WSOP Main Event to take place this December

The World Series of Poker Main Event will take place in 2020. After canceling the series earlier in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems organizers have found a way for the Main Event to take place. For 2020, the WSOP will be offering a mix of online and live gaming in the US and abroad.

WSOP.com will host a $10,000 freezeout event in Nevada and New Jersey with Day 1 taking place on Sunday, December 13. Day 2 will take place the next day and then the online poker event will play down to the final nine. At the same time, GGPoker will host an option for international players. There will be three starting flights. One on November 29, December 5, and December 6. Those who remain will play down to the final table on December 7.

Separate Tournaments with Exact Structure

GGPoker and WSOP.com will offer separate tournaments with the same structure. Players can only enter one option and will not be allowed to play at GGPoker and WSOP. Any player who is knocked out at GGPoker will not be allowed to register for the WSOP event.

The final tables of each tournament will be played live. In the United States, the action will take place at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Players will head to Las Vegas to compete on December 28. For GGPoker, King’s Casino in the Czech Republic will be hosting the final on December 15.

Heads-Up Battle Royale

Once each event has its winner, the two players will go head to head in a special finale. The winner will take home an additional $1 million and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet. This person will be named the WSOP Main Event champion.

The Rio will host the final battle on December 30. ESPN will broadcast the final tables of the events at GGPoker and WSOP as well as the heads-up round. Commentary will be provided by Norman Chad and Lon McEachern.

Ty Stewart, the Executive Director of the WSOP, commented that there must be a World Champion this year. Stewart said: “Poker’s history is too important. It’s a unique format for the Main Event, but this is a unique year. We want to keep players’ health and safety top of mind and still deliver a great televised showcase for the game we love.”