The World Series Of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is underway at Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas. The 8,663 entries this year are the second-most in the 53-year history of the event.
For the first time ever, WSOP has a Celebrity Master of Ceremonies. On July 6, Vince Vaughn arrived at the 53rd annual WSOP Main Event memorably.
The majestic MC was adorned in royal attire fit for a leader. Vaughn was carried into the Bally’s Events Center by a full Roman Royal Court. Vaughn said:
“As Master of Ceremonies for the World Series of Poker, I couldn’t be more excited to play a role on the Las Vegas Strip by kicking off the biggest and most prestigious poker tournament in the world. This is the Main Event and a World Champion needs an incredible trophy, not just some lousy ring.”
The WSOP Main Event will continue in Las Vegas through Jul. 20. The winner will take home the grand prize of $10 million and a newly designed Main Event bracelet.
The new WSOP Main Event champion bracelet is custom created from 500 grams of 10 karats white and yellow gold. It features 2,767 various precious stones including rubies, and black and white diamonds.
For the first time, the 2022 bracelet includes a removable golden poker chip in the center of the bracelet. This can be used as a cardholder. Altogether the top eight finishers in the 2022 WSOP will receive at least $1 million.
The total prize pool for 1300 players at the WSOP this year is $80,772,475. Now it’s time for players all around the country to get ready for the 2023 WSOP.
2022-2023 WSOP Circuit schedule
The 2022-2023 WSOP Circuit (WSOP-C) schedule begins this year just as the Main Event ends in Las Vegas.
This will be the 18th year for the regional WSOP-C which will begin in Durant, OK on Jul. 20. Over the next calendar year, there will be no less than 25 WSOP-C stops around the country. WSOP says another 10 circuit events will be announced in the coming weeks.
The WSOP-C will return to a bit of normalcy. The $1 million freeroll will feature a similar format as the 2021-22 season.
Any official gold ring winner from the live or online WSOP-C events through May 2023 will qualify for the invitation-only “Tournament of Champions” event during the 2023 World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas.
Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the World Series of Poker, Ty Stewart says:
“With record-breaking attendance so far this summer, we expect a huge response to the full-scale return of our regional mid-stakes tour.”
The WSOP-C events will mostly take place at familiar casinos around the country. One new addition for the season will be the event that will take place at Grand Victoria Casino in Chicago, IL from Nov. 10-21, 2022.
2022-2023 WSOP-C schedule
The initial WSOP-C schedule will travel the country with numerous repeat stops for those who can’t make the initial events. The first event will take place in Choctaw Durant in Oklahoma. This is considered an event for players in the Dallas region as well.
Once again, WSOP-C events will be played using a Big Blind Ante format. WSOP will also offer the same expanded starting chips unveiled for the 2019-20 season.
WSOP-C stops will feature standardized tournament structures and payouts. This will ensure that players traveling to different events will be treated the same at all locations. Of course, this is subject to regulatory and local laws.
WSOP is encouraging all locations to add Seniors and Ladies’ events to the WSOP-C schedule. The winners of these events will qualify to participate in the “Tournament of Champions” in Las Vegas.
Most WSOP-C events will take place over four days beginning on a Thursday.
2022 event dates
- Jul. 20-31: Choctaw Durant (Dallas/Oklahoma)
- Aug. 4-15: Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
- Aug. 17-28: Hard Rock Tulsa
- Sept. 15-26: Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Iowa)
- Sept. 22-Oct. 2: Aruba Hilton (Aruba)
- Sep. 29-Oct. 10: Thunder Valley Casino (Northern California)
- Oct. 13-24: Isle of Capri (Florida)
- Oct. 20-31: Harveys Lake Tahoe (Nevada)
- Nov. 3-13: Choctaw Durant
- Nov. 10-21: Grand Victoria Casino
- Nov. 24-Dec. 5: Harrah’s Cherokee
- Dec. 3-14: Bicycle Casino (Los Angeles)
2023 event dates
- Jan. 4-15: Choctaw Durant
- Jan. 12-23: Thunder Valley Casino
- Jan. 19-30: Horseshoe/Tunica (Mississippi)
- Feb. 2-13: Isle of Capri
- Feb. 16-27: Harrah’s Cherokee
- Feb. 23-March 6: Horseshoe Hammond (Chicago)
- Mar. 4-15: Bicycle Casino
- Mar. 9-20: Hard Rock Tulsa
- Mar. 16-27: Turning Stone (Verona, New York)
- Apr. 6-17: Grand Victoria Casino
- Apr. 20 – May 1: Horseshoe/Tunica (Mississippi)
- May 4-15: Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
- May 11-22: Caesars Southern Indiana
Look for more dates to be announced in the next few weeks. You can also find live updates to the Main Event on the WSOP website.
