WSOP Circuit Becomes First Tour to Serve Vibrant Dallas-area Poker Market
LAS VEGAS – September 2, 2010 – Fresh off a $300 million expansion, the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma – an hour north of Dallas, Texas, will host its first-ever World Series of Poker Circuit event from January 6-25, 2011 as part of the official 2010-11 WSOP Circuit Tour.
The 2010-11 schedule now includes 13 official tour stops, with one more expected to be added soon.
The Choctaw Casino Resort WSOP Circuit event will feature 10 WSOP ring events and a total of 54 different events during the January stop. The expanded Choctaw Casino Resort features a brand-new 30-table poker lounge – housed on its own exclusive floor in the casino – and is a truly upscale, exclusive experience.
The Choctaw Casino Resort stop also marks the first time the WSOP has stepped outside the Harrah’s-affiliated properties to offer a WSOP-branded event.
“After visiting the property, it was a must that we brought a WSOP Circuit stop to Choctaw Casino Resort,” said WSOP Vice President Ty Stewart. “This is a huge poker market that has clamored for high stakes tournament poker and we’re ecstatic to be hosting a WSOP Circuit in this gorgeous property in Durant come January.”
Structures and payouts for all ring events at Choctaw will be consistent with all other WSOP Circuit events in order to keep the continuity and consistency for players travelling to multiple stops on the tour. Noted poker tournament director Jimmy Sommerfeld will serve as the event’s poker tournament operator.
Steven Loyd, Choctaw Casino Resort Director of Gaming & Hotel Operations, commented, “The vibrant poker markets in Texas and Oklahoma deserve a local to regional WSOP Circuit opportunity and Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant couldn’t be a better choice. Our location midway between Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and the large population base around Dallas/Ft. Worth puts us within easy striking distance of thousands of serious poker enthusiasts. Our beautiful new facility is poker friendly, with a best in class poker room and spacious tournament areas, great food and lodging. The Choctaw Nation is proud to be the newest member of the WSOP Circuit family.”
The revised WSOP Circuit schedule now looks as follows:
|
WORLD SERIES OF POKER 2010-2011 CIRCUIT TOUR SCHEDULE
|
| TOURNAMENT DATES |
TOURNAMENT LOCATION |
August 19 – August 31, 2010
|
Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Iowa) |
| October 2 – October 12, 2010 |
Horseshoe Southern Indiana |
October 15 – October 27, 2010
|
Horseshoe Hammond (Chicago area) |
| October 26 – October 31, 2010 |
Emerald Casino* (South Africa) |
| October 28 – November 10, 2010 |
IP Casino Resort & Spa (Biloxi, MS) |
| November 11 – November 23, 2010 |
Harveys Lake Tahoe |
| December 4 – December 22, 2010 |
Harrah’s Atlantic City |
| January 6 – 25, 2011 |
Choctaw Casino (Durant, OK) |
| January 27 – February 15, 2011 |
Harrah’s Tunica
|
| March 2 – March 13, 2011 |
Caesars Atlantic City |
March 11 – March 30, 2011
|
Harrah’s Rincon (San Diego area) |
March 31 – April 13, 2011
|
Harrah’s St. Louis |
April 14 – April 30, 2011
|
Caesars Palace |
| May 9 – May 22, 2011 |
Harrah’s New Orleans |
*Circuit Event in South Africa does not count towards point system tabulation or cumulative event award.
Bold indicates Super Regional, with an added event, the $10K nationally televised No Limit Hold’em tournament.
Circuit schedules are subject to change. For more information on individual circuit events, including event schedules and structure sheets, can be found at each property website or by visiting WSOP.com.
The first event of this year’s WSOP Circuit season just concluded at Horseshoe Council Bluffs in Iowa, with the newly-revamped format increasing the Main Event prize pool by more than 70%, while players were united in their praise for the creation of the $1 million National Championship, gold bracelet opportunity and points system.
The next stop on the WSOP Circuit is October 2 in Horseshoe Southern Indiana. Beginning in October, the WSOP Circuit pretty much runs non-stop through May 22, 2011, with 12 consecutive events over 8 months.
Below details the key changes to this year’s WSOP Circuit tour.
- A cumulative rankings system throughout the season, awarding points for each official WSOP Circuit “Ring” open event, with four different ways to automatically qualify.
- A season-ending National Championship tournament for 100 players who automatically qualify via cumulative rankings or performance-based criteria. (The televised National Championship tournament will be played at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas prior to the commencement of the WSOP and feature a $1,000,000 prize pool and award a WSOP Gold Bracelet).
- Four Regional WSOP Circuit Championships with a $10,000 buy-in event plus two-hours of national television coverage per stop.
- Standardized structures and pay-outs at all events; with the Main Event lowered to $1500 outside Regional Championships to encourage larger fields and more players attending multiple stops on the tour.