Preview: A Complete Guide To The 2021 World Series of Poker

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

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

DateEventBuyinNumber of days
Sept. 30Event #1: Casino Employees No Limit Hold'em$5002
Sept. 30Event #2: H.O.R.S.E.$25,0003
Sept. 30Event #3: Covid-19 Relief No Limit Hold'em Charity Event$1,0002
Oct. 1Event #4: The Reunion No-Limit Holdem
$5,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
$5005
Oct. 1Event #5: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better$1,5003
Oct. 2Event #6: High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed$25,0003
Oct. 3Event #7: Dealers Choice 6-Handed$1,5003
Oct. 4Event #8: No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack$6002
Oct. 4Event #9: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship$10,0004
Oct. 5Event #10: Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout)$1,0001
Oct. 5Event #11: Heads Up No Limit Hold'em Championship$25,0003
Oct. 5Event #12: Limit Hold’em$1,5003
Oct. 6Event #13: Freezeout No Limit Hold'em$3,0003
Oct. 6Event #14: Seven Card Stud$1,5003
Oct. 7Event #15: 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em$1,5003
Oct. 7Event #16: Limit Hold'em Championship$10,0003
Oct. 8Event #17A: MILLIONAIRE MAKER No-Limit Hold’em$1,5005
Oct. 8Event #18: Mixed Triple Draw Lowball (Limit)$2,5003
Oct. 9Event #17B: MILLIONAIRE MAKER No Limit Hold'em$1,5001
Oct. 9Event #19: Seven Card Stud Championship$10,0003
Oct. 10Event #20A: Flip & Go No Limit Hold'em Presented by GGPoker$1,0002
Oct. 10Event #21: Mixed: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Omaha Hi Lo 8 or Better; Big O$1,5003
Oct. 10Event #20B: Flip & Go No Limit Hold'em Presented by GGPoker$1,0001
Oct. 11Event #22: LADIES No-Limit Hold’em Championship$10,0003
Oct. 11Event #23: Eight Game Mix 6-Handed$1,5003
Oct. 12Event #24: Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (8-Handed)$6002
Oct. 12Event #25: 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em$5,0003
Oct. 13Event #26: Freezeout No-Limit Holdem$1,0002
Oct. 13Event #27: H.O.R.S.E.$1,5003
Oct. 14Event #28: Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed$1,0003
Oct. 14Event #29: Short Deck No Limit Hold'em$10,0003
Oct. 15Event #30A: MONSTER STACK No Limit Hold'em (freezeout)$1,5005
Oct. 15Event #31: No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw$1,5003
Oct. 16Event #30B: MONSTER STACK No Limit Hold'em$1,5001
Oct. 16Event #32: H.O.R.S.E.$3,0003
Oct. 17Event #33: 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack$8002
Oct. 17Event #34: Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw$1,5003
Oct. 18Event #35: Freezeout No-Limit Holdem$5002
Oct. 18Event #36: Dealers Choice 6-Handed Championship$10,0003
Oct. 19Event #37: Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout)$1,5001
Oct. 19Event #38: High Roller No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed$50,0003
Oct. 20Event #39: Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed)$1,5003
Oct. 20Event #40: H.O.R.S.E. Championship$10,0004
Oct. 21Event #41: Freezeout No Limit Hold'em$2,5003
Oct. 21Event #42: Razz$1,5003
Oct. 22Event #43A: DOUBLE STACK No Limit Hold'em$1,0005
Oct. 25Event #44: $3,000 Six-Handed NLHE$3,0003
Oct. 23Event #45: Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship$10,0004
Oct. 24Event #46: No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack$8002
Oct. 24Event #47: Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed$5,0003
Oct. 25Event #48: SHOOTOUT No Limit Hold'em$1,5003
Oct. 25Event #49: No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship$10,0003
Oct. 26Event #50: Mixed No Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack 8-Handed$6002
Oct. 26Event #51: 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em$3,0002
Oct. 27Event #52A: SENIORS No-Limit Hold’em Championship$1,0001
Oct. 27Event #53: High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed)$25,0004
Oct. 28Event #52B: SENIORS No-Limit Hold’em Championship$1,0001
Oct. 28Event #54: Nine Game Mix 6-Handed$2,5001
Oct. 29Event #55A: COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold’em$4003
Oct. 29Event #56: 6-Handed No Limit Hold'em Championship$10,0003
Oct. 30Event #55B: COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold’em$4001
Oct. 30Event #57: Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship$10,0003
Oct. 31Event #58: SUPER SENIORS No-Limit Hold’em$1,0003
Oct. 31Event #59: TAG TEAM No Limit Hold'em$1,0003
Oct. 31Event #60: Poker Players Championship 6-Handed$50,0005
Nov. 1Event #61: Deepstack Championship No Limit Hold'em$6003
Nov. 1Event #62: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed)$1,5003
Nov. 2Event #63: SALUTE to Warriors - No-Limit Hold’em$5003
Nov. 2Event #64: Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed)$5,0002
Nov. 3Event #65: MINI Main Event No-Limit Hold’em (freezeout)$1,0002
Nov. 3Event #66: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (8-Handed)$10,0003
Nov. 4Event #67A: MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1A$10,0001
Nov. 5Event #67B: MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1B$10,0001
Nov. 6Event #67C: MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1C$10,0001
Nov. 7Event #67D: MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1D$10,0001
Nov. 8Event #68A: LITTLE ONE FOR ONE DROP No-Limit Hold’em$1,1115
Nov. 9Event #68B: LITTLE ONE FOR ONE DROP No-Limit Hold’em$1,1111
Nov. 10Event #68C: LITTLE ONE FOR ONE DROP No-Limit Hold’em$1,1111
Nov. 10Event #69: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better$1,5003
Nov. 11Event #70A: CRAZY EIGHTS No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed$8886
Nov. 11Event #71: BOUNTY Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed$1,5001
Nov. 12Event #70B: CRAZY EIGHTS No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed$8881
Nov. 12Event #72: Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed)$1,5003
Nov. 13Event #70C: CRAZY EIGHTS No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed$8881
Nov. 13Event #73: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship$10,0003
Nov. 14Event #70D: CRAZY EIGHTS No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed$8881
Nov. 14Event #74: Mixed Big Bet Event$2,5003
Nov. 15Event #75: Freezeout No-Limit Holdem$1,5003
Nov. 15Event #76: Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout)$10,0002
Nov. 16Event #77: FIFTY STACK No-Limit Hold’em$1,5002
Nov. 16Event #78: Razz Championship$10,0003
Nov. 17Event #79: Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout)$1,9792
Nov. 17Event #80: 6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha$3,0004
Nov. 18Event #81: No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack$8002
Nov. 18Event #82: Super High Roller No Limit Hold'em$250,0003
Nov. 19Event #83A: The Closer - No-Limit Hold’em$1,5003
Nov. 19Event #84: HIGH ROLLER Pot-Limit Omaha$50,0002
Nov. 20Event #83B: The Closer - No-Limit Hold’em$1,5001
Nov. 20Event #85: HIGH ROLLER No-Limit Hold’em$50,0002
Nov. 21Event #86: Super Turbo No Limit Hold'em$1,0001
Nov. 21Event #87: High Roller No-Limit Hold’em$100,0003
Nov. 22Event #88: 8-Handed No Limit Hold'em$5,0002

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.

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

DateTournament
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

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

DateEventTourhnamentBuy-in
Oct. 31NLHE Freezeout$5,300
Oct. 32Big 500 (3x re-entry)$500
Oct. 103Ultra Deepstack (2x re-entry)$400
Oct. 174PLO Crazy 8s (3x re-entry)$888
Oct. 245Online Bracelet Championship (2x re-entry)$1,000
Oct. 316NLHE (2x re-entry)$666
Oct. 31satellite25 Seat Main Event Scramble$215
Nov. 2satellite25 Seat Main Event Scramble Encore$215
Nov. 77High Roller (2x re-entry)$3,200
Nov. 148Lucky 7s High Roller (1x re-entry)$7,777
Nov. 149Lucky 7s NLHE (2x re-entry)$777
Nov. 2110Mini Main Event (freezeout)$1,000
Nov. 21PAMini Main Event (freezeout) – PA market$1,000

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