Bracelet Race is Back On as WSOP Creates Unique Online Series

June 10th, 2020 | by Greg Shaun

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) might not be happening in Las Vegas but that doesn’t mean won’t be bracelets up for grabs this summer.

The WSOP will make bracelets a reality this summer, in spite of coronavirus lockdowns, with a new online series. (Image: WSOP)

Off the back of its successful Online Super Circuit, the WSOP has announced another digital series. Working with GGPoker for a second time, it will run 85 WSOP bracelets across two platforms.

The first 54 bracelet events will take place on WSOP.com’s North American sites from July 1. A second run of 31 MTTs will then get underway on July 19 for international players using GGPoker.com.

Two Ways to Win WSOP Bling

The decision to spread the series across two networks is a testament to the WSOP’s global appeal. With players from Europe, the UK, Asia, South America, and Australia travelling to Las Vegas every summer, some out-of-the-box thinking was required.

The end result is an online version of the WSOP that will give players in the US (those located in New Jersey and Nevada) and the rest of the world a chance to win a bracelet.

At the time of writing, the full schedule hadn’t been released. However, the WSOP and GGPoker have published details of some tentpole events. The action will get underway on WSOP.com with a $500 No Limit Hold’em event.

From there, US players will be able to play a variety of deepstack MTTs, turbos and non-Hold’em tournaments. In line with what typically goes down in Las Vegas, there will also be special bracelet events for seniors and other demographics.

WSOP.com’s run of bracelet events will conclude on July 31 with the $1,000 Championship event. From there, more MTTs will take place on GGPoker until September 6.

More than MTTs this Summer

As well as bracelet events, the WSOP will hold virtual bracelet ceremonies with the help of Poker Central. The idea is to make the digital festival just as much of a celebration as the live event it’s replacing.

“There’s nothing in the world like winning a WSOP bracelet. Bringing this experience online will open the door for a new generation of poker players to feel the rush of competing for the game’s biggest prize,” GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu said.

The World Series of Poker 2020 Online will, undoubtedly, be seen as making the best of a bad situation. However, it has the potential to be much more than that.

Coronavirus lockdowns have forced operators to be creative and the WSOP seized the initiative with its Online Super Circuit. Run in conjunction with GGPoker, the event breached its $100 million guarantee to give away $134 million in prize money.

The success of that event has shown that players will play when there’s value. The 2020 WSOP Online can stand as further proof of this and, potentially, spark a new wave of similar offerings long after coronavirus lockdowns have ended.