2015 World Series of Poker Announces Major Changes To Format

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Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015 | Written by Stephen Smith

Over the past few years, poker has become the professional pursuit of serious players willing to put in endless hours studying the game and working through all the mathematical data collected on opponents. This has dispelled much of the romantic notions that were once associated with poker and resulted in an exodus of recreational and amateur players from the card game, including the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. The 2015 World Series of Poker, however, has announced a number of major changes to its 46th Annual format, including 11 new braceleted events and greater guaranteed pay outs, as its organizer seeks to draw amateurs back to the prestigious tournament series. As WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart, explains:

“If you’ve never thought about coming to Las Vegas for the WSOP, this is the year. Now more than ever, the WSOP has something for everyone and with this schedule we believe the value and the opportunity for player success exists in each and every event we are offering in 2015.”

Decline In Mainstream Participation

In 2003, Chris Moneymaker started the poker boom when the amateur player won the $10k WSOP Main Event for $2.5 million after qualifying for the tournament via a $39 online satellite. As well as gaining instant fame, Moneymaker allowed other amateurs to believe that they too could accomplish equally remarkable achievements in the game, but unfortunately the bubble burst in 2006, and since then the sharks have been ruling the roost, to mix metaphors. Even Moneymaker has only earned $1,083,799 since his famous victory 12 years ago, and a mere $116,161 since 2011.

Needless to say, while professional players represent only a small fraction of the game’s poker playing community, over the last few years they have continually dominated its marquee events leading many to believe poker’s popularity as a mainstream activity is on the wane. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the WSOP Main Event, where the tournament’s final table is invariably populated by talented, young pros.

Drastic Changes To Main Event

One tournament which attracts more attention than all the others put together is the $10k WSOP Main Event, and this year a number of drastic changes to its format have been made following feedback from the poker community. Originally, the organizer was keen to continue implementing a top heavy payout structure which favored the pros, including a $10 million guaranteed first prize, and roughly 650 paid places, but after receiving negative feedback the WSOP furnished a short survey asking players what type of structure they would most like to see. Consequently, this year 1,000 money places will be available, while everyone making the final table will be guaranteed at least a $1 million payday, and as poker superstar Daniel Negreanu commented:

“Hats off again to the @WSOP staff for always listening to feedback from players and being willing to make changes. Big part of it’s success.. Looking over 2015 @WSOP structures and players are going to be insanely happy with the changes. Especially the lower buy in grinders.”

Smaller Buy-Ins, Bigger Stacks

At the 46th Annual World Series of Poker, those events with buy-ins less than $10,000 will have starting chip counts 66% greater than their 2014 counterparts in order to provide more bang for the players’ bucks. Furthermore, eleven brand new events have been added to the Series, including the lowest buy-in WSOP tournament in 35 years, the $565 Colossus No-Limit Hold’em, which also comes with a huge guaranteed $5 million prize pool. Other new events added include the following:

$1,500 Extended Play NLHE

$1,000 Super Seniors NLHE

$5,000 Turbo NLHE

$1,500 DraftKings 50/50 NLHE

$25,000 High Roller 8-handed PL Omaha

$1,500 Bounty NLHE

$777 Lucky 7’s NLHE

$10,000 Dealer’s Choice

First Online Braceleted Event

In addition, for the first time ever a $1,000 NL online event has been added to the schedule via Nevada’s WSOP.com poker website, although the two day event will conclude with the final two players competing heads-up live at the Rio All-Suite on July 3rd to decide who takes home the gold winner’s bracelet.

“[The WSOP] wanted to be able to award the bracelet to the winner at the Rio.. Part of the experience of winning a WSOP bracelet is that photo with the bracelet,” explained WSOP.com head Bill Rini.

Finally, the 2015 WSOP will officially run from May 27th to July 14th at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and will offers almost $200 million in prize money.