WSOPE High Roller for One Drop Packed with Stars Months in Advance

March 29th, 2017 | by Brian Corlisse

This year’s World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) looks set to be another glitzy affair thanks to a burgeoning list of players already registered for this year’s One Drop charity event.

Boris Becker is among one of the 50 players that have already paid their deposit for this year’s WSOPE High Roller for One Drop. (Image: partypoker.com)

As part of the WSOP’s ongoing relationship with Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte’s One Drop charity, the organizers a hosting a €111,111 ($119,500) high roller.

With a guaranteed prizepool of $10.7 million and a possible $1 million+ going to charity, the game’s biggest names are set to be out in force when the WSOPE visits Kings Casino, Czech Republic, in November.

Players Queuing Up to Play

In fact, even though the November 3 tournament is more than six months ago, more than 50 well-known figures have either paid their deposit or reserved a seat. To ensure every interested player gets a spot, Kings Casino owner Leon Tsoukernik has asked players for an $11,800 deposit.

Given the now prestigious nature of One Drop tournaments and the fact the rake will go to help One Drop’s water aid efforts, poker’s top players are more than willing to ante-up in advance. So far, the list of attendees includes some familiar faces, including: Tony G, Antonio Esfandiari, Fedor Holz and Sam Trickett.

Joining the pros will be a mix of well bankrolled amateurs such as Talal Shakerchi, Bill Perkins and former tennis pro, Boris Becker. The German sporting legend signed up to become a partypoker ambassador back in December 2016, so the High Roller for One Drop will be a chance for him to prove his mettle against the big boys.

When the registration desk finally closes, the organizers are hoping to meet the 111 player cap but that likely won’t be the end of the spending. Thanks to a re-entry format, early casualties can jump back into the action.

If this happens, the prizepool should easily sail beyond the $10.7 million guarantee and help this year’s charitable donation break the $2 million mark.

WSOPE 2017 Likely to Post Big Numbers

Although this year’s One Drop is currently drumming up some early interest, the highlights for the masses will be the $1,180 Little One for One Drop ($537,666 guarantee) on November 1 and the $11,000 Main Event (November 4/5).

With this being the first WSOPE Main Event since Kevin MacPhee won back in 2015 (the WSOPE was on a hiatus in 2016), the bracelet now has more meaning, which should mean the field will be stacked with pros.

In fact, with players from Europe, the US and beyond flying to the Czech Republic for charity, we could see a number of events at this year’s WSOPE post impressive numbers when the action starts on October 19.