The World Series of Poker Gets a New Vegas Strip Home for 2022
The 2021 World Series of Poker was the last to be staged at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. As the 52nd and most recent edition of the world’s most famous poker tournament drew to its close, World Series of Poker owners Caesars Entertainment announced that the 2022 World Series of Poker will be held at adjoining sister venues, Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
Vince Vaughn (left) alongside Vice President of the World Series of Poker Jack Effel. The actor will be the Master of Ceremonies in 2022. ©Caesars Entertainment
The move brings to a close a 17-year tenure at the Rio. Prior to 2006, the World Series of Poker had been staged at Binion’s Horseshoe in Downtown Vegas for 34 years. In 1969, the inaugural World Series of Poker was an invitational event. It was played in the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada.
Vince Vaughn will be the 2022 World Series of Poker Master of Ceremonies
A new venue was not the only World Series news dropped on the poker community last week. Actor, comedian and card player Vince Vaughn has also been named as the 2022 event’s official celebrity Master of Ceremonies. “As we approach the Final Table, we look back on yet another successful Main Event that exceeded expectations,” said World Series of Poker Senior Vice President, Ty Stewart.
“We are absolutely thrilled with this year’s turnout, both domestically and internationally. As we close out this chapter at the Rio, we are excited to have the iconic Vince Vaughn usher in a new era of WSOP at Bally’s and Paris next summer.” As a prelude to his new role Vaughn, the star of ‘Wedding Crashers’, ‘Swingers’, ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ and many other hit movies, made the “Shuffle Up And Deal” announcement at the 2021 final table.
He later said: “I have such a strong connection to Las Vegas and am honored to be selected as the Master of Ceremonies for what is set to be the most anticipated World Series of Poker tournament ever. Poker has long been one of my favorite sports, so to be a part of something as historic as the WSOP finally moving to the Strip is an absolute dream. Vegas Baby, Vegas!” Caesars Entertainment has confirmed the World Series of Poker will return to its traditional early summer slot on the calendar in 2022.
No schedule of events has been released, but the gambling giant has advised the full complement of World Series events will run between May 31st and July 19th.
Margets Gets Her First Bracelet
It was a close call but the 83rd of 88 events finally saw the first female player take an open-entry event at the 2021 World Series.
The successful player was Spain’s Leo Margets. She collected $376,850 for overcoming 1,902 entries in a $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament. This was her first success in a bracelet event.
Well-known in European circles, the Catalonian has been on the poker scene since the late 2000s. In 2009 Margets collected $352,832 for finishing 27th in the World Series Main Event.
Margets was claiming the second bracelet for Spain at this year’s Series. The first came just 24-hours earlier when Adrian Mateos overcame the UK’s Ben Heath in a heads-up battle to collect $3,625,362 for landing the $250,000 entry Super High Roller No-Limit Hold’em event. This was Adrian Mateos’s fourth career World Series gold bracelet.
Phil Breaks Final Table Record
Phil Hellmuth made a remarkable seven final tables during the 2021 World Series. In doing so he broke a 28-year-old record for the most final table appearances at the event.
Collecting a winner’s bracelet and $84,951 for taking the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw event in mid-October, the Poker Brat’s most recent final table appearance came in a $50,000 entry High Roller Omaha competition.
His $50,000 investment proved guilt-edged when he pocketed $734,807 for finishing second to Jeremy Ausmus. The winner, a Las Vegas resident, was collecting his second bracelet of the series and is probably best known for finishing fifth in the 2012 Main Event.
