The biggest WSOP Europe of all times

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When Leon Tsoukernik sat together with his WSOP partners last year to elaborate a 5-year deal, one thing was for sure: whole new benchmarks were being set for the WSOP Europe. Eleven bracelets are up for grabs this year featuring a One Drop High Roller for the first time and a 5-million Euro guarantee for the Main Event.
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When the WSOP hit Europe for the first time in 2007, the Poker scene was thrilled and with Annette Obrestad taking down the first WSOP Europe title, it looked like the WSOP had gained a solid foothold in Europe. Surprisingly, the number of participants kept dropping over the three following editions before moving the competition to Cannes for a new upswing. The Côte d’Azur drew a field of 593 with Elio Fox besting it and winning the biggest edition of the WSOP Europe by then but the enthusiasm did not last for long and the second edition in Cannes already showed weakening signs in 2012. In 2013, the WSOP Europe moved to one of Paris’ affluent suburbs, Enghien-Les-Bains, but the location did not suite the players too well either. After a break in 2014, one could have thought that moving to Berlin in 2015 was the big coup. As a matter of fact, a lot of improvements were made in Berlin but, compared to the EPT, the WSOP Europe was still looking a little bit like a side event of the Poker season.

A new break followed in 2016 for the WSOP Europe while the promoters were looking for a new venue. Following the announcements of its big transformations, King’s had suddenly become a viable option and after Ty Steward, Executive Director of the WSOP, had been standing on the stairs of the Pokerarena for the first time, it became clear that the WSOP Europe had found a new home.

The construction of the new casino area with the new TV set and very comfortable can game zones were equally important as the new luxury hotel that was being built with more than 200 rooms and suites. Just like the players are used to from Las Vegas, you can now eat, sleep and gamble under the same roof at King’s. 156 Poker tables are already set up and ready for the unfolding of the incredibly dense tournament schedule ahead.

​The bracelet events:

It is the very first time that eleven bracelets are awarded in a WSOP Europe competition. Six of the events are new and there will also be five defending champions. Every single one of the eleven tourneys is a highlight as such so that players will have to decide for themselves which one is their personal favourite. While many have already announced to be present for the Colossus (€ 550 for € 2.000.000 GTD), most of the Poker scene might consider the € 10.350 Main Event as a distant dream but 888poker and partypoker are offering qualifiers to bring the dream closer. Additionally, there will be live satellites at King’s too. The packed side event schedule will also offer diversity at more affordable games with a WSOP feeling on top of it.