The WSOP Returns for Summer Fun
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is once again approaching fast, and if it seems like we just finished a huge live WSOP, that’s because we just did. The 2022 edition of the venerable live tournament series is beginning just seven months after the end of the late-starting 2021 series.
The 2022 version of the series is returning to its usual summer schedule, from May 31 to July 18, for the first time since 2019, after two years of chaotic live poker as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the pandemic prevented the live series from even running, while in 2021 it caused a delay with the series running in the fall instead.
With restrictions lifting around the world and travel starting to return to normal, WSOP is looking to come back strong in a brand new location. After 17 years at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino the series is moving onto the strip for the first time at Bally’s, the future Horseshoe, and Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
The coveted $10,000 Main Event gets underway this year on July 3, with the first of four starting days. Final table play for the Main Event is scheduled for July 15 and 16 with a day off on July 14.
The 2022 WSOP at a Glance
This year’s WSOP is set to be among the biggest ever with 88 live bracelets on offer, along with online bracelets for the domestic crowds. In total there have been 109 total bracelets announced in live and online games between May 31 and July 18.
However, that doesn’t include any possible international online bracelet component to this year’s series, which haven’t been announced yet. Equally, it is unclear if the WSOP will run a separate domestic online bracelet series outside of the games it has already scheduled during the live series.
GGPoker recently extended its partnership with the WSOP and it will once again host satellites to the live event for international players, but no announcement has been made about whether it will also host another international online series this year. The operator stepped up big-time in 2020 to host a festival at short notice when the pandemic shut down all live poker, and that series, along with another held in 2021, was a huge success.
The 2020 and 2021 series were largely damage control, however, as the WSOP scrambled to find a way to run the series without a live component. With live poker seemingly almost back to normal, it is unclear if there will be as many opportunities for international players to win bracelets online this year.
2022 WSOP Schedule Details
As mentioned there will be 109 total bracelets awarded in 2022 by the current schedule, and that number could climb depending on what happens with online bracelets. There are 88 bracelets on offer in the live series, in events ranging from $400 to $250,000.
The series gets going on May 31 with the traditional first event, the $500 Casino Employees game. One of the early highlights of the schedule will be the $5 million guaranteed Event #5: The Housewarming for $500.
Among the highlights of this year’s series is the brand new Tournament of Champions. This is a $1 million freeroll open to the 88 bracelet winners, as well as gold ring winners from the 2022 WSOP Circuit season.
Additionally, players can expect to see old favorites like coveted Poker Players’ Championship, Seniors and Ladies events, and a host of mixed game events like stud games, draw games, and mixed games.
Of course, there will also be the lower buy-in, higher value games that players have come to love, with games like the Monster Stack, the Millionaire Maker, and the Colossus all returning in 2022.
Big Games to Look For
| Details | Event | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jun 2nd 10:00 AM 6 Days | Event #5A: The Housewarming No-limit Hold'em | $500 |
| Fri, Jun 10th 10:00 AM 5 Days | Event #21A: MONSTER STACK No-Limit Hold'em | $1,500 |
| Sun, Jun 12th 11:00 AM 2 Days | Event #24: FLIP & GO No-Limit Hold’em Presented by GG Poker | $1,000 |
| Fri, Jun 17th 10:00 AM 5 Days | Event #37A: MILLIONAIRE MAKER No-Limit Hold’em | $1,500 |
| Fri, Jun 24th 10:00 AM 4 Days | Event #51A: COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold’em | $400 |
| Sat, Jul 2nd 12:00 PM 5 Days | Event #68A: Million Dollar Bounty No-Limit Hold'em | $1,000 |
| Thu, Jul 7th 12:00 PM 5 Days | Event #71A: One More for One Drop No-Limit Hold'em | $1,111 |
| Fri, Jul 15th 12:00 PM 3 Days | Event #85A: The Closer - No-Limit Hold’em | $1,500 |
| Mon, Jul 18th 11:00 AM 3 Days | Tournament of Champions | $0 |
| Sun, Jun 26th 3:00 PM 5 Days | Event #56: Poker Players Championship | $50,000 |
2022 Main Event Starting Days
| Details | Event | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jul 3rd 11:00 AM 14 Days | Event #70A: MAIN EVENT No-Limit Hold´em World Championship - Flight A | $10,000 |
| Mon, Jul 4th 11:00 AM 14 Days | Event #70B: MAIN EVENT No-Limit Hold'em World Championship - Flight B | $10,000 |
| Tue, Jul 5th 11:00 AM 14 Days | Event #70C: MAIN EVENT No-Limit Hold'em World Championship - Flight C | $10,000 |
| Wed, Jul 6th 11:00 AM 14 Days | Event #70D: MAIN EVENT No-Limit Hold'em World Championship - Flight D | $10,000 |
WSOP Online 2022
To date, the only online bracelets that have been announced are in the domestic US markets of New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. In total, there will be 21 bracelets handed out online by the current schedule, with 13 awarded on WSOP.com in NJ/NV/DE and 8 up for grabs on WSOP PA.
The events will be ongoing while the live series is playing, with events every Sunday through the series. There are a few Sundays that have more than one event in NJ/NV/DE, while PA is running only one event every Sunday. However, both jurisdictions will add a Saturday game on July 16 with the Lucky 7’s Second Chance.
There is still the possibility of more online bracelet announcements to come. WSOP MI is now up and running, but to date no bracelet series have been announced. And just across the Great Lakes from Michigan, Ontario has just opened to regulated gaming and WSOP Ont is expected to launch soon.
Additionally, in recent years WSOP has partnered with GGPoker to provide online bracelet opportunities to the international crowd. To date, there has been no announcement on that front for 2022 either, so it remains to be seen if the bracelet count for 2022 remains at 109.
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