WSOP Update: Action Gets Underway, Sponsors Bring Something New To The Table
The World Series of Poker is officially now underway with a few events on tap on Thursday. Players from around the world are heading to Las Vegas for the biggest poker festival in the game.
For the poker world, this series signifies the return of live poker as more events begin getting back to normal. USPoker opens its weekly coverage today with a look at some events getting underway Thursday and through the weekend.
Also, a few sponsors have been added to the annual series, both offering something extra for players. Here’s a look at some of the news at the series so far.
What’s ahead this weekend?
The first tournament of the series is usually the $500 Casino Employees NLHE event. The tournament offers a nice reward for players who also work in the gaming industry. In 2019, Aria poker dealer Nicholas Haynes took the title for his first bracelet and $62,345.
“I’m thankful for my job and the players [at Aria],” Haynes told WSOP.com after his victory. “There’s a lot of incredible players. I watch them and just pick up little bits here and there. Over time, you just become better, you sharpen your edges. I feel like they were very instrumental in my play today. That’s why I’m thankful for my job and the players there.”
That’s not the only event on tap Thursday. The $25,000 HORSE event should attract plenty of high rollers. The $1,000 COVID-19 Relief event also kicks off with frontline healthcare workers reaping some rewards. Here’s a look at some of the other events this weekend starting on Friday:
- Event 4: $500 Reunion ($5 million guaranteed) – Oct. 1, 2, 3, three starting flights
- Event 5: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better – Oct. 1
- Event 6: $25,000 High Roller NLHE 8-Handed – Oct. 2
- Event 7: $1,500 Dealers Choice 6-Handed – Oct. 3
$500 Employee Event. My first @WSOP ever. And so it begins pic.twitter.com/fzzBYks0EX
— tsb253 (@tsb253) September 30, 2021
Online events kick off on Sunday
Along with plenty of live tournaments, WSOP.com is also hosting 11 online bracelet events throughout the series. That includes at least one event every Sunday.
WSOP.com is also running satellites throughout the series for both live and online WSOP events. Here’s a look at what’s planned this Sunday:
- Online Event 1: $5,300 NLHE Freezeout
- Online Event 2: $500 BIG 500 NLHE
Sponsors add some bonuses for winners
Corporate sponsors can play a big role in growing the poker industry. The WSOP announced the addition of two companies this week that are part of the series this year.
Both also come with some added benefits for players. VELO will serve as the primary sponsor throughout the series. The product is described as “a modern, global oral nicotine brand designed to provide users 21+ with alternatives to traditional tobacco products.”
The company will be featured on signage throughout the playing area including on tables and in the final table arena.
The VELO partnership introduces $50,000 in cash prizes for the Player of the Year and No Limit Leaderboard races. The company has other promotions planned during the series as well.
Butt wait, there’s more. The second partnership offers players some help in a different department. The WSOP announced Thursday that TUSHY is ready to potty at the series.
The new sponsor is awarding anyone playing a Royal Flush throughout the series. The winning player earns a free TUSHY Ace bidet seat.
The series is known for some notoriously long restroom lines. TUSHY Hopes to at least offer some relief for players at home with this toilet upgrade. The company’s high-tech toilet accessory includes:
- State-of-the-art remote control
- Signature automatic self-cleaning nozzle
- Temperature control
- A heated seat
- “Derri-air” dryer
The company has a sense of humor about its products and notes, “TUSHY is upping the ante with a free bidet seat that will make you excited to splash the pot every time you’ve got deuces. That’s a $599 bathroom upgrade that will turn any toilet into a throne.”
USPoker coverage ahead
This marks the first of USPoker’s WSOP coverage, which will continue throughout the fall. Poker fans will find plenty of updates on the action as well as profiles of notable winners. Here’s the usual schedule for regular updates from USPoker editor Sean Chaffin and contributor Anthony Cicali.
- Mondays – WSOP Weekly takes a look at the week ahead and recaps the big weekend action.
- Thursdays – WSOP Update offers a look ahead to the weekend tournaments and some mid-week updates as well.
The WSOP.com online bracelet events will also be a major part of our coverage as well as updating our USPoker team selections. For USPoker’s complete preview of the entire series, click here.
* Photo courtesy WSOP