for the Big One for One Drop. Several new events are on the schedule this year including... $100K High Roller, $50K High Roller, $365 PLO GIANT, $1,500 BOUNTY PLO, and the new $1,500 THE CLOSER with 30-minute levels. The 2018 WSOP begins May 29 at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas and runs through July 17. The $10K Main Event begins on July 2 and plays down to a champion, which will be crowned on July 14.
It's official! After a leak last week, the 2018 World Series of Poker schedule went live. The 2018 WSOP returns to the Rio Casino in Las Vegas starting on May 29 and running through July 17. We're ready for the 49th annual running of the donks, sharks, and other creatures. The WSOP will be spread out over 500 tables in four ballrooms in the convention center: Pavilion, Brasilia, Miranda and Amazon. The 2018 WSOP boasts 78 total bracelet events including several new events. The Big One for One Drop, with a $1 million entry fee, will close out the series. The Big One starts on July 15 and ends on July 17. The prestigious Main Event still has its $10K buy-in and that kicks off on July 2 with three starting flights. No mas November Nine! Yes, just like this past summer, the WSOP Main Event will play down to a champion to be crowned on July 14.
WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel said, "With today's announcement, we hope there is enough time to adjust your holiday wish list. We feel very good about the multitude of offerings on the 2018 World Series of Poker schedule and look forward to welcoming everyone to the Rio in Las Vegas this summer."
Several of the "name" or "branded" events will return. Many of those were hyper-popular with the donkolicious masses. Of course, the beancounters loved donkaments and any special events catered to weekend warriors because of the vast number of entrants involved. And of course, jaded writers and hoi polloi pros will continue to poke fun at the branded moneymakers such as the COLOSSUS, the GIANT, the MARATHON, the MILLY MAKER, Crazy Eights, and the DOUBLE STACK.
Nine new events were added to the 2018 schedule including a pair of high roller affairs in the $50K and $100K price tag. In addition, there will be a PLO version of The Giant, plus a BOUNTY PLO event with a $1,500 entry fee. And let's not forget about The CLOSER! Sounds like the nickname for a shady character in a Quentin Tarrantino flick, like the Wolf from Pulp Fiction. The CLOSER will be one of the last big-field events on the schedule with 30-minute levels and it will only last two-days. So, if you want a quickie... then the CLOSER is for you. There's also the $10K Super Turbo Bounty, $1K DOUBLE STACK, $1K DOUBLE STACK with 30-minute levels, and a $565 online event over at WSOP.com.
For all of you virtual junkies, the WSOP.com website will host four total bracelet events. Two have extremely affordable buy-ins... $365 and $565... while the other two will be $1K and $3,200. Yes, for only $365 you can purchase a bracelet so long as you outlast the virtual running of the donks!
The suits at the WSOP backloaded some events, like they used to do back in the day. At least seven events will commence after the start of the Main Event. Those later events include... $1,500 Bounty PLO, $5K NL (Two-day event with 30-min levels), $1,500 MIXED 8-max NL/PLO, $1K DOUBLE STACK (with 30-min levels), $10K 6-Max NL Championship, $50K High Roller, plus The Closer, which is a $1,500 NL with 30-min levels.
The WSOP will be televised on ESPN and some final tables will be streamed on PokerGO. Stay tuned for an official statement regarding broadcast times/schedule.
According to WSOP.com's Editor-in-chief Seth Palanksy, "Participants from over 100 nations attend each year, and more than 100,000 entries create the largest prize pools offered in all variants of poker. In 2017, 120,995 entries competed for $231,010,874 in prize money, both marking 48-year highs for poker's number one brand."
For a complete schedule of all 78 events, click here.
