World Series Online Quest: Players Detail Summer Bracelet Plans at the Virtual WSOP Tables
As players start packing for the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas this summer, some players will be more focused on the online poker grind.
As the series approaches, USPoker spoke with several players who are to ready to hit the virtual tables. Many are looking forward to taking a shot at some hardware online as well as in Sin City.
♠♠♠ For a complete preview of the summer’s online events at WSOP.com, click here. For a complete look at the entire WSOP schedule, click here. ♠♠♠
What to expect from the WSOP online bracelet action
The online portion of the series runs from June 5 to July 17 and with 13 online bracelet events for New Jersey and Nevada markets. These two states feature a shared player pool.
Pennsylvania and Michigan will also have separate online events during this time with eight chances to grab bracelets. Each of these states is a ringed-in market and players compete independently of other WSOP.com sites.
Buy-ins for the online tournaments in all markets range from $400 to $7,777.
Playing the WSOP online at home – and in Vegas
Players with busy summer schedules like the opportunity to win a bracelet without having to travel to Las Vegas.
New Jersey online poker player Matthew “Mamunez” Lopresti is taking advantage of that option this summer.
“I have a busy workload this July but I am definitely going to play the July 3 $500 online deepstack,” he says. “Would be a nice way to celebrate the Fourth of July with a new bracelet to show off.”
Some players are planning on jumping in all the events they possibly can this summer. That includes popular YouTube poker vlogger Ethan “Rampage” Yau.
He won an online bracelet in 2020 and is traveling to Vegas with his eyes on live and online events.
“I’ll be firing at almost all of them,” he said.
Pennsylvania online grinder Michael “lazethis’ Hammers plans on coordinating his schedule to play from the Keystone State. Hammers is planning on taking his bracelet quest onto Twitch.
“I would like to stream some online bracelets,” He says.
On a WSOP mission
Ryan Dodd has a big schedule planned this summer. The New Jersey online grinder has three WSOP Circuit rings but is still looking for his first bracelet.
His summer includes two trips to Vegas, from June 5-18 then returning for the
$10,000 Main Event. The summer will also include a big online schedule as well.
“I’ll be playing every online event if I’m not in anything live,” he says.
Online bracelet and circuit ring winner Yong “LuckySpewy1” Kwon is playing a full online schedule. The online pro is forgoing a trip to Sin City altogether.
“I am not traveling to Las Vegas,” he says, “just going to be in New Jersey.”
Taking a seat in the $1 million Tournament of Champions
The WSOP announced a new Tournament of Champions earlier this year. All bracelet and ring winners, live or online, are guaranteed a ticket for the event.
The $1 million freeroll is set for July 18 in Las Vegas. New Jersey grinder Michael Marder has already punched his ticket to this event by winning a circuit event earlier this year.
“I have a free seat in it now, I have to play,” Marder recently said on the Nerdthusiast poker podcast. “I plan to be out (in Las Vegas) the whole time. I’m going to stay on the Strip so I’m close to Bally’s, it makes sense with the driving and all.”
New baby, new house … new bracelet?
Husband and wife poker power couple Stephanie and Jason Rivkin are grinding mostly from home this summer. Some changes on the home front have meant adjusting their poker schedule.
“Yes to online events but unfortunately, no to Vegas,” Stephanie says. “Moving into a new house this week and with the baby, it’s not going to happen most likely.”
The new house and baby haven’t stopped the Rivkins from putting up some impressive scores lately however. Stephanie won a WSOP Spring Online Championship last month for $7,098. She also took down a $10,000 guaranteed event on partypoker US Network and the Sunday Special on PokerStars.
Husband Jason Rivkin has had an impressive run as well, finishing runner-up in back-to-back months in the $250,000 WSOP Big Freezeout. He has won over $100,000 in a matter of 30 days.
If that kind of success for both continues with WSOP online events, a trip to Vegas might be in the cards.
“Of course, if one of us wins a seat into the Main Event or online qualifier, we would figure something out,” Stephanie says.
Main Event qualifiers
Online players still have a chance to win a seat into the Main Event. WSOP.com is offering satellite seats every week.
A winner’s package includes a tournament buy-in and $500 in travel money. Besides the satellites, WSOP is also offering a freeroll for players to grab a seat as well. That event is set for May 31.
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