At long last, the 2021 WSOP schedule is ready for consumption. Poker’s most prestigious annual extravaganza, which is temporarily being moved to the fall, will be bigger than ever before, with 88 gold bracelets planned for the Rio in Las Vegas.
Last year’s series was canceled and replaced with an 85-event online bracelet series on GGPoker and WSOP.com. While some argued that something was better than nothing, it simply wasn’t the same, especially for the live tournament grinders and the poker fans who love coming out to Las Vegas to experience the unique atmosphere of the World Series of Poker.
Due to continued COVID-19 restrictions and concerns in Nevada, the WSOP was forced to move this year’s series from its usual summer slot. They chose the fall, a season in which the weather is far more pleasant than summertime in Las Vegas.
If you thought the series being moved to the fall would eliminate many of the cheaper buy-in tournaments, you thought wrong. The 2021 WSOP schedule includes buy-ins ranging from $400 all the way up to $250,000, and numerous events in between. Except for those who are dead broke or too wealthy for a $250k, there’s something for everyone at the upcoming WSOP.
Like every other year, the main attraction in 2021 is the Main Event, which is scheduled to run from Nov. 4-17. For the first time in history, the show is being moved from ESPN to CBS Sports Network, a cable channel that shouldn’t be confused with the main CBS Sports brand.
2021 WSOP schedule loaded with old and new events
When we said there’s something for just about everyone, we mean it. The 2021 WSOP schedule features a wide mix of games, buy-ins, and formats. If you like gimmicks, you’re in luck. If you prefer traditional No-Limit Hold’em freezeout events, ditto. And if you’re all about the mixed games and, as Joey Ingram likes to say, the great game of Pot-Limit Omaha, there are plenty of opportunities in store.
The series kicks off on Sept. 30 with the traditional opener, the $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em event. Also running on the 30th are the $25,000 HORSE event, and a $1,000 Covid-19 Relief No-Limit Hold’em Charity tournament.
On Oct. 1, the WSOP will welcome players back to the Rio for the first time since 2019 with the $500 The Reunion No-Limit Hold’em tournament, a $5 million guaranteed bracelet event. Many other popular events are also returning, including some gimmicky ones such as:
- The $1,500 Millionaire Maker (Oct. 8)
- The $1,500 Monster Stack (Oct. 15)
- The $888 Crazy 8’s No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed (Nov. 11)
A number of traditional favorites are also on the schedule, including:
- The $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8-or-Better (Oct. 4)
- The $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship (Oct. 7)
- The $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship (Oct. 11)
- The $10,000 HORSE Championship (Oct. 20)
- The $50,000 Poker Players Championship (Oct. 31).
The $10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship is now a $25,000 buy-in and kicks off Oct. 5. Seating is limited to 64 players.
More in store
The 2021 WSOP schedule includes a total of 88 bracelet events at the Rio, the most in history. Beyond the gimmicky events and traditional favorites, this year’s series is packed with numerous other tournaments, including Event 82, a $250,000 Super High Roller beginning on Nov. 18 featuring the largest buy-in in WSOP history.
On Nov. 21, the WSOP will host another six-figure buy-in tournament, a $100,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em event. On Nov. 19, the largest buy-in WSOP Pot-Limit Omaha event will take place ($50,000).
For the players who don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around, the WSOP is offering a full slate of more affordable events, including:
- The $1,500 Dealers Choice 6-Handed (Oct. 3)
- The $1,500 Seven Card Stud (Oct. 6)
- The $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em (Oct. 12)
- The $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (Oct. 20)
- The $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack (Oct. 24).
For players who aren’t fans of rebuy tournaments, the WSOP is also running a number of traditional freezeout events this fall, including:
- The $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout (Oct. 6)
- The $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout (Oct. 13)
- The $500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout (Oct. 18)
- The $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout (Oct. 21)
- The $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed Freezeout (Oct. 24)
For more information about the 2021 WSOP, check out the full schedule of events.
