Posts Tagged ‘Harrah’

WSOP Brings Back Tournament of Champions

Shelved since 2006, the WSOP is bringing back the Tournament of Champions, putting up $1 million in a freeroll for the top 20 WSOP bracelet holders as voted by fans of the game.

“The Tournament of Champions brand has heritage in delivering the big moments,” said Harrah’s VP Ty Stewart.  “We’re thrilled to reinvent it around a model that should elevate the game by engaging millions of poker fans.”

All 521 living WSOP bracelet holders will be eligible to receive vote for entry through a selection process on WSOP.com/toc March 15 through June 15.

In addition to the top 20 vote getters, five entries into the tournament will be automatic, including previous Tournament of Champions winners Annie Duke, Mike Matusow and Mike Sexton, reigning WSOP Main Event champion Joe Cada and WSOP Europe main event winner Barry Shulman.

Finally, two sponsor exemptions will be awarded by the WSOP, with details still forthcoming on how those seats can be won.

“Tournaments like the Tournament of Champions help elevate poker to the level it deserves and I am honored to participate,” said inaugural winner Annie Duke.

“Winning the Tournament of Champions marks one of the most memorable events in my poker career and I’m ecstatic that the WSOP is hosting this prestigious event.”

The event will go off Sunday June 27 at the Rio, playing down to a final table of nine that will reconvene on Sunday, July 4 to play for a share of $1 million.

It will be filmed for broadcast on ESPN.

The Tournament of Champions began in 2004 after Harrah’s took ownership of the World Series of Poker brand.  In the inaugural event, ten top names were invited to participate in a winner-take-all freeroll.

In 2005, Matusow won an event with an expanded field of 114 entrants.

The last event last took place in 2006 at the Rio featuring 27 of the biggest names in the game.

This year, first place will pay $500,000, the runner-up gets $250,000, third place earns $100,000 and the fourth through ninth place finishers will earn $25,000 each.

Harrah’s Releases 2010 WSOP Schedule

The 41^st edition of the prestigious series will run May 27-July 17, 2010, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The number of events remains unchanged from last year with buy-ins ranging from $1,000 all the way up to $50,000 for the Player’s Championship.

“Whatever your game and whatever your bankroll, the 2010 WSOP schedule offers something for everyone,” said WSOP tournament director Jack Effel. “We are planning for the largest WSOP ever and look forward to welcoming all players to the Rio in Las Vegas this summer.”

The 2010 WSOP will culminate with the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship, which begins July 5 and will reach a final table on July 17.

For the third consecutive year, the final nine players will take a four month long break before reconvening as the November Nine on Nov. 6-9 to play out the final table.

The series will begin with the $50k Player’s Championship on Friday, May 28^th, although players will also have the option of a two-day $1,000 Hold’em tournament that also begins that weekend. There will be a $1,000 two-day Hold’em event in every one of the series’ first five weekends and one more on July 1-2.

The $50K Player’s Championship will effectively replace the $50K H.O.R.S.E. event by adding 2-7 Triple Draw, No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Hold’em to the mix of games.

The winner will still receive the Chip Reese memorial trophy.

Meanwhile H.O.R.S.E. lovers will benefit from the addition of $10,000 Championship H.O.R.S.E. event in lieu of the former $50k event.

Also new for the year is a $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Max event, which should draw elite rounders from around the globe.

The rest of the schedule remains largely unchanged with notable tournaments like the Ladies event, Seniors event and Ante Up for Africa all returning.

For the first time ever, the entire convention center at the Rio will be used exclusively for the World Series of Poker with tournaments tables in the 58,000 square foot Pavilion and 38,000 square foot Amazon Room.

The food tent will also see changes as it now becomes an indoor food court in the Miranda Room.

In 2009, the WSOP drew 60,875 players from 115 different counties with $175 million up for grabs.

Pre-registration for the 2010 WSOP is now available on-site at the Main Cage in the Rio and online at WSOP.com.

Click here to see the complete 2010 WSOP schedule.

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