Decision on WSOP postponed until May.
The poker community is in a quandary over whether the World Series of Poker (WSOP) will go ahead in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. As per reports in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a verdict is not expected until May. In the interim, WSOP officials have announced an online Spring Series worth $4 million. PartyPoker and Poker Central are also planning to conduct canceled live tournaments online. What twists and turns can we anticipate?
Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best
"We're keeping our heads down and planning ahead, we don't have to make a decision now," declares Seth Palansky, Vice President of Corporate Communications at WSOP. While the company is closely monitoring the progress of Covid-19, it has no intention of nixing the world's largest poker tournament. The event, set to run from May 26 to July 15 at Las Vegas' Rio All-Suit Hotel and Casino, continues to be prepared for.
Given the current situation, the reasoning behind a possible cancellation is clear. Every year, thousands of players from across the globe meet in Las Vegas to participate in the WSOP. In these times of the corona crisis, however, such gatherings aren't just hazardous to health, but unfeasible due to international travel restrictions.
Following Hossein Ensan's victory in 2019, which saw the German clinch $10 million in prize money from a field of 8,569 participants, this year was shaping up to surpass the previous one with a record 87 bracelet events on the agenda. The WSOP's schedule for 2020 was unveiled at the end of last year, boasting a record 87 bracelet events.
Though no official decision has been made, a swap to a shorter series is being considered, as is the prospect of albeit minor schedule shifts. The company is on standby to respond to any rapid changes, as Palansky shared: "Things are now changing not just daily, but hourly."
Virtual Spring Series set for April
For poker enthusiasts in a hurry for some action, an Online Spring Championship with a $4 million guarantee awaits from April 5 to May 3. It's a collaboration between WSOP and wsop.com, their online platform. In total, 100 tournaments will be played during the period. Daily, at least three tournaments will be available. With buy-ins between $10 and $1,000 for each event, nine tournaments will feature million-dollar payouts. The Main Event on May 3 carries a $525 buy-in and guarantees a $300,000 prize pool, in addition to a belt to be awarded to the victor.
However, despite this exciting option, its acceptance as a substitute for WSOP is unlikely. The issue is that WSOP can only be accessed by players residing in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware, effectively barring non-US players unless they're willing to resort to other widely used online poker providers.
Poker Mainstays Move to the Online World
Multiple tournaments have been called off due to the pandemic. The Millions Cyprus has been postponed, as have the Irish Poker Open and the Bounty Poker Tour Tallinn. The WPT and Poker Masters tournaments are also significantly impacted. PartyPoker and Poker Central have responded by planning to transition the events to the digital domain.
While the actual Poker Masters tournament isn't slated until October, the Poker Masters Online Championship will take place from April 12 to April 26, featuring 30 events with buy-ins ranging from $10,300 to $51,000 and a guaranteed prize pool of $2 million. PartyPoker's CEO, Tom Waters, sees it as an opportunity for players to "do what they love and play the tournament in an online format."
Waters further highlights the popularity of the Poker Masters among high rollers and the appeal of online tournaments to both fans and players.
Professional Poker Players Seek Alternative Income Sources
Beyond tournament organizers and fans, the crisis is impacting professional poker players as well, who must now find new sources of income. Although some professionals are jumping into online gaming, not all are in favor of it. Pro player Benton Blakeman, for instance, explains that online players are considerably more challenging to conquer than their real-world counterparts.
Gambler Chris Konvalinka shared with the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the Internet lacks "real money" feel and that staking and betting tactics are trickier. Furthermore, the thrill of a physical game appears to diminish on an app. Ultimately, individual preferences will determine where players choose to engage.
Originally written by Filip Baranowski
There's no denying the rise in popularity of online poker. Each week, roughly 45,000 players from around the world participate in online poker tournaments. In the summer of 2019, this number was closer to 27,000. Just recently, The Sunday Millions tournaments hosted by PokerStars set a new record with a prize pool of $18.6 million. It's safe to say more growth spurts are coming during this health crisis.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
