The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the oldest and most popular poker event held annually. This tournament had been running since 1970. It has awarded bracelets to numerous poker professionals and thus, it is time that the tournament expands. Thus, in 2004, Harrah’s Casino purchased the rights to the WSOP label which acquisition gave birth to the World Series of Poker Europe.
It is the first expansion effort of the World Series of Poker. WSOPE is the first poker tournament to be held outside of the United States. It is actually, the first of this magnitude to be played outside of the Las Vegas in particular.
What is notable about WSOPE is that while there are smaller casinos in Europe as compared to the size of casinos Las Vegas has to offer, the same interest and huge field grace the tournaments starting 2007. This is not only because of the popularity of WSOP; it is likewise because Harrah’s had an ally in the online casino industry. Harrah’s Casino partnered with Betfair. Betfair is the largest online gaming company in Europe and the World as well.
Thus, WSOPE was able to receive attention not just from the poker professionals who have had their own WSOP bracelets in the fast but with the online poker aficionados outside of the United States.
You may know for sure that in 2007, the UIGEA bill that has affected online poker players in the US is already in effect. Thus, many online poker aficionados cannot access the games in the U.S. However, Europe is more liberal. Online gaming in UK is regulated under the United Kingdom Gambling Act of 2005. Additionally, the UK has more liberal age limit. In the U.S., you can only play in a poker tournament if you are already 21. In UK, you can play poker even at age 18.
Thus, the record of the youngest poker player to have won a WSOP championship did it in the WSOPE tournament in 2007. She is Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad. She has gained entry to the WSOP events by playing in satellite games online.
Likewise, it may be worth knowing that in the first WSOPE tournament in 2007, four out of the five finalists in the first event are actually WSOP bracelet holders already. Some of the notable personalities that graced the 2007 WSOPE tournament include Tony G, Andy Bloch, Jeff Madsen, Jennifer Harman and Brandon Adams. In another table, superstars like Allen Cunningham, Gus Hansen, Marcel Luske and Justin Bonomo are present.
2008 WSOPE is likewise notable. This is because Jesper Hougaard won bracelets in both WSOP and WSOPE in that year. Other personalities present in the 2008 events include Ivan Demidov, John Juanda and Daniel Negreanu.
How about the 2009 WSOPE events? As expected, many WSOP personalities are present and because of the popularity of the games in Europe, the field has been wider and it now offered four chances to win WSOPE bracelets. The events where you can bag a bracelet in the 2009 events are £1,000 No-Limit Hold’em, a £2,500 Pot Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha, a £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha and the main event is the £10,000 No Limit Hold’em.
Is this not a neat event to follow? If you think so, it will help you to know that WSOPE has more liberal options to access; you can access the games online through Betfair and other websites that offer qualifiers.
Thus, if tournament poker is your thing, you should follow your heart and it will lead you to WSOPE.
