WSOP: The World’s Top Poker Event

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) begins every year in late May and typically wraps up in July. In recent years, the final table of the prestigious $10,000 buy-in Main Event has been pushed back to November in order to coincide with television coverage on ESPN. Thousands upon thousands of players flock to the Rio in Las Vegas for the tournament series every year. Let’s review what makes the WSOP so popular.

The 2009 WSOP marks the event’s 40th running. Think about it: How many events can you name that have been held for 40 straight years? Outside of the National Football League’s end-of-season Super Bowl, I can’t name many. The WSOP has stood the test of time and, in the process, generated a considerable amount of buzz. Many in the industry remember the unlikely win by Chris Moneymaker (won his seat at the 2003 WSOP through a $39 satellite tournament at PokerStars) during the 2003 Main Event, which propelled poker to what it is today. Others remember Johnny Chan nearly three-peating in 1989 before running into a buzz saw named Phil Hellmuth (a Ultimate Bet Poker Pro). What about the movement of the tournament series to the Rio from Binion’s in 2005? It’s all part of the history of the WSOP.

When you enter the hallowed ground at the Rio, you can hear the chorus of chips being shuffled all around you. It’s like walking outside and hearing crickets chirping on a summer night. You get a chill that runs up and down your back, as thousands of players are packed around the poker felts trying to claim one of over 50 bracelets up for grabs. Being around players with the same objective as you in a highly competitive environment makes the WSOP incredibly popular.

Each tournament, particularly the Main Event, is about as serious as it gets. You can cut the tension with a knife. However, players have dressed up in crazy costumes, made prop bets on the spot, and cheered on their favorite sports teams playing on the room’s televisions. Amid the millions of dollars at stake, players still manage to enjoy themselves. Poker can be extremely tedious and frustrating. Tournament poker involves folding for hours on end, waiting for the one moment that will make or break you. At the WSOP, players have found unique ways to pass the time, including getting massages, listening to iPods, and even reading books. It’s an environment that has to be seen to be believed.

Every single one of your favorite poker stars is in attendance. It’s like the all-star game in any professional sport. However, instead of being in the stands, you can be on the field. For a few thousand dollars, you can hit the felts with the likes of Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Annie Duke, Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem, Mike Matusow, and Phil Laak. Who knows? Maybe you’ll incite a “Hellmuth meltdown” by 3betting the poker legend with 5-7 offsuit and promptly flopping a full house. Anything can happen. When you sit down at a WSOP table, you have a shot at winning and earning your own place in poker history.

If you’re a fan of poker, the WSOP is the premium place to be. In addition to every single player you can name being at the Rio, your favorite media outlets are also on-hand covering the event. In addition to websites like Bluff and PocketFives, you’ll also find ESPN, the Associated Press, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and a bevy of other mainstream media outlets. Industry organizations like the Poker Players Alliance and World Poker Association will have booths outside of the Amazon Room. In addition, the latest poker technologies will be displayed during a special trade show held around the start of the Main Event. The WSOP is ground zero for the poker world. Fans funneling in every year fuel that growth.

Finally, there are very few tournament series that have over 50 events, whether live or online. It’s not just Texas Hold’em, either. You can find Omaha, Stud, HORSE, and Razz, just to name a few. In addition, shootouts, heads-up, short-handed, and full-ring games are offered, ensuring that there’s something for everyone. Only a handful of online poker tournament series have ever even approached the offering of the WSOP, such as the Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) and PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP).

We hope to see you at the next WSOP!