Christmas came a little early for poker enthusiasts because dates dropped for the 2019 World Series of Poker. The Rio Casino in Las Vegas will host the 50th version of the WSOP with 78 events running over 50 days starting May 28 and running through July 16. This year's special event with be the $5million guarantee Big 50, which is $500 juice free (initial) entry. The Main Event will feature three opening flights over the Fourth of July weekend.
Are you sitting down? Good. Now brace yourself for the news. I know you won't be able to contain yourself when you hear the new today. Maybe you should pop a half of Ativan before I tell you. Actually, let's crack that up and split it. I'll eat half and you can have the other half. That way we both don't lose our collective minds when I tell you the insane news... the dates for the 2019 World Series of Poker have dropped.
Okay, relax. Relax. Maybe you shoulda ate two Ativans instead of a half? I get it. You're super excited. Why wouldn't you be. After all, it's the WORLD SERIES OF POKER. It's the biggest, baddest, richest tournament series on the planet. As far as I know, it's the biggest event in this solar system. I cannot vouch for other solar systems because you never know if they're playing 6-card, single flop, double turns, but triple river PLO on Alpha Centuri. Those Zeta Reticulons are action junkies and make some of my degen friends look like Chainsaw Kessler in a straitjacket.
The suits at WSOP HQ in the Nevada desert released the dates for the 50th version of the WSOP. Starting on May 28th, there will be fifty days and nights of nonstop poker. So, mark your calendars. Block off the days from work. Start bribing the wife. Ship off the kids to camp. Because the World Series of Poker returns for seven weeks of monumental mayhem.
Actually, it's an even 50 days to commemorate the 50th anniversary. Oh, what a neat idea. Whomever came up with that slick branding should get a brand-new Tesla.
Okay, so unlike last year, the entire schedule did not get leaked via the mobile app. They have done a better job keeping everything a secret. For now, we got a couple of teaser dates. The Main Event is the marquee event. This year will have three opening flights over Fourth of July weekend to accommodate the working class folks and weekend warriors. After all, it's the proletariat (Joes, Janes, Jaimes, and ever-fluid, non-confirming Js) that feed the sharks. Without everyday folks buying into the dream, it would be the same 50 highballs carving each other's flesh out with dull spoons.
So ya, the holiday weekend will be lit in Vegas. The first of three opening flights commence on July 3 and will run on Jul4 and end on July 5.
I'm shocked they didn't do a $50 bracelet event, re-entry of course up to 50 times. Oh wait, I should shut up. I'd hate to give away free ideas like that.
The 2019 WSOP kicks off on May 30 with the Big 50, which has a total $5M guarantee with at least $1M to first place. This Big 50 has a 50K starting stack with 50-minute levels. There will be no juice for initial entries, but there are four flights.
Here's a post that I'll cut and paste from the WSOP press release. "We're excited to commence our golden event," said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. "We expect our opening weekend Big 50 event to be one of the largest in our history, and certainly one of the best value tournaments ever offered. This is part of our concerted plans to make the 2019 WSOP a better value all-around."
The Milly Maker is back. The $1,500 NL event kicks off June 7. The other branded events are back like the Double Stack (June 14), the Monster Stack (June 21), and the $888 Crazy Eights (June 28).
For more info click here.
In case you were wondering, we compiled a list of bracelet winners from the last two summers. Check out... 2017 WSOP Bracelet Winners and 2018 WSOP Bracelet Winners.
And in case you forgot, John Cynn faded 7,874 runners to win the 2018 WSOP Main Event for a $8.8 million.
