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The current 2018 World Series of Poker tournament is the 49th time that this world-famous event takes place. It kicked off in Las Vegas on May 29 and is scheduled to run to July 17, with huge prizes to be won and lots of drama undoubtedly to unfold along the way.
The 2017 event saw over 7,000 players take part and attempt to scoop the biggest annual prize in poker. Last year it was Scott Blumstein who was the eventual winner, grabbing a massive $8,150,000 prize as well as the coveted title. So what can we expect to see this year?
Increased Attendance with Players Online from New Jersey
Will this year see even more players take part? The fact that there is a record number of events (78 in total) taking place would certainly suggest that this is going to be the biggest WSOP to date. Gamblers are going to be battling it out for prize money of over $200 million, compared to last year’s $68 million.
It is believed that there will be more than 100,000 card players taking their seats at the tables this year. There are a number of factors behind this massive jump in attendance levels. For a start, it is clear that poker is becoming ever more popular on a worldwide basis. This is shown in the fact that players from over 100 different countries are expected to take part.
However, another big factor that can’t be ignored is the New Jersey effect. The legislation passed in 2013 that makes online gambling legal in this state has undoubtedly led to new poker players trying their luck on the internet. How many of them will reach WSOP 2018 and try to claim a piece of the jackpot?
Among the most famous poker players from the Garden State are Phil Ivey and Dan Smith. Ivey is fifth on the all-time US money list with live cash earnings of over $26 million. Smith is in 12th place with over $20 million banked during a fantastic career. Last year’s winner, Scott Blumstein, is also from New Jersey. Which other New Jersey players will join them this year?
For most poker players, the road to Vegas starts with online qualifying events, such as those held on 888 Poker, where two WSOP packages are also offered each day in the build-up to the tournament. Other players buy in directly at the casino in order to guarantee their seats at the table to play Texas hold ’em, Omaha, or whatever other poker game they prefer.
New Big Blind Ante Format
The idea of an ante is to make the later stages of a poker tournament more exciting. However, opinion is split over them, with some players feeling that they can slow down the action too much. This year’s WSOP will see a new big blind ante format that they have tested out on the poker circuit lately.
The official word on this is that eight of the 78 gold bracelet events this year will have the new big blind ante format introduced in them. A few of the side events will also work in this way too. It is hoped that the variety of events and buy-ins covered will allow them to see how well it works and how to proceed in years to come.
So, how exactly will this work? The solution that is being tried out at WSOP 2018 is to remove the need for each player to post an ante for each hand that they take part in. The new approach in those selected events is for the player who is in the big blind to put down an amount that is equal to it.
For example, the player in the big blind will post this sum followed by their ante of the same amount. The amount of the ante is added to the pot right away. The big blind amount remains live and forms part of the pre-flop betting.
What if the player doesn’t have the amount needed to cover both of these figures? In this case, the big blind gets covered first of all. Every player who takes part in a game has the chance to win the whole amount of the ante, regardless of how many chips they start with.
This approach is a completely new way of thinking in terms of antes. Rather than being an amount that each player has to put down on each hand, this is now a fixed figure that is put down on each round. There is no longer expected to be any delay in collecting the ante or in working out who needs to pay each time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EbMtj3H6Ww
How Scott Blumstein won the 2017 event
The Main Event: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’ Em
As we have seen, there are numerous events being held as part of WSOP 2018. The highlight of the whole thing is the $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event. This is scheduled to take place from July 2 to 14, with an 11am start in the early days giving way to a 5.30pm start for the last three days.
The winner last year was Scott Blumstein, who won over $8 million in a dramatic final day. This was his first ever time playing in the main event as he beat off the challenge of Daniel Ott. Prior to that, the 2016 main event was won by Qui Nguyen, who earned just over $8 million into the bargain. His victory came at the end of a marathon tussle with eight hours of play.
The previous year’s winner was Joe McKeehen, with Martin Jacobson taking the title in 2014. The very first winner Johnny Moss, who won it in 1970 and 1971, from a field of just seven entrants the first year and six the following year.
Moss won the main event three times in total, as did Stu Ungar. Who will walk away with the top prize this year? We will find out on July 14, as the day starts with three players before one of them finally emerges victorious after a gruelling day of action with no breaks.
All in all, the scene is certainly set for another spectacular WSOP tournament this year. If you love poker then you won’t want to miss this event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJEO3hz1VEY
Qui Nguyen winning the 2016 WSOP main event
