ShareThe World Series of Poker will start on GGPoker on July 19th 2020. With the international live scene still on a hiatus the decision was made to make the best of it and get something going online.
A true WSOP would never be the same without the Americans being there so it was decided to split the festival between WSOP.com and GGPoker for the rest of the world.
A total of 85 bracelets are up for grabs, with 54 of them from GGPoker events.
Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the World Series of Poker, said: “It wouldn’t be Summer without WSOP. While we are thrilled to be reopening our venues and optimistic about future offline events, we couldn’t be more excited about deepening our relationship with GGPoker and watching some history unfold online this summer.”
A Great Opportunity
While it is still somewhat sad to see a divided series, it is a great opportunity for those who are usually unable to travel to the US.
Real WSOP gold bracelets on offer from the comfort of your own home. It couldn’t get better.
Not only that but just think what the possibilities are for the future. Could there really be a WSOP Online every year once the COVID-19 mess is all sorted?
Just think about the recent success of the WSOP Circuit Online that has run throughout May of this year. It couldn’t have been any more popular with insane guarantees on offer that were all smashed.
Steve Preiss from GGPoker said: “With over $100M in guarantees during the WSOPC Super Series in May and more than $134M in awarded prizes, it’s clear that GGPoker and the WSOP make a good pair.”
Still Hope for a Las Vegas Series?
The question on everybody’s lips is now what happens about a live series. Ty Stewart told PokerNews: "We are still hopeful the traditional WSOP may be played November-December and for all of our partners are considering this a brand extension versus a pure replacement.”
So will the online gold bracelets be considered as valuable as one won in Las Vegas? Some people will certainly argue so, which is a shame.
Given the current situation in the Americas it is far from certain that they will be anywhere close to ready to host a live series. Currently the rule is only four players per table which won’t cut it. No way will everyone fly all that way to play shorthanded crapshoots.
A few staffers from Las Vegas Strip resorts have also recently tested positive for COVID-19 in the first two weeks of opening. This doesn’t bode well as the place is pretty much empty compared to normal.
