This year’s World Series of Poker is widening the pool of potential riches, with five events having the potential for multimillion-dollar wins.
The famed tournament, entering its 44th year, will run from 29th May through 15th July at the Rio in Las Vegas.
Opening weekend kicks off with the Millionaire Maker, a US$1,500 buy-in no limit Hold ’Em event that allows a single re-entry and guarantees $1 million to the winner. Two events to benefit the charity One Drop, both with lower entry fees this year, also could result in million-dollar awards.
The $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship, an eight-game mixed event, starts 30th June, with the winner receiving a gold bracelet and his or her name added to the Chip Reese Trophy.
“We think this is the most diverse schedule we’ve ever had,” WSOP tournament director Jack Effel told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Main Event, the celebrated $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold ’Em World Championship, begins on 6th July and runs through the 15th, when the final table of nine will be determined. Those players will the return in November to play for poker’s biggest prize.
American Greg Merson won the 2012 Main Event, besting a field of more than 6,500 to claim $8,531,853.