For the last 47 years, poker enthusiasts from around the globe have gathered in Las Vegas every summer to compete in the World Series of Poker, showcasing their skills in this prestigious event. The upcoming 2016 WSOP, which we are proudly sponsoring, promises to maintain this tradition, yet the sheer number of poker events today means players have countless options.
Although the WSOP stands out as the highlight of the poker season, there are numerous other engaging tournaments and series that players can explore. Here we present five noteworthy events to check out during your time in Las Vegas this summer.
Golden Nugget's Grand Poker Series – Running from May 31 to July 3
The Grand Poker Series (GPS) at the Golden Nugget in 2016, presented in partnership with Poker Night in America, offers an impressive lineup of 59 events with guaranteed prizes exceeding $1 million. Additionally, there are daily tournaments priced at $100 and numerous satellite events throughout the series.
Participants can enjoy reasonably priced buy-ins, typically ranging from $150 to $570, with most events lasting only a single day; only four events extend beyond that.
One standout event is #7: Poker Night in America, featuring a buy-in of $1,675. This tournament spans five days from June 3 to June 7, with three initial flights and plans for TV coverage.
Another notable feature is the $10,000 Seniors Super High Roller event, which claims the title for the series' highest buy-in, scheduled for June 26, exclusively for players aged 50 and above.
The GPS Main Event, with a buy-in of $570 and a guaranteed prize pool of $500,000, will run from June 29 to July 2 and will include three starting flights. This event aims to surpass the previous year’s record of 1,330 entries, where Christian Francia emerged victorious with a payout of $89,298.
For a look at the 2016 GPS schedule, click here .
Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event – June 6-10
The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) will host its Season 7 Mid-Season Championship from June 6 to 10, featuring a $1,100 buy-in Main Event with a $2 million guarantee, all part of the Venetian's DeepStack Extravaganza III series.
"This marks our third consecutive summer hosting an event at the Venetian, and each year we see growth and excitement,\" stated MSPT owner Bryan Mileski. \"With a whopping $2 million guarantee, we anticipate a diverse crowd of seasoned professionals, enthusiastic amateurs, and returning MSPT supporters, aiming for the largest turnout in our history.\"
The tournament will begin with players receiving 20,000 chips, and levels will run for 40 minutes. Multiple flights will be available starting at Noon on June 6, with additional flights on June 7 and June 8. Participants can register late until 6:30 p.m. on each day.
Those who advance from the initial flights will merge for Day 2 on June 9, where they will compete down to the final ten players, culminating the event on June 10. The entire Main Event will be covered live via the newly launched MSPT Live Blog.
The MSPT first made an appearance at the Venetian in 2014 when Dale Bronk from Chicago topped 854 entries to win $163,870. The following year, over 1,964 players entered, resulting in a total prize pool of $1,964,000, with $215,815 awarded to Angelina Rich, who made history as the first woman to win an MSPT title.
The Venetian's DeepStack Extravaganza III Warm-Up runs from May 16 to 26 and the main DeepStack Extravaganza III runs from May 26 to July 24. The warm-up series includes 17 events with a total guarantee of $420,500, while the main series features a staggering schedule of 90 events.
Planet Hollywood Goliath Series
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino's Phamous Poker Series GOLIATH impressively mirrored the WSOP schedule last summer but at a more accessible price point. The series attracted over 26,000 players from all corners of the globe and distributed more than $7.8 million in cash prizes. Given its grand success, it will return this summer from May 26 to July 10.
This year, the Phamous Poker Series GOLIATH will present a wider variety of events, including twelve non-hold'em competitions, team formats, multiple short-handed tournaments, two Quantum Tournaments, the Ladies International Poker Series, a unique variation called Exposed Hold’em hosted by Dutch Boyd, and five charitable contests.
The upcoming series is set to surpass last year's achievements, with over $8 million in potential winnings across 115 different events. The highlighted GOLIATH Main Event, carrying a $1,650 buy-in, will happen from July 7 to 10 and promises a $2 million guarantee.
"The Phamous Poker Series GOLIATH caters to all types of players, ensuring an inclusive atmosphere,\" remarked Chris Gawlik, Planet Hollywood Poker Room Manager and creator of the Phamous Poker Series. \"Whether you're a casual player, a professional, or someone in between, you're bound to enjoy your time here this summer!\"
For the complete schedule of the GOLIATH series, click here .
Bellagio Cup XII Poker Tournament
From July 13 to 19, poker enthusiasts can look forward to the return of Bellagio's renowned tournament series, the Bellagio Cup, for its twelfth year. The events kick off on July 13 with a $1,000 + $90 Super Satellite at Noon, followed by the $10,000 + $400 Bellagio Cup XII starting at the same time on July 14.
The five-day schedule will consist of five 90-minute levels daily, with late registration available until Day 3 at the beginning of Level 13, approximately 3:30 p.m. on July 16.
Last year, the 301 entrants of the Bellagio Cup XI generated a remarkable prize pool of $2,919,700, with Dominik Nitsche finishing in second place, earning $479,732 – which ranks as the third-largest cash prize in his career – while Sean Winter secured victory along with a first prize of $562,772.
For details on the Bellagio Cup XII event schedule, click here .
$300,000 Super High Roller Bowl
Although securing a spot in this tournament might prove challenging due to its high buy-in and current sell-out status, it deserves mention as one of the summer's most awaited events. If you find yourself in Vegas between May 29 and June 1, consider visiting the ARIA to connect with top-tier poker players.
The second edition of the Super High Roller Bowl, brought to you by Poker Central and filmed by Poker PROductions, follows a successful debut in 2015. Last year's premiere had a hefty $500,000 buy-in and saw Brian Rast clinching a remarkable first prize of $7,525,000 after competing with 43 players.
This year's tournament is rake-free and has a capped entry of 49 players, enhanced by an additional $300,000 from sponsors for the prize pool. Among the confirmed elite players are Antonio Esfandiari, Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel, Phil Hellmuth, and 888poker's Dominik Nitsche.
"Missing out on last year’s $500,000 buy-in event was a disappointment for me,\" expressed Nitsche. \"It sounded like an extraordinary experience; however, I wasn’t initially convinced it was worth the investment. This year, they’ve added $300,000 to the prize pool for a negative rake fee. I’ve also heard many amateur players are eager to join, and considering my recent success in high roller tournaments, I thought, why not give it a shot?\"
To view the full list of players, click here .