World Series of Poker Brings Back Tournament of ChampionsTwenty-Seven Players Will Compete for $1 Million Prize Pool |
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For the first time since 2006, the World Series of Poker will host a Tournament of Champions. The freeroll will feature 27 players and a $1 million prize pool, with $500,000 reserved for the winner.
“We’re thrilled to reinvent (the Tournament of Champions) around a model that should elevate the game by engaging millions of poker fans,” said Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment vice president Ty Stewart, referencing the fact that 20 of the 27 players will earn entry into the tournament via a public poll on wsop.com. “We have received a lot of input from players and their affinity for the TOC, and we are excited for them and the fans and hope it’s here to stay.”
Only five players receive automatic entries to the event — the past three TOC winners (Mike Sexton, Mike Matusow, and Annie Duke), and the reigning WSOP and WSOPE main-event champions (Joe Cada and Barry Shulman). The final two spots will come in the form of qualifiers, for which the details have not yet been released. Stewart said that it is possible that the qualifier(s) could come in the form of an online tournament.
The tournament will take place June 27, with the final table played on July 4 (to avoid other events going on at the World Series). ESPN will televise the event in a two-hour broadcast on Aug. 3.
Pros will undoubtedly be excited to see the return of a TV event with a sizable amount of free money on the line.
“Tournaments like the Tournament of Champions help elevate poker to the level it deserves and I am honored to participate,” Annie Duke said in a statement in a press release announcing the news. “Winning the TOC marks one of the most memorable events in my poker career and I’m ecstatic that the WSOP is hosting this prestigious event.”
Fans will have three months to vote in their top 20 players on wsop.com. The poll opens today at noon and closes June 15 at midnight. Only players who have won a WSOP bracelet in their career are eligible to be voted in. That means popular cash-game stars like Patrik Antonius and Tom Dwan will likely not play in the event.
“Over time, I imagine both of those players are going to win bracelets and be eligible. But this is a lot about giving back to our best customers,” said Stewart. “There are all sorts of places where you can see great high-stakes cash games players, but great tournament players will be on display at the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions.”
Stewart clarified that anyone of age will be able to compete in the qualifiers, and that they won’t simply be at-large bids at the discretion of Harrah’s. The two spots will likely be highly sought after with so much money on the table.
The winner will take home $500,000, while second place gets $250,000, and third place earns $100,000. Fourth through ninth place will each take home $25,000, while the rest of the field will have to leave empty-handed.
Poker fans will be able to track who is in contention in the online poll over the next three months. While an exact tally will not be available in order to prevent ballot-stuffing, the WSOP will list the 50 highest vote getters online so players know who has distanced themselves from the pack. There are currently 521 surviving WSOP bracelet holders.
The 2010 World Series of Poker runs May 27 to July 17 at the Rio in Las Vegas.
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