WSOP Increases Its Global Footprint with Six New Events

November 16th, 2016 | by Kaycee James

The WSOP will now visit more international locations after adding six stops to its schedule. (Image: WSOP.com)

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is living up to its brand name with an international Circuit schedule that now encompasses 13 locations.

With the opening tournament at the recent WSOP Circuit event in Brazil welcoming 2,981 participants, the organizers have decided to capitalize on this momentum and augment the 2017 calendar.

More Routes to the WSOP Finale

Aside from giving players more opportunities to play in a WSOP event and compete for a ring, the six additional stops will all offer seats to the WSOP Global Casino Championship.

Formerly known as the National Championship, the new-look season finale will now feature winners from the US circuit as well as the international scene.

Two players from each WSOP Circuit main event will be given a free seat in the $10,000 tournament which will not only have $1 million added to the prizepool, but a special winner’s bracelet.

To ensure the finale is as well attended as possible when it kicks off inside Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort on August 9, the WSOP will be visiting the following locations:

November 22-December 12, 2016 – The Star Casino, Sydney, Australia

January 14-22, 2017 – Casino de Marrakech, Morocco

March 6–20, 2017 – Casino Campione D’Italia, Italy

April 17-24, 2017 – Casino Barriere Cannes le Croisette, Cannes, France

May 1-7, 2017 – Casino Estoril, Portugal

May 19-28, 2017 – Grand Casino Brussels Viage, Belgium

Alongside these recent additions to the schedule, the WSOP is also considering another stop at some point in 2017. As of yet, however, the date and destination are unknown, but if things go according to plan then the WSOP will announce the 14th and final international stop of the season in the coming weeks.

Market Starts to Split

With the WSOP visiting a total of 35 (potentially 36) domestic and international locations, it’s now one of the largest live tournament operators in the industry. Indeed, compared to PokerStars’ live interests, the WSOP is considerably larger.

Since scrapping its European Poker Tour and other similar events, PokerStars has condensed its schedule and divided it into Champion (high stakes) and Festival (low stakes) events. As of now, the two tours combined have seven scheduled stops.

Although this may increase as the events become more established, it seems as though the market is starting to split.

While it’s likely not a case of quantity over quality, the WSOP appears to be taking advantage of its position in a bid to become a larger player on the live tournament scene.