The 2020 World Series of Poker will not take place at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas this summer. However, the schedule for the 85-event 2020 WSOP Online series, which runs from July to September, has been finalized.
Earlier in the month, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) revealed their plan to stream the series on both the WSOP.com and GGPoker platforms. Alongside this announcement, the WSOP also released the initial schedule, which includes 31 events to be held daily from July 1-31 on WSOP.com.
GGPoker, an international online poker site, today announced the remaining half of the WSOP Online schedule, featuring 54 bracelet events taking place from July 19 to September 6.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has termed the 2020 WSOP Online tournaments as “bracelet events.” This implies that poker players who aspire to win the coveted WSOP bracelet this summer will typically need to choose between playing on WSOP.com or GGPoker.
Geolocation restrictions force players to make a choice
In theory, players can participate in tournaments in both parts of the series, but only until July 19. After this date, the schedules start to overlap.
Players on both WSOP NV in Nevada and WSOP NJ in New Jersey are eligible to participate in the WSOP.com events. However, those in Delaware using the sister site of WSOP.com, 888 Poker, cannot participate in these events.
GGPoker events will be accessible to players across numerous countries that are part of the GGPoker network. This includes those using the Natural8 and BestPoker skins. The network caters to a multitude of countries across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Nonetheless, GGPoker is not available in the United States.
This implies that those participating in events on WSOP.com will inevitably be unable to simultaneously play on the GGPoker site that does not serve the US.
GGPoker schedule features bigger buy-ins, prize pools than WSOP.com
Aside from geographical disparities, there are crucial differences in quality between the WSOP.com and GGPoker schedules. Most prominently, GGPoker events typically have much larger buy-ins. Additionally, due to bigger player pools, GGPoker events are expected to have larger prize pools.
WSOP.com events
The price to participate in WSOP.com events ranges from $400 to $3,200. The majority of these events (27 out of 31) permit players to re-enter either twice or thrice. All the events last for a single day.
The $3,200 High Roller, which is the main buy-in event, is set for July 14. Some professional poker players might participate in this event before leaving the US to take part in the GGPoker portion of the schedule.
In the final week, after the commencement of GGPoker’s events, a $500 Grande Finale is scheduled for July 26. This will serve as the main event for the WSOP.com segment of the series.
WSOP.com does not offer stud or draw games. Consequently, 27 out of 31 events are no-limit hold’em. The remaining four events are variants of Omaha (two are pot-limit Omaha, one is PLO8, and one is Omaha hi/lo).
GGPoker events
The range of buy-ins for GGPoker events is from $50 to $25,000, with an average buy-in around $2,200. Of the 54 events, 27 have buy-ins of $1,000 or more. This contrasts with WSOP.com, which only has nine events with buy-ins of $1,000 or higher.
In contrast to WSOP.com, GGPoker’s schedule features numerous multi-day events. Moreover, at least twelve events at GGPoker offer guaranteed prize pools of $1 million or more. These events include:
- The Millionaire Maker with a prize pot of $1,500 million guarantees a minimum of $5 million, with the first place winner receiving at least $1 million.
- The Mini Main Event with a $500 entry, guaranteed $5 million prize pool
- The $10,000 WSOP Super Million with a guaranteed $5 million prize pool
- The NLHE Poker Players Championship with a $25,000 stake, guaranteed $10 million prize.
The Main Event, with a $5,000 buy-in and a $25 million guaranteed prize pool, is the highlight of the occasion. This event, which starts on Aug. 16, includes several initial flights. Thanks to this enormous guaranteed prize, the tournament is set to have the largest prize pool ever seen in online poker history.
GGPoker does not offer stud or draw games, but it does allow players to engage in short-deck hold’em, also known as 6+ hold’em. The schedule includes two short deck events, one of which is a $10,000 buy-in event.
Out of the 54 events scheduled on GGPoker, 42 are no-limit hold’em. The remaining events consist of eight PLO events and two fixed-limit hold’em.
Other tournament considerations
Poker players will need to take into account other factors as well. For instance, there are still international travel restrictions in several countries aiming to curb the spread of COVID-19. This could potentially influence some players’ decisions, metaphorically speaking, when choosing between playing on WSOP.com or GGPoker.
Events such as the Colossus, the Millionaire Maker, the Big 50, the Poker Players Championship (specifically NLHE-only), and the Closer, which are well-known WSOP “brands,” make the GGPoker schedule look more like the conventional WSOP schedule than the WSOP.com events. Some of the final tables at GGPoker will even be streamed on Twitch, with a select list of events already declared.
Another notable distinction is that everyone participating in a GGPoker WSOP Online series event is required to provide their real name, birth date, and nationality during registration. Players who make it to the final tables will be identified by their real names instead of their usernames, making the tables more engaging for spectators.
Some events on the GGPoker schedule are marked as favorable for the “Asia Time Zone”. However, for players in Nevada, these start times may not be convenient as the first hands are dealt at 5 a.m. Pacific Time.
Players, in any case, have decisions to make. It will be intriguing to observe the turnout for both segments of the WSOP Online series.
2020 WSOP.com NV/NJ online bracelet schedule (July 1-31)
| Event | Date | Time | Event | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 1 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Kick-Off | $500 |
| 2 | July 2 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em 8-Handed Deepstack | $1,000 |
| 3 | July 3 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em | $400 |
| 4 | July 4 (Sa) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Super Turbo | $500 |
| 5 | July 5 (Su) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Freezeout | $1,000 |
| 6 | July 6 (M) | 3:00 p.m. | PLO8 6-Handed | $600 |
| 7 | July 7 (Tu) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Knockout Deepstack | $800 |
| 8 | July 8 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Freezeout | $500 |
| 9 | July 9 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em 6-Max | $1,000 |
| 10 | July 10 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em MonsterStack | $600 |
| 11 | July 11 (Sa) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Turbo Deepstack 6-Handed | $500 |
| 12 | July 12 (Su) | 3:00 p.m. | The BIG 500 No Limit Hold’em | $500 |
| 13 | July 13 (M) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em High Roller Freezeout | $1,500 |
| 14 | July 14 (Tu) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em High Roller | $3,200 |
| 15 | July 15 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | PLO 8-Max HR | $1,000 |
| 16 | July 16 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Turbo | $500 |
| 17 | July 17 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em | $777 |
| 18 | July 18 (Sa) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em 8-Handed Turbo DeepStack | $1,000 |
| 19 | July 19 (Su) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em | $400 |
| 20 | July 20 (M) | 3:00 p.m. | PLO 6-Handed | $500 |
| 21 | July 21 (Tu) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em 6-Handed | $777 |
| 22 | July 22 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Turbo Deepstack | $500 |
| 23 | July 23 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Knockout | $500 |
| 24 | July 24 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em 8-Handed | $400 |
| 25 | July 25 (Sa) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Summer Saver | $500 |
| 26 | July 26 (Su) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Grande Finale | $500 |
| 27 | July 27 (M) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Freezeout | $400 |
| 28 | July 28 (Tu) | 3:00 p.m. | Omaha 8 6-Max | $1,000 |
| 29 | July 29 (W) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Turbo Deepstack 6-Handed | $600 |
| 30 | July 30 (Th) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Senior’s Event | $500 |
| 31 | July 31 (F) | 3:00 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em Championship | $1,000 |
2020 GGPoker online bracelet schedule (July 19-Sept. 6)
| Event | Date | Time | Event | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 19 (Su) | 11:30 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – The Opener [Final Day], $2M GTD | $100 |
| 2 | Jul 19 (Su) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Every 1 for Covid Relief [Caesars Cares] | $1,111 |
| 3 | Jul 19 (Su) | 1 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Super Turbo Bounty 6-Max | $525 |
| 4 | Jul 21 (Tu) | 11 a.m. | Pot-Limit Omaha – Championship | $5,000 |
| 5 | Jul 22 (W) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – FIFTY STACK | $1,500 |
| 6 | Jul 23 (Th) | 11 a.m. | Pot Limit Omaha – Bounty | $1,050 |
| 7 | Jul 25 (Sa) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Monster Stack 6-Max | $600 |
| 8 | Jul 26 (Su) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em | $1,500 |
| 9 | Jul 26 (Su) | 11 a.m. | Pot Limit Omaha | $2,500 |
| 10 | Jul 26 (Su) | 11:30 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – COLOSSUS [Day 2], $3M GTD | $400 |
| 11 | Jul 26 (Su) | 12 p.m. | Pot Limit Omaha – PLOSSUS , $1M GTD | $400 |
| 12 | Jul 28 (Tu) | 11 a.m. | Short Deck No Limit Hold’em – Championship | $10,000 |
| 13 | Jul 29 (W) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – 6-Max | $2,500 |
| 14 | Jul 30 (Th) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Bounty | $840 |
| 15 | Aug 1 (Sa) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Deepstack | $500 |
| 16 | Aug 2 (Su) | 5 a.m. | Short Deck No Limit Hold’em | $1,000 |
| 17 | Aug 2 (Su) | 11:30 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – MILLIONAIRE MAKER , $5M GTD, $1M 1st | $1,500 |
| 18 | Aug 2 (Su) | 1 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Turbo DeepStack | $1,000 |
| 19 | Aug 4 (Tu) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Bounty Championship | $2,100 |
| 20 | Aug 5 (W) | 11 a.m. | Pot Limit Omaha | $400 |
| 21 | Aug 6 (Th) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em | $1,000 |
| 22 | Aug 8 (Sa) | 5 a.m. | Pot Limit Omaha – Double Stack | $800 |
| 23 | Aug 9 (Su) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Asia Championship , HK$8M GTD | HK$8,000 |
| 24 | Aug 9 (Su) | 10 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – GGMasters WSOP Edition [Freezeout], $1M GTD | $150 |
| 25 | Aug 9 (Su) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Heads Up Championship | $10,000 |
| 26 | Aug 11 (Tu) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – 6-Max Championship | $5,000 |
| 27 | Aug 12 (W) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Double Stack | $2,500 |
| 28 | Aug 13 (Th) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Bounty 6-Max | $525 |
| 29 | Aug 15 (Sa) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Monster Stack 6-Max | $300 |
| 30 | Aug 16 (Su) | 11 a.m. | Pot Limit Omaha | $1,500 |
| 31 | Aug 16 (Su) | 11:30 a.m. | Mini Main Event , $5M GTD | $500 |
| 32 | Aug 16 (Su) | 1 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Super Turbo Bounty | $840 |
| 33 | Aug 18 (Tu) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Deepstack Championship | $600 |
| 34 | Aug 19 (W) | 11 a.m. | Pot Limit Omaha | $800 |
| 35 | Aug 20 (Th) | 11 a.m. | Limit Hold’em | $500 |
| 36 | Aug 22 (Sa) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Deepstack | $500 |
| 37 | Aug 23 (Su) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Marathon | $1,500 |
| 38 | Aug 23 (Su) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – POKER PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP, $10M GTD | $25,000 |
| 39 | Aug 23 (Su) | 11:30 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – BIG 50 , $1M GTD | $50 |
| 40 | Aug 25 (Tu) | 11 a.m. | Limit Hold’em – Championship | $1,500 |
| 41 | Aug 26 (W) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – 6-Max | $1,000 |
| 42 | Aug 27 (Th) | 11 a.m. | Pot Limit Omaha | $1,500 |
| 43 | Aug 29 (Sa) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Double Stack | $300 |
| 44 | Aug 30 (Su) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – FORTY STACK | $400 |
| 45 | Aug 30 (Su) | 11:30 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – MAIN EVENT , $25M GTD | $5,000 |
| 46 | Aug 30 (Su) | 1 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Turbo 6-Max | $1,000 |
| 47 | Sep 1 (Tu) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – People’s Choice Bracelet Event [Most Popular] | TBA |
| 48 | Sep 2 (W) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – People’s Choice Bracelet Event [Pros Vote] | TBA |
| 49 | Sep 3 (Th) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – People’s Choice Bracelet Event [Spin the Wheel] | TBA |
| 50 | Sep 5 (Sa) | 5 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – People’s Choice Bracelet Event | TBA |
| 51 | Sep 5 (Sa) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Beat the Pros [Bounty] | $1,050 |
| 52 | Sep 6 (Su) | 11 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – Super MILLION$, $5M GTD | $10,000 |
| 53 | Sep 6 (Su) | 11:30 a.m. | No Limit Hold’em – MILLION$ , $2M GTD | $100 |
| 54 | Sep 6 (Su) | 1 p.m. | No Limit Hold’em – The Closer [LAST CHANCE] | $500 |
All times PT.
