WSOP Day 1: It’s Showtime – with Casino Employees Championship and $10K Super Turbo
There’s a buzz in Las Vegas – and it’s not just the Golden Knights’ run through the NHL playoffs and appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. The wait is finally over and the World Series of Poker returns to the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino today with 78 events, Daily DeepStacks tournaments, big cash games action, additional broadcast and streamed coverage, more online bracelet chances, and new events.
So book your flight, gather your bankroll, and put on your best poker face – ”What to Watch For” will have your daily preview of the action all summer long. Here’s a look at today’s action.
Event #1: $565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
The tradition of kicking off play with a “thank you” to casino workers continues and should attract a nice field. This two-day event allows for one re-entry. Last year’s tournament attracted 651 entries and a prize pool of $325,500. Maryland poker dealer Bryan Hollis took home the bracelet and $68,817 in cash.
The event dates back to 2000 and was known as the “Dealers World Poker Championship” its first year and was only open to casino dealers. After that first tournament attracted 109 players, all casino employees became eligible the following year. The event peaked in 2006 when Caesars poker dealer Chris Gros took home a hefty $127,496.
To be eligible, entrants must work for a licensed gaming facility, such as a card room, a casino, racetrack, etc. From 2000-03, the tournament was played as Limit Hold’em, and then as No-Limit Hold’em since 2004.
The event kicks off today at 11 a.m. For structure sheet and more information, click here.
To follow the PokerNews live updates of this event, click here.
Casino Employees Tournament Winners
| Year | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Dave Alizadeth | $21,800 |
| 2001 | Travis Jonas | $40,200 |
| 2002 | David Warga | $47,300 |
| 2003 | David Lukaszewski | $35,800 |
| 2004 | Carl Nessel | $40,000 |
| 2005 | Anthony Nguyen | $83,390 |
| 2006 | Chris Gros | $127,496 |
| 2007 | Frederick Narciso | $104,701 |
| 2008 | Jonathan Kotula | $87,929 |
| 2009 | Andrew Cohen | $83,833 |
| 2010 | Hoai Pham | $71,424 |
| 2011 | Sean Drake | $82,292 |
| 2012 | Chiab "Chip" Saechao | $70,859 |
| 2013 | Chad Holloway | $84,915 |
| 2014 | Roland Reparejo | $82,835 |
| 2015 | Brandon Barnette | $75,704 |
| 2016 | C.J. Sand | $71,157 |
| 2017 | Bryan Hollis | $68,817 |
Event #2: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty
The high-stakes action begins on Day 1 at the Rio with this new single-day event. Fans of some fast-paced action will be out in force. Levels last only 20 minutes and every player is a bounty. Knock someone out and earn $3,000 for every player you eliminate.
It will be interesting to see the turnout. Will there be plenty of pros looking for some Day 1 action and some gamble, or start their series a little later? The event kicks at 3 p.m. For structure sheet and more information, click here. Follow the PokerNews live updates to catch the action. Don’t miss a hand!
Daily DeepStacks
If a bracelet event is not quite within your bankroll, the WSOP’s Daily DeepStacks also kick off this week. These non-bracelet tournaments offer some nice value and last only one day. Buy-ins range from $150 – $365 and regularly feature five-figure payouts for winners. The events run through July 15 and here is the daily schedule:
- $250 No-Limit Hold'em, 1 p.m.
- $200 No-Limit Hold'em, 4 p.m. (Big Blind Ante)
- $365 No-Limit Hold'em, 7 p.m. (Accelerated Format)
- $150 No-Limit Hold'em, 10 p.m. (Accelerated Format and Big Blind Ante)
More Ways to Watch
Along with taking in the action live at the Rio, fans at home will have plenty of opportunities to follow along. The WSOP’s deals with Poker Central and ESPN allow fans to view the scene like never before.
WSOP broadcasts this year will air on ESPN2 and ESPN, with coverage beginning July 2 on ESPN with Day 1a of the Main Event. WSOP Main Event coverage continues after that for 12 continuous days, until a champion is crowned on July 14 or early morning hours of July 15. The network will then broadcast the $1 million Big One for One Drop on ESPN2 beginning July 16 with a winner emerging the following night. For the full ESPN schedule, click here.
Fans can also check out Poker Central’s PokerGO streaming service, which will air plenty of coverage throughout the summer beginning June 2 with the $3,000 No Limit Hold'em Shootout Final Table. The streaming service has added to its schedule this year including poker of every variety and buy-in. That includes action from the Main Event and Big One for One Drop. For the full PokerGO schedule, click here.
Poker Central also announced Saturday that it has partnered with Twitch.tv to offer even more live coverage of the WSOP. In total, the site will air more than 31 tournaments and 25 final tables, with live streams June 2 – July 14. Longtime poker commentator David Tuchman will call the action and PokerNews podcast host and former professional poker player [Removed:139] will also assist. Twitch poker personalities and poker pros will help with color commentaries. For the complete Twitch schedule, click here.
Whatever your game or bankroll, whether a pro, recreational player, or just a fan, there will be plenty to check out this summer. There’s something for everyone – from online bracelets to DeepStacks events, to $1 million buy-ins, to massive field “bargain” event, And if you can’t make it to Vegas, grab your laptop or remote control and follow along.
And of course – check back to PokerNews for WSOP live updates, player features, and plenty of action.
In this Series
- 1 WSOP Day 1: It’s Showtime – with Casino Employees Championship and $10K Super Turbo
- 2 WSOP Day 2: Jodie Sanders Leads Casino Employees Event; Shootout & Omaha Hi/Lo on Tap
- 3 WSOP Day 3: Hellmuth, McKeehen, Cada Advance to Final 50 in Shootout
- 4 WSOP Day 4: Joe's Ready for Shootout Final Table, $100K Day 2 Awaits
- 5 WSOP Day 5: Petrangelo & Fox Lead $100K, Martini & Hoang Chasing Gold
- 6 WSOP Day 6: Vitch leads Triple Draw, Hellmuth Makes Day 2 in Omaha-8
- 7 WSOP Day 7: Elezra Leads $10K Omaha Hi-Lo, Hennigan Ahead in Dealer’s Choice
- 8 WSOP Day 8: Eli Elezra Seeks Fourth Bracelet Today in $10K Omaha Hi-Lo
- 9 WSOP Day 9: Racener, Deeb at Final Tables, Hellmuth Advances in H.O.R.S.E.
- 10 WSOP Day 10: Bonomo Looking for $10K Heads-Up Title, Negreanu Advances
- 11 WSOP Day 11: Bonomo Among Leaders in $5K NLHE, Zinno Leads Dealer's Choice
- 12 WSOP Day 12: Duhamel Looks for 4th Bracelet, Negreanu Advances to Day 2
- 13 WSOP Day 13: Negreanu, Matusow, Racener in Final 16 of 8-Game Mix
- 14 WSOP Day 14: Doyle Brunson Returns Looking for Bracelet #11
- 15 WSOP Day 15: Joe McKeehen Runs Deep in MILLIONAIRE MAKER
- 16 WSOP Day 16: Martin Jacobson, Scotty Nguyen Playing Deep in MARATHON
- 17 WSOP Day 17: Jason Mercier, Martin Jacobson Looking to Add Bracelets
- 18 WSOP Day 18: Glaser, Matusow, Negreanu, Bonomo Advance in PPC
- 19 WSOP Day 19: Michael Mizrachi, Phil Ivey Lead Poker Players Championship
- 20 WSOP Day 20: Mizrachi Leads Final 12 in $50K PPC, Ivey Still in Hunt
- 21 WSOP Day 21: Michael Mizrachi Aims for Third $50K PPC Title, 6 Remain
- 22 WSOP Day 22: Phil Hellmuth Advances in $1,500 NLHE Shootout
- 23 WSOP Day 23: Daniel Negreanu Returns Third in Chips in $25K PLO HR
- 24 WSOP Day 24: Yu Leads Biggest Omaha Tournament of Year, Negreanu Falls
- 25 WSOP Day 25: Scotty Nguyen Leads the $25K PLO
- 26 WSOP Day 26: Ferguson Looks for No. 7; Lamb, Mizrachi Advance in $10K PLO
- 27 WSOP Day 27: Hellmuth Advances in Razz, Big Names in Monster Stack
- 28 WSOP Day 28: Brandon Shack-Harris Leads Final 6 in $10K PLO
- 29 WSOP Day 29: Elezra, Hellmuth, Negreanu Return in $1,500 PLO Hi-Lo
- 30 WSOP Day 30: Gamble, Matusow, Negreanu in $1,500 PLO Hi-Lo Final 20
- 31 WSOP Day 31: John Hennigan Among Chip Leaders in $10,000 Razz Championship
- 32 WSOP Day 32: Anderson and Kassela Return to Battle for RAZZ Bracelet
- 33 WSOP Day 33: Jean-Robert Bellande Leads Final 6 in $5K NLHE 6-Handed
- 34 WSOP Day 34: Main Event Kicks Off, Mizrachi Leads PLO Giant
- 35 WSOP Day 35: Scotty Nguyen, Joe Hachem, Ray Romano Advance in Main Event
- 36 WSOP Day 36: Fireworks Expected on Day 1c of the Main Event
- 37 WSOP Day 37: Galen Hall Looks for 888 Title, Big Names Return in Main Event
- 38 WSOP Day 38: Huge Day 2c in the Main, John Pannucci Leads $1,500 NLH
- 39 WSOP Day 39: Tan Leads $1,500 NLHE; Hellmuth, Ivey Back for Main Day 3
- 40 WSOP Day 40: Hallaert Bags Big in Little One, Ivey Makes Day 4 of ME
- 41 WSOP Day 41: Minkin Making Another Main Event Run, Solomon Leads PLO
- 42 WSOP Day 42: Dyer Leads Main With Cada Still In, Bohlman Goes for Double
- 43 WSOP Day 43: Big Names Left in $5K NLHE, Cada Advances in Main Event
- 44 WSOP Day 44: Three More Bracelets Awarded As Main Event Finale Begins
- 45 WSOP Day 45: Volpe Seeks Bracelet, Dyer Leads Final 6 and Cada in Main
- 46 WSOP Day 46: Main Event Reaches Finale, Eibinger Leads $50K High Roller
- 47 WSOP Day 47: Big One for One Drop Begins, Kessler, ElkY Big Stacks in Closer
