15 February 2017 (Las Vegas) – After an absence of nearly 12 years, the World Series of Poker Circuit is returning to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Action kicks off Friday, and 12 Circuit rings and two automatic berths into the 2017 Global Casino Championship will be up for grabs from February 17-28.
The Rio, of course, has been the home of the World Series of Poker every summer since 2005, and tens of thousands of poker players from across the globe will once again descend on the Rio convention center a few months from now. But recent Circuit stops in Las Vegas have been held at other venues, such as Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, and Bally’s. But his year, the Rio is back on the Circuit schedule.
The opening weekend features a multi-flight re-entry event, starting February 17 at noon. The $365 tournament has six starting flights and $250,000 guarantee. The second weekend is anchored by the $1,675 Main Event, starting Saturday February 25. It carries a $750,000 guarantee and is expected to wrap up on Tuesday the 28th. Other highlights include a mixed no-limit texas hold’em / pot-limit Omaha event (Feb 20), H.O.R.S.E tourney (Feb 23), and a $2,200 high roller (Feb 27).
Here’s the full schedule of ring events:
| Friday, Feb.17 |
12:00 PM |
1A |
$365 |
No-Limit Hold'em Re-entry |
Unlimited |
| Friday, Feb.17 |
4:00 PM |
1B
|
$365 |
|
|
Friday, Feb.18
|
12:00 PM
|
1C
|
$365
|
|
|
| Friday, Feb.18 |
4:00 PM |
1D
|
$365
|
|
|
Friday, Feb.19
|
12:00 PM |
1E
|
$365
|
|
|
| Friday, Feb.19 |
4:00 PM |
1F
|
$365 |
|
|
Monday, Feb. 20
|
12:00 PM |
2
|
$365 |
No-Limit Hold'em
|
Single |
Monday, Feb. 20
|
4:00 PM |
3
|
$365 |
Mixed PLO/NLHE
|
Unlimited |
| Tuesday, Feb. 21 |
12:00 PM |
4
|
$365 |
Seniors Event
|
Unlimited |
Tuesday, Feb. 21
|
4:00 PM |
5
|
$365 |
No-Limit Hold'em Turbo
|
Unlimited |
Wednesday, Feb. 22
|
12:00 PM |
6
|
$365 |
No-Limit Hold'em
|
Single |
| Wednesday, Feb. 22 |
4:00 PM |
7
|
$365 |
Pot-Limit Omaha
|
Unlimited |
Thursday, Feb. 23
|
12:00 PM |
8
|
$365 |
No-Limit Hold'em |
Single |
| Thursday, Feb. 23 |
4:00 PM |
9
|
$365 |
H.O.R.S.E. |
Single |
Friday, Feb. 24
|
12:00 PM
|
10 |
$365 |
No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack |
None |
Saturday, Feb. 25
|
3:00 PM
|
11A
|
$1,675 |
MAIN EVENT
|
Single per flight |
Sunday, Feb. 26
|
3:00 PM |
11B |
$1,675 |
MAIN EVENT
|
Single per flight |
Monday, Feb. 27
|
11:00 AM
|
12
|
$365 |
No-Limit Hold'em Turbo |
Unlimited |
| Monday, Feb. 27 |
4:00 PM |
13 |
$2,200 |
High Roller
|
Unlimited |
Click here for a PDF version of the schedule
The last time the WSOP Circuit came to the Rio was in March 2005, during the Circuit’s inaugural season. Doug Lee won the Main Event, besting a final table that included Phil Ivey, Jean-Robert Bellande, and Poker Hall-of-Famer Jennifer Harman. He won his first ring and $695,970.
The Circuit has evolved since that first year. Main Events now carry a $1,675 buy-in, and the winner receives a free entry into the Global Casino Championship. The Casino Champion – the player who earns the most points in the 12 ring events at the stop – also earns a free seat. Click here for more information about leaderboard points and the Global Casino Championship.
Special Room Rates for WSOP Circuit Players