WSOP 2021 to Kick Off Today

The WSOP begins Thursday and runs through Nov. 23 with 88 bracelet events, including the Main Event, the $10,000 No-limit Hold’em World Championship.  All participants must be vaccinated, a mandate that has resulted in some controversy.

Buy-ins range from $400 to $250,000.

It remains to be seen whether the turnout will be on par with past years.  While international travel restrictions have been lifted to some extent, the testing requirements, vaccine mandates and overall fears related to the global Covid-19 pandemic will likely impact attendance.

“I have made plans to attend,” Greg “Fossilman” Raymer told Gambling911.com last month. “However, I will be reviewing the situation and could alter those plans, even at the last minute. I hope that more people will get vaccinated and the risk will continue to decline.”

The WSOP normally takes place in June and July. It was canceled last year and pushed back a few months this year following a summer surge in Covid-19 cases.

“It feels great to be back. After 26 months, it’s been too long,” WSOP executive director Ty Stewart said via email. “We love this event. Watching the TV cameras roll in, the banners hung from the rafters, unboxing the gold bracelets — it’s the best feeling of déjà vu.”

- Ace King, Gambling911.com