As the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) enters its seventh year, tourney officials realized something had to be done to bring it out of the spiraling nosedive that would leave a wreckage indistinguishable from a backwater VFW hall home game on a Friday night. As its prestige faded with any mention of it still existing, many people were left wondering if it still served a purpose, as players ultimately decided to spend their tourney entry elsewhere.
“We recognized the WSOP Circuit Events needed a shot in the arm, and we believe we’ve responded with steroids,” said WSOP Vice President Ty Stewart. “The new model is exactly what the WSOP is all about, giving poker players of all bankrolls the chance for compete for the kind of fame, fortune and respect that comes only with a WSOP bracelet and a national television audience.“
Things done changed, Like Notorious BIG once said, and this year, the WSOP Circuit is bigger and better than ever before. Additions and amendments include:
- Cumulative points, similar to the system used to determine the WSOP Player of the Year, will be awarded to players in the money, with higher buy-ins receiving more points.
- Four $10,000 WSOP Circuit Championships to be broken down into two hours of televised coverage for event.
- Standardized structures and payouts, as well as affordable $1500 Main Events at WSOPC stops without a Regional Championship.
- A season-ending $1,000,000 National Championship freeroll held at Caesars in Las Vegas, where 100 players will battle for fame, fortune, and a gold WSOP bracelet–the first to be awarded outside of a WSOP or WSOPE event. Players gain entry into this year’s inaugural tourney via the following:
- Winning a $1500 WSOPC Main Event
- Earning the title “Casino Champion” by earning the most points at a WSOPC
- Making the final table of any of the $10,000 Championships
- Finishing the season with enough points to be in the top 40 in the standings
As of now, 12 tour stops have been announced, with other destinations being revealed in the coming months.
- August 19 – August 31, 2010
Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Iowa) - October 2 – October 12, 2010
Horseshoe Southern Indiana – Regional WSOP Circuit Championship - October 15 – October 27, 2010
Horseshoe Hammond (Chicago area) - October 26 – October 31, 2010
*Emerald Casino (South Africa) - October 28 – November 10, 2010
IP Casino Resort & Spa (Biloxi, MS) - November 11 – November 23, 2010
Harveys Lake Tahoe - December 4 – December 22, 2010
Harrah’s Atlantic City – Regional WSOP Circuit Championship - January 27 – February 15, 2011
Harrah’s Tunica - March 2 – March 13, 2011
Caesars Atlantic City - March 11 – March 30, 2011
Harrah’s Rincon (San Diego area) – Regional WSOP Circuit Championship - March 31 – April 13, 2011
Harrah’s St. Louis - April 14 – April 30, 2011
Caesars Palace - May 9 – May 22, 2011
Harrah’s New Orleans – Regional WSOP Circuit Championship
Making entries accessible for all levels of bankroll while maintaining a level of prestige in the process with championship events, this revamped format will undoubtedly help the exposure of the WSOPC. The return of WSOPC televised events, the first to receive air time since 2006, will help tremendously in bringing back luster and notoriety into the dying venture. With cheap entires bringing a considerably weaker breed of hopefuls out of the woodwork with a dollar and a dream, amounting to large fields with impressive payouts, pros will have all the incentive they need to make appearances at multiple events to cash in on the amateurs adorned in their official WSOP shirts and hats, eating their Jack Link’s Beef Jerky while wearing their Degree deodorant.
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