Ever since March, there’s been rumblings throughout the poker community … would there be ANY WSOP live bracelet events in 2020? The goal has always been for at least the $10,000 Main Event to take place, and now WSOP officials announce the Main Event is going to happen this year – in a 2020-type-of-way.
US-based players are going to compete online at WSOP.com by physically being in Nevada or New Jersey Dec. 13 and 14, playing down to a 9-handed final table on the 14th. Make the final table and head to Las Vegas to play live at the Rio on Dec. 28.
Players outside the US are going to compete online on GGPoker.com. They can play Day 1 on either Nov. 29, Dec. 5 or Dec. 6, playing Day 2 of Dec. 7 down to the final table. That live final table action takes place Dec. 15 at Kings Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.
Winning either the US or International event does NOT get you the bracelet, as the two winners meet for a heads-up-for-the-bracelet match – and an additional $1 million – on Dec. 30 at the Rio.
COVID-19 contingencies exist, with WSOP cautioning travel restrictions could cause the final table play to also move online or be rescheduled for a later date.
The tournament remains a single-entry freezeout, players only eligible for the US or the International event and not both. If a player is unable to make the final table due to his/her individual COVID issues, that player receives the 9th-place payout and is considered disqualified from the tournament. This indicates the chips would be taken out of play, as that is standard for disqualifications, but it is not spelled out in the tournament rules.
Dan is the founder of PokerLiveUpdates, a veteran poker tournament reporter who can be found wandering somewhat aimlessly through tournament arenas worldwide. As a founding member of FunTour2.0, he searches for the best in craft beer at all locations in the poker world.
