On 27 May, the 43rd Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) launched with Event #1 $500 Casino Employees NLHE. A total of 732 players registered, accumulating a prize pool of $329,400.
This year’s WSOP kicked off yesterday, on 27 May with Event #1 $500 Casino Employees NLHE. Compared to 2011’s 850 entrants, the 732 buy-ins paid is a bit of a drop but the total prize pool is still nothing to be ashamed of: a handsome $329,400. Last year’s champion Sean Drake also entered but has been eliminated since, shoving with J8 and getting called with a pair of 6s on a neutral board. 46 players made it to Day 2.
A total of 61 events are part of the WSOP 2012 schedule, with an expected player field of 75,000 and an estimated total prize pool of over $200 million. The realization of these estimates would mean a record in WSOP history, while another one is already set: Cirque du Soleil owner Guy Laliberé’s One Drop foundation receives 11.11% of the total prize pool of the $1,000,000 Big One event, the biggest buy-in poker tournament ever.
In addition to the Big One, four new bracelet events were added to the schedule: the $3,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha, the $5,000 Mix-Max No-Limit Hold’em (Day 1 9-max, Day 2 6-max, heads-up tables for the top 32), the $2,500 4-Handed No-Limit Hold’em and the $1,500 Ante Only No-Limit Hold’em (no blinds) tournaments.
Check back to us in the following weeks on the latest updates about WSOP 2012!
