After a one-year COVID hiatus, the World Series of Poker is back at the Rio in Las Vegas beginning Thursday. Players can expect 88 gold bracelet events running Sept. 30 – Nov. 23.
This year’s events certainly bring some challenges and WSOP officials have mandated COVID vaccines for all attending. The series has been moved to the fall this year, but COVID may limit the number of players heading to Las Vegas from outside the US.
Here’s a complete look at the series and what players can expect.
World Series of Poker 2021
- Dates: Sept. 30 – Nov. 23
- Location: Rio, Las Vegas
- Number of bracelet events: 88
- $10,000 Main Event: Nov. 4-17
- Viewing options: PokerGO (daily coverage available worldwide)
- Online bracelets: 11 for players in Nevada and New Jersey; one for Pennsylvania
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What’s ahead at this year’s WSOP
Players will once again find a packed schedule with buy-ins to suit every bankroll. The WSOP also regularly features poker variants not seen in many other tournaments as well.
The $500 “Reunion” is one of the events kicking off the series on the first weekend. The event features a $5 million guarantee and should produce a huge field.
Other massive-field favorites like the Millionaire Maker, Colossus, and Monster Stack are also back on the schedule. Those with bigger bankrolls will also find numerous $10,000 events as well as other nosebleed buy-in events like the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.
Again this year, the WSOP is also running several events in conjunction with the $10,000 Main Event, which runs from Nov. 4-17. That includes some high roller action, with a $100,000 No Limit Hold’em event set for Nov. 21. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.
2021 World Series of Poker
Date Event Buyin Number of days
Sept. 30 Event #1: Casino Employees No Limit Hold'em $500 2
Sept. 30 Event #2: H.O.R.S.E. $25,000 3
Sept. 30 Event #3: Covid-19 Relief No Limit Hold'em Charity Event $1,000 2
Oct. 1 Event #4: The Reunion No-Limit Holdem
$5,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool$500 5
Oct. 1 Event #5: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better $1,500 3
Oct. 2 Event #6: High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed $25,000 3
Oct. 3 Event #7: Dealers Choice 6-Handed $1,500 3
Oct. 4 Event #8: No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack $600 2
Oct. 4 Event #9: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship $10,000 4
Oct. 5 Event #10: Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) $1,000 1
Oct. 5 Event #11: Heads Up No Limit Hold'em Championship $25,000 3
Oct. 5 Event #12: Limit Hold’em $1,500 3
Oct. 6 Event #13: Freezeout No Limit Hold'em $3,000 3
Oct. 6 Event #14: Seven Card Stud $1,500 3
Oct. 7 Event #15: 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em $1,500 3
Oct. 7 Event #16: Limit Hold'em Championship $10,000 3
Oct. 8 Event #17A: MILLIONAIRE MAKER No-Limit Hold’em $1,500 5
Oct. 8 Event #18: Mixed Triple Draw Lowball (Limit) $2,500 3
Oct. 9 Event #17B: MILLIONAIRE MAKER No Limit Hold'em $1,500 1
Oct. 9 Event #19: Seven Card Stud Championship $10,000 3
Oct. 10 Event #20A: Flip & Go No Limit Hold'em Presented by GGPoker $1,000 2
Oct. 10 Event #21: Mixed: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Omaha Hi Lo 8 or Better; Big O $1,500 3
Oct. 10 Event #20B: Flip & Go No Limit Hold'em Presented by GGPoker $1,000 1
Oct. 11 Event #22: LADIES No-Limit Hold’em Championship $10,000 3
Oct. 11 Event #23: Eight Game Mix 6-Handed $1,500 3
Oct. 12 Event #24: Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (8-Handed) $600 2
Oct. 12 Event #25: 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em $5,000 3
Oct. 13 Event #26: Freezeout No-Limit Holdem $1,000 2
Oct. 13 Event #27: H.O.R.S.E. $1,500 3
Oct. 14 Event #28: Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed $1,000 3
Oct. 14 Event #29: Short Deck No Limit Hold'em $10,000 3
Oct. 15 Event #30A: MONSTER STACK No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) $1,500 5
Oct. 15 Event #31: No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw $1,500 3
Oct. 16 Event #30B: MONSTER STACK No Limit Hold'em $1,500 1
Oct. 16 Event #32: H.O.R.S.E. $3,000 3
Oct. 17 Event #33: 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack $800 2
Oct. 17 Event #34: Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw $1,500 3
Oct. 18 Event #35: Freezeout No-Limit Holdem $500 2
Oct. 18 Event #36: Dealers Choice 6-Handed Championship $10,000 3
Oct. 19 Event #37: Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) $1,500 1
Oct. 19 Event #38: High Roller No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed $50,000 3
Oct. 20 Event #39: Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) $1,500 3
Oct. 20 Event #40: H.O.R.S.E. Championship $10,000 4
Oct. 21 Event #41: Freezeout No Limit Hold'em $2,500 3
Oct. 21 Event #42: Razz $1,500 3
Oct. 22 Event #43A: DOUBLE STACK No Limit Hold'em $1,000 5
Oct. 25 Event #44: $3,000 Six-Handed NLHE $3,000 3
Oct. 23 Event #45: Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship $10,000 4
Oct. 24 Event #46: No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack $800 2
Oct. 24 Event #47: Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed $5,000 3
Oct. 25 Event #48: SHOOTOUT No Limit Hold'em $1,500 3
Oct. 25 Event #49: No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship $10,000 3
Oct. 26 Event #50: Mixed No Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack 8-Handed $600 2
Oct. 26 Event #51: 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em $3,000 2
Oct. 27 Event #52A: SENIORS No-Limit Hold’em Championship $1,000 1
Oct. 27 Event #53: High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) $25,000 4
Oct. 28 Event #52B: SENIORS No-Limit Hold’em Championship $1,000 1
Oct. 28 Event #54: Nine Game Mix 6-Handed $2,500 1
Oct. 29 Event #55A: COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold’em $400 3
Oct. 29 Event #56: 6-Handed No Limit Hold'em Championship $10,000 3
Oct. 30 Event #55B: COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold’em $400 1
Oct. 30 Event #57: Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship $10,000 3
Oct. 31 Event #58: SUPER SENIORS No-Limit Hold’em $1,000 3
Oct. 31 Event #59: TAG TEAM No Limit Hold'em $1,000 3
Oct. 31 Event #60: Poker Players Championship 6-Handed $50,000 5
Nov. 1 Event #61: Deepstack Championship No Limit Hold'em $600 3
Nov. 1 Event #62: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed) $1,500 3
Nov. 2 Event #63: SALUTE to Warriors - No-Limit Hold’em $500 3
Nov. 2 Event #64: Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) $5,000 2
Nov. 3 Event #65: MINI Main Event No-Limit Hold’em (freezeout) $1,000 2
Nov. 3 Event #66: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (8-Handed) $10,000 3
Nov. 4 Event #67A: MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1A $10,000 1
Nov. 5 Event #67B: MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1B $10,000 1
Nov. 6 Event #67C: MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1C $10,000 1
Nov. 7 Event #67D: MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1D $10,000 1
Nov. 8 Event #68A: LITTLE ONE FOR ONE DROP No-Limit Hold’em $1,111 5
Nov. 9 Event #68B: LITTLE ONE FOR ONE DROP No-Limit Hold’em $1,111 1
Nov. 10 Event #68C: LITTLE ONE FOR ONE DROP No-Limit Hold’em $1,111 1
Nov. 10 Event #69: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better $1,500 3
Nov. 11 Event #70A: CRAZY EIGHTS No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed $888 6
Nov. 11 Event #71: BOUNTY Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed $1,500 1
Nov. 12 Event #70B: CRAZY EIGHTS No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed $888 1
Nov. 12 Event #72: Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) $1,500 3
Nov. 13 Event #70C: CRAZY EIGHTS No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed $888 1
Nov. 13 Event #73: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship $10,000 3
Nov. 14 Event #70D: CRAZY EIGHTS No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed $888 1
Nov. 14 Event #74: Mixed Big Bet Event $2,500 3
Nov. 15 Event #75: Freezeout No-Limit Holdem $1,500 3
Nov. 15 Event #76: Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) $10,000 2
Nov. 16 Event #77: FIFTY STACK No-Limit Hold’em $1,500 2
Nov. 16 Event #78: Razz Championship $10,000 3
Nov. 17 Event #79: Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) $1,979 2
Nov. 17 Event #80: 6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha $3,000 4
Nov. 18 Event #81: No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack $800 2
Nov. 18 Event #82: Super High Roller No Limit Hold'em $250,000 3
Nov. 19 Event #83A: The Closer - No-Limit Hold’em $1,500 3
Nov. 19 Event #84: HIGH ROLLER Pot-Limit Omaha $50,000 2
Nov. 20 Event #83B: The Closer - No-Limit Hold’em $1,500 1
Nov. 20 Event #85: HIGH ROLLER No-Limit Hold’em $50,000 2
Nov. 21 Event #86: Super Turbo No Limit Hold'em $1,000 1
Nov. 21 Event #87: High Roller No-Limit Hold’em $100,000 3
Nov. 22 Event #88: 8-Handed No Limit Hold'em $5,000 2
Players ready to go
While uncertainty remains about the turnout for the series, numerous big names are ready to get back in the action. Players have been active on Twitter about their plans in getting back to Las Vegas.
Daniel Negreanu is promising to resume his popular vlogging from the series He’s also been selling some of his WSOP action recently.
https://twitter.com/RealKidPoker/status/1441837095832592395?s=20
Italy’s Max Pescatori, a four-time bracelet winner, also seems ready for action as well.
It’s @WSOP time pic.twitter.com/3H7isTxwSM
— Max Pescatori (@maxpescatori) September 20, 2021
Poker legend Doyle Brunson has even said he may be coming back to play in the series again this year. He planned on making the 2019 series his last but it looks like he’ll be making his return at age 88.
Daily Deepstacks offer even more tournament action
Players with smaller bankrolls may also want to check out the Daily Deepstack tournaments. These non-bracelet events feature smaller buy-ins but can produce huge fields and nice payouts.
Most Daily Deepstacks are held daily in the Pavilion room and begin on Sept. 30. Here’s a look at those events:
- 1 pm – $250 NLHE
- 4 pm – $200 NLHE
- 7 pm – $400 NLHE Turbo
- 10 pm – $150 NLHE
- Mondays, 5 pm – $250 HORSE (starting Oct. 4)
- Wednesdays, 9 am – $250 NLHE Seniors (starting Oct. 6)
Vaccine mandates, travel restrictions may affect WSOP
WSOP organizers were hoping for the largest series in the history of the festival. However, that may now be a challenge.
Players are required to be vaccinated to play in the series. The WSOP is using CLEAR’s Health Pass free mobile app for players to offer proof of vaccination. Players will only have to provide vaccination proof once and can then head to the registration area to play.
The series will also have on-site vaccination proof registration, which may benefit international players. However, with travel restrictions to some degree still in force in many countries, international player turnout may be reduced.
A few big-name European pros recently told PokerScout that they wouldn’t be playing. Canada’s Kristen Bicknell isn’t playing because of the vaccine mandate. Neither is her fiancé Alex Foxen. Turnout will be interesting to watch.
Following the action at home
Those who can’t make it to Las Vegas can still check out some of the action via PokerGO. The streaming service will be showing 26 events. The live streaming begins with the $25,000 High Roller on Oct. 4 and runs through Nov. 23.
Viewers at home can also follow every day of the $10,000 Main Event. PokerGO will show the tournament from start to finish.
In total, the platform will stream 36 days of WSOP action. PokerScout will also offer regular updates as well. Here’s a look at the complete streaming schedule
2021 PokerGO WSOP Streaming
Date Tournament
Oct. 4 $25,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller
Oct. 6 $600 No Limit Hold’em Deepstack
Oct. 7 $25,000 Heads-Up Championship
Oct. 8 $3,000 No Limit Hold’em Freezeout
Oct. 9 $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship
Oct. 11 $10,000 Seven-Card Stud Championship
Oct. 13 $1,500 8-Game Mix
Oct. 14 $1,000 Ladies Championship
Oct. 15 $5,000 No Limit Hold’em 6-Handed
Oct. 16 $10,000 Short Deck
Oct. 18 $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.
Oct. 19 $800 No Limit Hold’em 8-Handed
Oct. 21 $50,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller
Oct. 22 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha
Oct. 23 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship
Oct. 24 $3,000 Limit Hold’em 6-Handed
Oct. 26 $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship
Oct. 26 $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Freezeout
Oct. 27 $10,000 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Championship
Oct. 30 $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller
Nov. 5 $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Nov. 4-17 $10,000 Main Event
Nov. 19 $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty
Nov. 20 $250,000 No Limit Hold’em Super High Roller
Nov. 22 $50,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller
Nov. 23 $100,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller
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Playing online for a WSOP bracelet
Those heading to Las Vegas can also play a few bracelet events for online poker players. In the US, the WSOP.com network is available to players in Nevada and New Jersey. Users can create and fund an account from anywhere to play while in Nevada.
That schedule features 10 online tournaments on Sundays throughout the live series. Many players compete both at a live table and online while in Las Vegas.
The site also runs daily qualifiers for live WSOP events as well as satellites for the Main Event. One additional event is also available for players in Pennsylvania. Here’s a look at the complete series.
2021 WSOP Online bracelet events
Date Event Tourhnament Buy-in
Oct. 3 1 NLHE Freezeout $5,300
Oct. 3 2 Big 500 (3x re-entry) $500
Oct. 10 3 Ultra Deepstack (2x re-entry) $400
Oct. 17 4 PLO Crazy 8s (3x re-entry) $888
Oct. 24 5 Online Bracelet Championship (2x re-entry) $1,000
Oct. 31 6 NLHE (2x re-entry) $666
Oct. 31 satellite 25 Seat Main Event Scramble $215
Nov. 2 satellite 25 Seat Main Event Scramble Encore $215
Nov. 7 7 High Roller (2x re-entry) $3,200
Nov. 14 8 Lucky 7s High Roller (1x re-entry) $7,777
Nov. 14 9 Lucky 7s NLHE (2x re-entry) $777
Nov. 21 10 Mini Main Event (freezeout) $1,000
Nov. 21 PA Mini Main Event (freezeout) – PA market $1,000