Despite the arrival of a new year, poker tournament organizers are still dealing with the same issues they grappled with for the majority of 2020.
The World Series of Poker announced this week a new WSOP Online Circuit Series for 2021 as a way to address various challenges.
The online series, modeled after the live WSOP Circuit of previous years, will host monthly series of 12 or 18 tournaments. Winners will be awarded WSOP-C gold rings.
The culmination of the 2021 WSOP Online Circuit will be the $250,000 WSOP Online Circuit Championship in December. The winner of this championship will be awarded a WSOP gold bracelet.
Monthly online series similar in format to earlier live WSOP-C stops
On Wednesday, the WSOP issued a press release noting the continued challenge of hosting live poker due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the decision to develop an expanded online series.
In 2020, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) managed to host a few live tournament series early in the year, such as one in February at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Nevertheless, starting from mid-March, all live WSOP-C events were cancelled and substituted with numerous online series on WSOP.com.
Only those playing on the WSOP Nevada and WSOP New Jersey sites will be allowed to participate in the tournaments for the 2021 WSOP Online Circuit Series.
In 2021, 12 WSOP-C tournament series will take place, each month hosting one. The series schedule will typically consist of 12 tournaments, mirroring previous live WSOP-C series stops. Approximately every quarter, an expanded “Super Circuit” series featuring 18 tournaments will occur.
The Super Circuit series will incorporate high roller events worth $1,000 and $2,000, as well as a pot-limit Omaha event valued at $500.
Extra tournament in the cards?
The announcement mentions the possibility of adding a 13th tournament series to the schedule, subject to the launch of the WSOP.com service in a new regulated market.
Last year, WSOP.com got the regulatory green light to start operations in Pennsylvania and has suggested that the new site will become operational in 2021. No information has been released yet about the possibility of the new WSOP PA player pool merging with player pools from other WSOP sites in a multi-state deal, either immediately or later on.
It has been mentioned that each tournament’s winners will be awarded a WSOP Circuit ring and first-place prize money. Moreover, through numerous promotions and events throughout the year, the WSOP will supplement over $600,000 in prize money.
Casino branding, leaderboard and freerolls with added prize money
For the first time, several online tournament series will be “co-branded” through collaborations with different retail casinos.
The Nevada properties to be represented include Planet Hollywood, Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas, and Harrah’s Las Vegas. These tournaments will offer “cash at the cage” buy-in and cash out options. Additionally, special promotional rates will be provided to players from outside the market to stay onsite while participating in the tournament.
A leaderboard will also be featured in the 2021 WSOP Circuit Series. All players who earn money in events will receive points based on their finishes.
Players can use the points to qualify for freeroll events. Additionally, they can help players secure a spot in the year-ending $250,000 WSOP Online Circuit Championship (further detailed below).
Furthermore, each month, $10,000 in tournament tickets will be divided among the top 10 players. In addition to this, these 10 players will also secure seats to participate in the monthly $25,000 Freeroll. Only the winners of that month’s event and the top 10 players with the most points will participate in this event.
The following dates are scheduled for the $25,000 Monthly Freerolls:
- Feb. 2
- Mar. 2
- Apr. 1
- Apr. 29
- May 27
- Jun. 29
- Jul. 29
- Sep. 28
- Oct. 28
- Nov. 23
- Dec. 21
Players who participate in a certain number of tournaments each series without winning a place in the Championship will have the opportunity to compete in another freeroll event called the Monthly Second Chance Fast Forward. This is a winner-takes-all competition, with the champion earning a seat in the Championship.
WSOP bracelet awaits $250K Championship winner
The championship for the WSOP Online Circuit with a prize fund of $250,000 is scheduled for Dec. 21, 2021. There are numerous ways for players to qualify:
- Securing victory in any 2021 WSOP Online Circuit gold ring event
- Winning Player of the Month by accumulating the most points in a given month.
- Securing a victory in a Monthly Second Chance Fast Forward freeroll
- If not already qualified, finishing among the top 50 players on the cumulative 2021 WSOP Circuit Series Leaderboard.
The Championship will have a maximum limit of 256 participants.
2021 World Series of Poker Online Circuit Series Schedule
| Series | Dates | Ring Events |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Online Super Circuit | Jan. 14-31 | 18 |
| Planet Hollywood Circuit | Feb. 17-28 | 12 |
| Silver Legacy Circuit | Mar. 19-30 | 12 |
| Spring Online Super Circuit | Apr. 10-27 | 18 |
| Caesars Atlantic City Super Circuit | May 8-25 | 12 |
| Summer Online Super Circuit | Jun. 10-27 | 18 |
| Bally’s Online Circuit | Jul. 16-27 | 12 |
| Rio Online Circuit | Aug. 20-31 | 12 |
| Caesars Las Vegas Online Circuit | Sep. 15-26 | 12 |
| Fall Online Super Circuit | Oct. 9-26 | 18 |
| Paris Las Vegas Online Circuit | Nov. 10-21 | 12 |
| Harrah’s Las Vegas Online Circuit | Dec. 8-19 | 12 |
| $250,000 Year End Championship Event | Dec. 28 | bracelet event |
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