The World Series of Poker starts today
After the longest ever wait, the World Series of Poker is back, for two months, 99 bracelets and a lot of crazy stories along the way.
More than a year after the last live WSOP in Vegas poker fans are once again heading to the Rio, under very different circumstances.
There are 88 live bracelet events alongside 11 online bracelets between today and November 23.
The series gets underway today with the $500 Casino Employees event, a $25,000 HORSE Championship and a $1,000 COVID Charity event. Also this week we have a $500 'Reunion' event with a $5 million guarantee and a $25,000 High Roller event.
The $10,000 Main Event starts on November 4 all the way through to November 17.
You can watch select final tables and all of the Main Event coverage with PokerGO. You can follow the live updates at WSOP.com.
Check out the 2021 WSOP schedule
How will the 2021 WSOP be different?
As you know, COVID happened, so this is a very different series. First of all it is happening in Autumn instead of the Summer.
It will have significantly less International players this year because travel restrictions are still in place across the world. Players (but not dealers) will have to prove they have been vaccinated in order to play.
Masks are not required at the tables but will be necessary elsewhere in the Rio. You won't see railbirds hanging around watching their favourite players this year.
There are plenty of new events but perhaps the two most striking are the Poker Hall of Fame Bounty event which will see HOF members have a bounty the same number as their year of induction, and the GGPoker Flip & Go event which puts a live spin on the fast online format.
This could be the biggest WSOP ever or it could be the smallest one of the modern era, there is nothing we can really compare it to as the circumstances are unprecedented. It will certainly be interesting, however, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Will the WSOP be the biggest or smallest in the modern era? Let us know in the comments:
