6,750 Predicted to Play the World Series of Poker Main Event
The most exciting two weeks in poker is underway. The World Series of Poker Main Event began on Thursday with Day 1A of the $10,000 entry competition. In total there are six Main Event Day 1s before the first of two ‘Day 2s’ begin on Tuesday, November 9. The first flight of those will be for survivors from Day 1A, 1B and 1C, the second flight is for contenders from Day 1D, 1E and 1F.
Players who overcome these two hurdles can look forward to anything up to five further consecutive days of play – starting on November 11 – before a televised final table is reached. Scheduled to begin on November 16, it will take an additional two days of play to decide a champion. Who said winning millions is easy?
As a freezeout competition – meaning players are not allowed to re-enter once they are eliminated – the official Main Event field size can be described as ‘players’ and not ‘entries’. The biggest field was 8,773, a record set in 2006.
Johnny Chan will not be taking the World Series Main Event for a third time in 2021. The legendary poker player was eliminated on Day 1B. ©WorldPokerTour
Salas Will Not Be Going Back-To-Back
In 2019, 8,569 players took their shot at poker immortality. On this occasion all nine final table finishers netted a minimum of $1 million. Iranian-German professional poker player Hossein Ensan took the title and a $10 million winner’s prize.
The Covid-19 pandemic meant the bulk of the 2020 World Series of Poker Main Event was played online. 1,379 players took part in that edition. It was won by Argentina’s Damian Salas.
Salas played Day 1A of this year’s World Series Main Event but failed to progress into Day 2. Another former champion to be eliminated was Johnny Chan. The 1997 and 1998 winner – in addition to 1999 runner-up – was a Day 1B casualty.
With four Day 1s of the 2021 event now complete, an estimated 4,525 players have so far taken their chances in the 52-year-old competition. It is predicted the ultimate field size will be between 6,500 and 6,750 players.
Results Drought for Britain and Ireland
So far there has been no success for British or Irish players at the World Series. With 66 of the 88 live events completed, American players have dominated by taking 50 winners’ bracelets. Canada, Israel and France follow in the winner’s table. Their players have won two bracelet tournaments apiece.
The super high stakes World Series events – a pair of $50,000 entry competitions, a $100,000 and $250,000 – are yet to start but the 2021 Poker Players Championship has been consigned to the history books.
Using a mixed-game format utilizing eight different poker variants, amongst pros this $50,000 entry competition is considered one of the most prestigious events at the World Series.
Originally a H.O.R.S.E tournament – the acronym used for a game featuring Texas Hold’em, Omaha hi-low split-eight or better, Razz, Seven card Stud, Seven card stud hi-low split-eight or better – the competition made its debut in 2006 when it was won by Chip Reese.
Following that popular player’s death in 2007 World Series organizers created the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy that champions can hold for one year. The event name was changed to the Poker Players Championship in 2010.
Jungleman Stars
Michael Mizrachi has an incredible record in this event winning it in 2010, 2012 and 2018. However, he was out of luck in 2021 and failed to make the final table.
After five days of play, it was American Dan Cates that outlasted the 61-player field. In addition to his $954,020 payday the 32-year-old collected his first World Series bracelet. Remarkably, his CV only features two other cashes at the World Series.
That is amazing as Cates has won two World Poker Tour events and amassed almost $10 million in live tournament earnings. Using the alias ‘jungleman12’, he is also known as one of the highest stakes playing and biggest money winning cash game players at PokerStars online poker room.
There is a €5 million guarantee for the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. It will be staged at King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. ©KingsCasino
From Nevada to the Czech Republic
The final tournament on the 2021 Las Vegas World Series of Poker calendar begins on November 22nd. However, by then the European version of the World Series of Poker will be underway.
Taking place in the King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, the full schedule of the 2021 World Series of Poker Europe tournaments was recently finalized. It features 15 gold bracelet events with buy-ins ranging between €350 and €100,000.
Naturally, the World Series of Poker Europe features a €10,000 buy-in Main Event. This year it carries a €5 million guarantee.
