2019 WSOP: Summer Schedule Shaping Up to Produce $200 Million+ Showdown

May 22nd, 2019 | by Greg Shaun

The 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) will welcome players from around when the action gets underway later this month.

The 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) schedule is set to feature more value than ever before. (Image: Heavy.com/Getty)

In what could its last year inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, the WSOP will celebrate its 50^th anniversary.

Kicking off on May 28 and running through until July 16, the summer showdown will crown more than 80 champions.

50^th Anniversary Breeds New Innovations

To celebrate its expansion since 1970, the WSOP is set to payout upwards of $200 million over the course of six weeks.

Buoyed by a 49-year high of 123,865 total entrants in 2018, the organizers have added a number of innovations to the 2019 schedule. Topping the list will be the Big 50.

As well as a $5 million guaranteed prizepool and 50,000 starting stack, the tournament will be rake-free. Every initial buy-in of $500 will go directly to the prizepool, meaning players have the chance to win a top prize of $1 million without paying any vig.

Re-entries will be subject to rake and available on a daily basis during the four starting flights. Daniel Negreanu has already pledged to take part in the Big 50 and other pros are likely to follow.

In tandem with the Big 50, the 2019 WSOP will boast a number of non-bracelet events as well as a selection of online MTTs.

As ever, the WSOP Main Event will form the centerpiece of the series. Last summer, the Big Dance attracted 7,874 players.

That total became the second largest of all time, just behind the $10,000 event in 2006 (8,773 entrants).

2019 WSOP Could Break Records

Although the 2019 WSOP Main Event would need to best last year’s total by 1,000 entries, the omens are positive.

2017’s championship showdown ranks as the fourth largest in history. On top of that, the 2019 festival will feature more side events and qualifiers than ever before.

Beyond the WSOP itself, the rise of legalized sports betting in the US could help increase participation.

In what’s become a case of rising tides lifting all boats, betting and gaming is growing in the US. Following the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act’s (PASPA) downfall, all sectors of the industry are starting to flourish.

With that being the case, the annual tournament extravaganza could break all previous records.

2019 World Series of Poker Highlights

May 30 – The Big 50 – $500 buy-in
May 31 – 50^th Annual High Roller – $50,000 buy-in
June 2 – WSOP.com one-day bracelet event – $500 buy-in
June 5 – Heads-Up Championship – $10,000 buy-in
June 7 – Million Maker – $1,500 buy-in
June 10 – Marathon Event (six days) – $2,620 buy-in
June 20 – Ladies Event – $1,000 buy-in ($10,000 buy-in for men)
June 21 – Monster Stack – $1,500 buy-in
June 24 – Tag Team Event – $1,000 buy-in per team
June 24 – Poker Players Championship – $50,000 buy-in
June 28 – Crazy Eights Event – $888 buy-in
July 3 – WSOP Main Event – $10,000 buy-in
July 10 – 50^th Annual Bracelet Winners Only Event – $1,000 buy-in (open to all bracelet holders)

For those eager to take part in the 2019 WSOP, satellites are ongoing. As well as 888poker and WSOP.com providing official qualifiers, other online operators are offering Vegas prize packages.

In tandem with these online options, the Rio will be running feeder events before and during the festival.

All in all, when the chips start to fly, the 2019 WSOP should be a fitting tribute to poker’s growth over the last 50 years.