WSOP News
Another season of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is upon us, and there are already thousands of poker players cashing in the money they’ve saved up for their bets and lining up for their chance to become the world champion of poker. WSOP is the largest and the most prestigious poker event that is known worldwide, giving millions of dollars every year, and the gold bracelet that is considered the most valuable prize in poker.
WSOP form
Last year, the tournament’s Main Event champion and bracelet winner was Joe Cada. At 21, Cada was the youngest person to ever win the Main Event. For that tournament, the total prize money he won was up to $8,550,000. This year, Cada is determined to defend his title but he’s not the only new kid on the block. Fellow young and budding poker star, Annette Obrestad has also recently turned 21, meaning that she can now legally play to win at the WSOP. Annette has been to the WSOP for the past three years but the US gaming laws have forbidden her to play until this milestone birthday. Having bagged the title of WSOPE champ at just 18 years of age, it will be interesting to see what Obrestad can pull out of the bag.
Ivey’s incentive
And it’s not just the newbies Cada needs to look out for. A newly incentivised Phil Ivey has a $5 million prop bet with Howard Lederer in which Lederer claims Ivey won’t win another two bracelets between now and the end of WSOP 2011. A pretty crazy bet given that Ivey is still on form having bagged two bracelets in 2009′s WSOP and is rumoured to be entering around 80 WSOP events over the next two years. Ivey also has a strong all-round game so is likely to do well in the more niche games making it likely that Lederer will have to put his money where his mouth is.
Max cashes
Among those tipped to cash in the most are public favourite Daniel Negreanu, big mouth maniac Phil Hellmuth, Erik Seidel and of course Ivey (sorry Mr Lederer!). The Tournament of Champions winner is being touted by experts as Mike Sexton who was a previous winner of this event, Annie Duke who is due some good karma given her involvement in Ante up for Africa, Huck Seed or Jason Mercier. Yet when it comes to the Main Event champ, more and more people are predicting an unknown player to win, especially given the outcome of recent years.
41st World Series of Poker schedule
For a complete schedule of WSOP events, check out wsop.com. If you want to get involved with any of the games such as Pot-limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Omaha Hi-Low Split 8 or Better, No limit Hold ‘Em and so on, you can pre-register online at the WSOP site. There are details of buy-in amounts and registration details included.