Welcome to PokerMedia Australia’s coverage of the 2012 World Series of Poker. With thanks to our international partners, we’ll be providing a daily report from the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino over the next seven weeks. And despite endless requests, we won’t be offering a slice of our action … well, maybe next year!
As is tradition, the WSOP will kick-off with $500 Casino Employees No Limit Hold’em event. Prior to the start of this tournament, WSOP TD Jack Effel will take to the main stage inside the Pavilion Tournament Room and invite all casino employees in the room to join in with a rousing rendition of the customary announcement which begins all WSOP events: “shuffle up and deal”.
The Casino Employees event has been the launching pad of the WSOP since it was first added as a gold bracelet event, back in 2000. The tournament was initially called the Dealers World Poker Championship, since the tournament was only open to casino dealers at the time.
The following year, all casino employees became eligible. The inaugural event attracted only 109 entries. It doubled in size the next year due to the expanded eligibility.
The tournament was originally added to the WSOP schedule to recognise the considerable contributions of many dedicated professionals in the gaming industry. It has been an official gold bracelet event during all 12 years it’s been held.
From 2000 to 2003, the Casino Employees Championship was played as a Limit Hold’em tournament. Since 2004, the event has been a No Limit Hold’em tournament. The largest turnout in history for this event took place at the 2006 WSOP when 1232 players entered.
Other highlights of the first week include the first repechage event in WSOP history. Aussies should have reason to be proud, as Crown’s Jonno Pittock was the first TD anywhere in the world to introduce this format.
Another event of note in the opening week is the $5000 No Limit Hold’em Mixed Max. This split-format tournament was first offered at the 2011 WSOP Europe. First round matches are played nine-handed. Second-round matches are played six-handed. The final table is actually the last four players before the title is decided heads-up.
We’ll also be watching the innovative $3000 Heads-up No Limit Hold’em/Pot Limit Omaha event (#3) with interest. Several Aussies have already set up base in Vegas, and we look forward to reporting on the next (and the next, and the next) Australian WSOP bracelet winner in the coming weeks. GL to all.
2012 WSOP schedule (week 1)
May 27 (noon) Event 1: $500 Casino Employees No Limit Hold’em (two-day event)
May 28 (noon) Event 2: $1500 No Limit Hold’em (three-day event)
May 29 (noon) Event 3: $3000 Heads-up No Limit Hold’em/Pot Limit Omaha (512 player max; three-day event)
May 29 (5pm) Event 4: $1500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low 8 or Better (three-day event)
May 30 (noon) Event 5: $1500 Pot Limit Hold’em (three-day event)
May 31 (noon) Event 6: $5000 No Limit Hold’em Mixed Max (day 1 plays nine-handed, day 2 plays six-handed, days 3-4 play heads-up; four-day event)
May 31 (5pm) Event 7: $1500 Seven Card Stud (three-day event)
June 1 (noon) Event 8: $1500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (three-day event )
June 2 (noon) Event 9A: $1500 No Limit Hold’em Re-entry (players who are eliminated in 9A may re-enter in 9B; five-day event)
June 3 (noon) Event 9B: $1500 No Limit Hold’em Re-entry
June 3 (5pm) Event 10: $5000 Seven Card Stud (three-day event)
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