Official 2019 WSOP Europe Schedule Released
The National Football League is the absolute best organization at staying in its fanbase’s consciousness during the offseason, but the World Series of Poker is arguably a close second. Even though the 2019 World Series of Poker just a month away, the powers that be don’t want you forgetting about anything WSOP-related for even a second. As such, the official, final schedule for this fall’s World Series of Poker Europe was released this week. Just another thing to talk about as we wait for the big poker festival to begin.
As has been the case the last two years, the WSOP Europe will be hosted by King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. The fun will kick off on October 13th and run through November 4th, with the €10,350 Main Event starting October 25th.
And though this is the third year in a row for the WSOP Europe at that venue, this was not supposed to be the case just a few years ago. Not so much the casino part of it, but rather the consecutive years part. Beginning in 2015, the World Series of Poker decided to hold the WSOP Europe in odd-numbered years and WSOP Asia Pacific (APAC) in even-numbered years. They were originally run in the same year, but WSOP officials thought both of those with the traditional WSOP in Las Vegas was a bit too much in a single calendar year. Thus, the alternating schedule.
In 2016, though, the WSOP APAC was cancelled, so the WSOP Europe was reinstated as an annual festival. And here we are. King’s Resort, barring something unforeseen, now seems to be the long-term home of WSOP Europe.
“We are eager to return to King’s Resort in October for the 11th edition of WSOP Europe,” said WSOP Director Gregory Chochon in a press release. “King’s Resort has become the center of the poker world in Europe and they are once again bolstering this series with €14 million plus in guarantees to ensure players find plenty of value and opportunity.”
Schedule Looks Familiar
As was the case last year, the WSOP Europe will be comprised of ten gold bracelet events. Buy-ins are all over the map from the €350 “Opener” to the €100,000 Diamond High Roller. Most events’ buy-ins are low four-figures and under, with three having three-figure buy-ins and four others topping out at €2,200. There will be more than €14 million in guaranteed prize pools.
The tournament lineup is also mostly the same as last year’s, if I am eye-balling it properly. It looks like there are just two events that have been changed. The previously mentioned €350 “Opener” No-Limit Hold’em event is new this year, coming at the beginning at the schedule (as one might assume from the name). The €1,350 Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold’em is also making its debut this year.
As for what is off the schedule, it seems that the WSOP has a bias against deep starting stacks, as both the €1,100 Monster Stack and the €1,650 No Limit Hold’em 6-Handed Deepstack are gone.
I joke, but it is easy to at least see why the two new events were added. The World Series of Poker has been providing more low buy-in options in recent years, so the “Opener” certainly jives with those efforts. And this year at the WSOP in Las Vegas, a Mini Main Event is on the schedule, so obviously the schedule makers decided this would be a fun idea for the WSOP Europe as well. And with the addition of two no-limit hold’em events, it makes sense to get rid of two events of the same game type and in the general buy-in vicinity that are not overly unique.
“WSOP Europe has clearly become a can’t miss series for poker players and we’re delighted to once again serve as hosts,” said King’s Resort owner Leon Tsoukernik in the same press release. “We are relentless in providing incredible hospitality and will continue to roll out the red carpet for poker players worldwide who come visit.”
2019 World Series of Poker Europe Schedule (with starting dates)
1) October 13-14: €350 “Opener” No-Limit Hold’em – €220,000 Guarantee – 2 starting flights – 2 re-entry per flight
2) October 15-16: €550 8-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha — €100,000 Guarantee – 2 starting flights – unlimited re-entry
3) October 16-18: €1,350 Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold’em — €550,000 Guarantee – 2 starting flights – single re-entry
4) October 17: €1,100 Turbo Bounty Hunter — €200,000 Guarantee – each player is a €300 bounty – unlimited re-entry
5) October 19: €1,650 Pot-Limit Omaha/No-Limit Hold’em Mix — €200,000 Guarantee – unlimited re-entry
6) October 20: €25,500 Platinum High Roller No-Limit Hold’em – €1,000,000 Guarantee – unlimited re-entry
7) October 21: €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed — €200,000 Guarantee – Unlimited re-entry
8) October 23: €100,000 Diamond High Roller – €5,000,000 Guarantee – Unlimited re-entry
9) October 25-26: €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event – €5,000,000 Guarantee – 2 starting flights – Bust A, can enter B
10) October 28-November 2: €550 Colossus No-Limit Hold’em – €1,000,000 Guarantee – 9 starting flights – single re-entry per flight
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