2019 WSOPE to Feature More Bling and $15.6 Million Guarantee

April 26th, 2019 | by Kaycee James

The 2019 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) schedule will see more money and bracelets up for grabs than in previous years.

The 2019 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) will up the ante this year with a $15.6 million guaranteed prizepool. (Image: CTK/zpravy.aktualne.cz)

In announcing the finalized dates for the 11^th WSOPE, the organizers said they hope to run ten championship events this year. Although the press release is somewhat tentative, there will be at least €14 million/$15.6 million on offer inside King’s Casino Rozvadov.

In comparative terms, that’s €1 million/$1.1 million more than 2018’s guaranteed prizepool.

WSOPE Main Event Maintains Starring Role

As ever, the $11,500 WSOPE Main Event will be the reason many players travel to the Czech Republic. Last year, British pro Jack Sinclair avenged earlier heartbreaks to take the title and $1.2 million.

This time around, the organizers are expecting the WSOPE Main Event to generate another prizepool worth upwards of $5.5 million.

However, with super high rollers captivating the poker community of late, the festival will also feature two big-money showdowns.

The first will takes place on October 20 and cost $28,000 to enter. The other will be known as the Diamond High Roller and come with a $111,500 buy-in.

Commenting on the 2019 WSOPE, WSOP director Gregory Chochon said the move to King’s Casino was a positive one.

Winds of Change Blow WSOPE in Right Direction

After hosting the inaugural WSOPE in London’s Empire Casino back in 2007, the event has made its way around Europe. Following a four-year stint in the British capital, the organizers set up camp inside Le Croisette Casino Barrière in Cannes.

It stayed in France until 2013 before a break saw the WSOPE head to Germany in 2015. Falling numbers prompted another hiatus in 2016 before the festival found a new home in the Czech Republic.

Under the watchful eye of King’s Casino Rozvadov owner Leon Tsoukernik, the WSOPE has enjoyed a resurgence.

“The past two WSOP Europe’s have been our best yet in terms of entries and prize pools in the dozen years we’ve held WSOPE. King’s Resort is perfectly situated and convenient for Europeans to get to and we expect the 2019 edition to continue to deliver big prizepools and participation,” said Chochon.

Crunching the number, 2018 saw 6,028 entries compete for 10 bracelets. That level of interest took the total prizepool to more than $21 million.

This year, the organizers will be hoping for more of the same. Between the increase in prize money and the popularity of King’s Casino, Europe’s richest tournament festival looks set to retain its lofty title.