As poker players around the world anticipate the 2019 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, some of them are also following the WSOP Circuit. The current 2018/2019 season is still in full swing.
Both the US and International Circuit schedules began in August 2018. The US WSOPC kicked off on August 2 at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina, and the International WSOPC held its first event of the current season at Playground Poker in Canada on August 23. The two will soon hold their final events on their respective schedules and pause for the WSOP in Las Vegas this summer.
A couple of weeks later, winners from both circuits will then be invited to gather at Harrah’s Cherokee for the big finale, the 2019 Global Poker Championship, from August 6-8. The three-day will provide a close to the season as well as a kickoff to the 2019/2020 season.
US Circuit with Several Events Left to Play
The US WSOP Circuit has more stops than its international partner, and it is not quite ready to wrap up its trek around the United States.
Today, April 8, is the last day of its stop at Horseshoe Council Bluffs in Iowa, but that will still leave three more destinations for players before the season ends.
Harrah’s Cherokee in North CarolinaDates: April 10-21Main Event: $1,700 buy-in with $1M GTD starting April 19Horseshoe Tunica in MississippiDates: April 25 – May 6Main Event: $1,700 buy-in with $500K GTD starting May 3Harrah’s New Orleans in LouisianaDates: May 9-20Main Event: $1,700 buy-in with $750K GTD starting May 17
This will put a button on the 2018/2019 season until the Global Casino Championship.
International Circuit Still Moving Forward
The international leg of the WSOP Circuit may not be as well known, but it offers the same WSOP gold rings and tournament opportunities as the US tour. There are fewer stops, but they span from Australia to Brazil, Morocco to St. Maarten, and from the Czech Republic to Canada.
This season is still in progress as well, and since may players in these events cannot make it to Las Vegas for the larger WSOP action from the end of May to the middle of July, this schedule can go longer than most. Action is still progressing at Dusk Till Dawn in the UK, as this stop started on March 31 but runs through April 14. After that, two more stops remain.
Le Croisette Casino Barriere in Cannes, FranceDates: April 11-22Main Event: €1,500 buy-in starting April 18Casino de Marrakech in MorrocoDates: June 15-23Main Event: Details yet to be announced
Last and First Stop in North Carolina
For the fifth year in a row, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in North Carolina will host the 2019 Global Casino Championship. The single tournament will play out from August 6-8, and it will award a WSOP gold bracelet instead of the traditional WSOP Circuit rings.
WSOP will offer a $1 million guarantee on the prize pool. Many players will be automatically entered for their wins throughout the season, as 108 players will have qualified through successes in the US and 24 on the international tour.
To win an entry, a player must have won a Main Event tournament at any stop on the US or International WSOP Circuit or been declared the Casino Champion at any stop for winning the points leaderboard. In addition, per the entire season’s leaderboard for the US WSOPC, the top 50 players will be offered seats.
In addition to complimentary seats in the event, worth $10K each, those who won seats to the Global Casino Championship will also receive $500 for travel expenses and three free nights’ accommodations at Harrah’s Cherokee. International players and those making the final table will be granted an extra free night’s stay.
Other players can buy-in but only those who won a WSOPC gold ring at an event in the US or internationally during the 2018-2019 season. That buy-in is $10K but there is no rake.
A New Season Will Begin
While the Global Casino Championship is scheduled to begin on August 6, the new 2019-2020 season of the US WSOP Circuit will already be underway. Action starts on August 1 and runs through August 12. The dates and buy-ins for most events have yet to be released.
It is important to note, however, that any wins at that 2019-2020 Harrah’s Cherokee stop will go toward qualifications for the 2020 Global Casino Championship only.
https://twitter.com/WSOP/status/1113113580344233984
