2013 WSOP Schedule Announced

The WSOP 2013 Dates have been announced

The 44th Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) will take place on the 49 days from May 29 - July 16, 2013 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The $10k Main Event will take place from July 7 - July 16, 2013.  Day 1A is on 7/7, Day 1B is on 7/8, Day 1C is on 7/9.  On 7/16, there will be 9 players left for the final table of the Main Event.

In 2012, there were 61 bracelet events in which 74,766 players from 101 countries participated.  The $222,000,000 total prize money was the largest in WSOP history.

In addition to bracelet events, there were 24 hour cash games, including NLHE, Limit Hold'em, PLO, Omaha 8 or Better, Razz, Stud, Stud 8 or Better, Triple Draw, Ace to Five Triple Draw, Badugi, Big-O, etc. with limits from $1-$2 to $500-$1000-$2000. in addition to "Daily Deepstack" tournaments for entry fees as low as $135 and Mega Setallites for entry fees as low as $75.

The WSOP is the highlight of the poker world, and is the elite brand name in poker tournaments.

5 Most Successful WSOPE Players

Annette Obrestad, 2007 WSOPE World Champion also tops the WSOPE All-Time Money List

Here are some stats I compiled on the top 5 on the All-Time Money List of the World Series of Poker Europe.

1. Annette Obrestad

• $2,013,734 in Live WSOPE Earnings
• 2007 WSOPE Main Event Championship Winner ($2,013,734) (def. John Tabatabai)
• 1 WSOPE Title

2. Elio Fox

• $1,897,932 in Live WSOPE Earnings
• 2011 WSOPE Main Event Championship Winner ($1,870,208) (def. Chris Moorman)
• 1 WSOPE Title

3. John Juanda

• $1,596,346 in Live WSOPE Earnings
• 2008 WSOPE Main Event Championship Winner ($1,580,096) (def. Stanislav Alekhine)
• 1 WSOPE Title

4. Phil Hellmuth

• $1,417,529 in Live WSOPE Earnings
• 2012 WSOPE Main Event Championship Winner ($1,333,841) (def. Sergii Baranov)
• 1 WSOPE Title

5. Daniel Negreanu

• $1,339,458 in Live WSOPE Earnings
• 2009 WSOPE Main Event Championship Runner-up

Most WSOP Bracelets Winners in One Year

Phil Ivey won 3 WSOP Bracelets in 2002 and  2 Bracelets in 2009

Most WSOP Bracelet Winners in One Year
Note: WSOPE Bracelets are included as WSOP Bracelets
WSOP World Champions are given in Bold

3 Bracelets:
Phil "The Poker Brat" Hellmuth (1993)
Phil "No Home Jerome" Ivey (2002)
Ted "Spooky" Forrest (1993)
Jeff "Iceman" Lisandro (2009)
Walter "Puggy" Pearson (1973)

2 Bracelets:
Phil Hellmuth (2003, 2012)
Doyle "The Godfather" Brunson (1976, 1977)
Johnny "The Orient Express" Chan (2003)
Johnny "The Grand Old Man" Moss (1971)
Phil Ivey (2009)
Billy Baxter (1982)
Men "The Master" Nguyen (1995, 2003)
TJ Cloutier (1994)
Layne "Back to Back" Flack (2002, 2003)
Gary "Bones" Berland (1978, 1979)
Chris "Jesus" Ferguson (2000, 2003)
Ted Forrest (2004)
John "Luckbox" Juanda (2003)
Scotty "The Prince of Poker" Nguyen (2001)
Stu "The Kid" Ungar (1981)
Bobby "The Owl" Baldwin (1977)
"Lakewood" Louie (1979)
Tom McEvoy (1983)
Jimmy Casella (1974)
Kun Nan "Nani" Dollison (2001)
Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari (2012)
Jack "Gentleman" Keller (1984)
Hibert "Hillstreet" Shirey (1995)
David "The Mathematician" Sklansky (1982)
Max Stern (1997)
Dewey Tomko (1984)
Howard "Tahoe" Andrew (1976)
Humberto "The Shark" Brenes (1993)
William Chen (2006)
Scott "emptyseat88" Fischman (2004)
Dan "Action Dan" Harrington (1995)
Jesper Hougaard (2008)
Frank "Lights Out" Kassela (2010)
JP "Aylesbury" Kelly (2009)
Jeff Madsen (2006)
Greg "gregy20723" Merson (2012)
Greg "FBT" Mueller (2009)
Brock "t_soprano" Parker (2009)
John "The Razor" Phan (2008)
Brian "tsarrast" Rast (2011)
Tom "Donkey Bomber" Schneider (2007)
Mark "Un" Seif (2005)

Final WSOP 2012 Stats

Sam Trickett, 2nd in The Big One for One Drop, is #1 on the 2012 WSOP European Players and  UK Players Lists

Here are some final stats from the 2012 World Series of Poker (all 2012 events are concluded).  The player's country, 2012 WSOP earnings, and largest 2012 WSOP cash is given.

WSOP 2012 Overall Money List

1. Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari

• California, USA
• $18,749,469 in 2012 WSOP Earnings ($19,574,512 in lifetime WSOP Earnings (#1))
• 1st in $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop ($18,346,673)
• 2 Bracelets in 2012: $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, €1,100 WSOPE NLHE ($164,656) (3 Lifetime Bracelets)

2. Sam "Tricky" Trickett

• United Kingdom
• $10,112,001 in 2012 WSOP Earnings ($11,175,952 in lifetime WSOP Earnings (#4))
• 2nd in $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop ($10,112,001)

3. Greg "gregy20723" Merson

• Maryland, USA
• $9,755,180 in 2012 WSOP Earnings ($9,785,354 in lifetime WSOP Earnings (#5))
• 1st in $10k Main Event ($8,531,853)
• 2 Bracelets in 2012: $10k Main Event,  $10k NLHE 6-Handed ($1,136,197) (2 Lifetime Bracelets), 2012 WSOP Player of the Year

4. Jesse Sylvia

• Massachusetts, USA
• $5,295,149 in 2012 WSOP Earnings ($5,331,521 in lifetime WSOP Earnings (#21))
• 2nd in $10k Main Event ($5,295,149)

5. Phil "The Poker Brat" Hellmuth

• California, USA
• $4,359,810 in 2012 WSOP Earnings ($12,180,254 in lifetime WSOP Earnings (#2))
• 4th in $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop
• 2 Bracelets in 2012: $2500 Razz ($182,793), €10k WSOPE Main Event ($1,333,841) (13 Lifetime Bracelets)

WSOP 2012 Number of Cashes

1. Konstantin Puchkov

• Russia
• 12 cashes in 2012 WSOP
• $230,379 in 2012 WSOP Earnings (#159)
• 5th in €10k NLHE Mixed Max ($54,918)

2-4. Jason "treysfull21" Mercier

• Florida, USA
• 10 cashes in 2012 WSOP
• $318,982 in 2012 WSOP Earnings (#101)
• 5th in €10k WSOPE Main Event ($110,467)

2-4. Phil Hellmuth (see above)

2-4. Terrence Chan

• Canada
• 10 cashes in 2012 WSOP
• $106,417 in 2012 WSOP Earnings (#333)
• 410th in $10k Main Event ($28,530)

Top WSOP 2012 European Players

1. Sam Trickett (see above)

2. Andras Koroknai

• Hungary
• $1,640,902 in 2012 WSOP Earnings
• 6th in $10k Main Event ($1,640,902)

3. Sergii Baranov

• Ukraine
• $825,310 in 2012 WSOP Earnings
• 2nd in €10k WSOPE Main Event ($825,310)

Top WSOP 2012 Great Britain and Ireland Players

1. Sam Trickett (see above)

2. Christopher Banner

• United Kingdom
• $471,410 in 2012 WSOP Earnings
• 5th in €10k WSOPE Main Event ($270,908)

3. Craig McCorkell

• United Kingdom
• $426,914 in 2012 WSOP Earnings
• 1st in $3k NLHE Shootout ($368,593)
• 1 Bracelet in 2012: $3k NLHE Shootout (1 Lifetime Bracelet)

Day 9 WSOP Main Event Final Table

Greg Merson, Chip Leader into Day 9 of the Main Event

As Day 9 of the World Series Main Event begins at 5:45pm local time (8:45pm EST), let's recap last night's 7.5 hour Final table, which saw the elimination of 6 out of the 9 WSOP Octo Nine.

9th place ($754,798):
Steven Gee

• started final table 5th in chips
• busted on Hand 30 of final table
• final hand: 8h8c vs. Russell Thomas' QdQc

8th place ($971,252)

Robert Salaburu

• started final table 7th in chips
• busted on Hand 65 of final table
• final hand: 7d7h vs. Jesse Sylvia's Qc5c (aipf)

7th place ($1,257,790)

Michael Esposito

• started final table 6th in chips
• busted on Hand 70 of final table
• final hand: AsJh vs. Greg Merson's AcKs (aipf)

6th place ($1,640,461)

Andras Koroknai

• started final table 2nd in chips
• busted on Hand 109 of final table
• final hand: KhQd vs. Greg Merson's AsKs (aipf)

5th place ($2,154,616)

Jeremy Ausmus

• started final table 9th in chips
• busted on Hand 129 of final table
• final hand: 10s7d vs. Jesse Sylvia's Ac9h

4th place ($2,850,494)

Russell Thomas

• started final table 4th in chips
• busted on Hand 135 of final table
• final hand: Ah9d vs. Jake Balsiger's AsKc (aipf)

This leaves Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia and Jake Balsiger to play 3-handed tonight.  They will be on level 37, with the blinds at 300,000-600,000, with a 75,000 ante.  They are each guaranteed 3rd place money of $3,797,558.  2nd place will receive $5,292,889, with the champion receiving $8,527,982.

Merson is the chip leader with 88,350,000 (147.3 big blinds).  Sylvia has 62,750,000 (104.6 big blinds), and Balsiger is the short stack with 46,875,000 (78.1 big blinds).

If Merson wins, he will overtake Phil Hellmuth as 2012 WSOP Player of the Year (Phil Hellmuth finished second in the POY race last year as well, behind Main Event #3 Ben "Benba" Lamb).

Watch the three-handed wrap-up of the Main Event in a little over 7 hours at ESPN.

WSOP Title Stats

Here are some stats I compiled on WSOP Titles and Winners (with the help of the Hendon Mob Database):

Phil Hellmuth won his record 13th bracelet in WSOP Europe earlier this month

Most WSOP Bracelets:

1. Phil Hellmuth (13)

     Most recent: WSOPE 2012 €10,450 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event (def. Sergii Baranov) ($1,333,841)

     Main Event Bracelets: 1 - 1989 (def. Johnny Chan)

2-3. Doyle Brunson (10)

     Most recent: 2005 $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em (def. Minh Ly) ($367,800)

     Main Event Bracelets: 2 - 1976 (def. Jesse Alto), 1977 (def. Gary Berland)

2-3. Johnny Chan (10)

     Most recent: 2005 $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em (def. Phil Laak) ($303,025)

     Main Event Bracelets: 2 -  1987 (def. Frank Henderson), 1988 (def. Erik Seidel)

4. Johnny Moss (9) (deceased)

     Most recent: 1988 $1,500 Limit Ace to Five Draw (def. Richard Chase) ($116,400)

     Main Event Bracelets: 3 - 1970 (voted best in the world by his peers),  1971 (def. Puggy Pearson), 1974 (def. Crandell Addington)

5-6. Erik Seidel (8)

     Most recent: 2007 $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball w/ Rebuys (def. Chad Brown) ($538,835)

     Main Event Bracelets: None (came 2nd to Johnny Chan in 1988)

5-6. Phil Ivey (8)

     Most recent: 2010 $3,000 HORSE (def. Bill Chen) ($329,840)

     Main Event Bracelets: None (came 7th in 2009)

Most WSOP Earnings:

Antonio Esfandiari with his record $18.3 million payday

1. Antonio Esfandiari ($19,574,512)

     Biggest win: 2012 $1,000,000 No-Limit Hold'em Big One for One Drop (1st, $18,346,673)

     Bracelets: 3

2. Phil Hellmuth ($12,180,254)

     Biggest win: 2012 $1,000,000 No-Limit Hold'em Big One for One Drop (4th, $2,645,333)

     Bracelets: 13

3. Jamie Gold ($12,073,795)

     Biggest win: 2006 $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event (1st, $12,000,000)

     Bracelets: 1

4. Sam Trickett ($11,175,952)

     Biggest win: 2012 $1,000,000 No-Limit Hold'em Big One for One Drop (2nd, $10,112,001)

     Bracelets: 0

5. Peter Eastgate ($9,430,506)

     Biggest win: 2008 $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event (1st, $9,152,416)

     Bracelets 1

Most WSOP Cashes:

1. Phil Hellmuth (95)

2. Men Nguyen (76)

3. Erik Seidel (75)

4. Humberto Brenes (66)

5. Chris Bjӧrin (65)

WSOP Main Event Octo 9

The "Octo 9" Compete for the World Champion Bracelet in 9 days

These nine players outlasted a field of 6,598 players in the $10k No-Limit Hold'em Main Event in July to make the Final Table, which will take place on October 29-30.  Out of a total prizepool of $62,021,200, each of the finalists are guaranteed $754,798.  1st place will receive $8,527,982, the 6th biggest Main Event first place payout in the 43-year history of the WSOP.  Here are some stats and bios on our 2012 October Nine.

Level: 34 (150,000-300,000, 40,000 ante)
Total Chips in Play: 197,970,000
Average Chip Stack: 21,996,667 (73.32 Big Blinds)
Average Age: 31.7
Average prior live tournament earnings: $501,123
2 WSOP Bracelets total
8 Americans, 1 Hungarian (Koroknai)

Prizepool for Octo 9: $27,247,840 (43.93% of total prizepool)

Place:	Earnings:
1	$8,527,982
2	$5,292,889
3	$3,797,558
4	$2,850,494
5	$2,154,616
6	$1,640,461
7	$1,257,790
8	$971,252
9	$754,798

Jesse Sylvia

26 years old

West Tisbury, MA, USA

Seat 6

43,875,000 chips (#1, 22.16% of total)

146.25 Big Blinds, M-ratio = 54.17

Poker Pro

$58,478 prior live tournament earnings

Ex-roommate with Russell Thomas (Seat 1)

EV: $6,038,789

Andras Koroknai

30 years old

Debrecen, Hungary

Seat 8

29,375,000 chips (#2, 14.84%)

97.92 Big Blinds, M = 36.27

$1,829,451 in prior live tournament earnings

1 WPT Title (2010 $10k NLHE Championship)

Only-non American at the table

Could be the first Hungarian World Champ

EV: $4,043,064

Gregory Merson

24 years old

Laurel, MD, USA

Seat 5

28,725,000 chips (#3, 14.51%)

95.75 Big Blinds, M = 35.46

$1,319,704 in prior live tournament earnings

1 WSOP Bracelet (2012 $10k 6-Handed NLHE)

EV: $3,953,600

Russell Thomas

24 years old

Hartford, CT, USA

Actuary at Aetna Insurance

Seat 1

24,800,000 chips (#4, 12.53%)

82.67 Big Blinds, M = 30.62

$137,199 in prior live tournament earnings

1 WSOP Final Table (2010 $1500 6-Handed NLHE)

Cashed in 2011 Main Event (248th)

EV: $3,413,378

Steven Gee

57 years old

Sacramento, CA, USA

Poker Pro

Seat 4

16,860,000 chips (#5, 8.52%)

56.2 Big Blinds, M = 20.81

$498,402 in prior live tournament earnings

1 WSOP Bracelet (2010 $1k NLHE)

Oldest player by 13 years

EV: $2,320,546

Michael Esposito

44 years old

Seaford, NY, USA

Commodity Broker

Seat 9

16,260,000 chips (#6, 8.21%)

54.2 Big Blinds, M = 20.07

$173,299 in prior live tournament earnings

Cashed in 2006 WSOP Main Event (540th)

EV: $2,237,965

Robert Salaburu

27 years old

San Antonio, TX, USA

Poker Pro

Seat 7

15,155,000 chips (#7, 7.66%)

50.52 Big Blinds, M = 18.72

$62,588 in prior live tournament earnings

First WSOP Cash

EV: $2,085,877

Jacob Balsiger

21 years old

Tempe, AZ, USA

Student (Arizona State University)

Seat 2

13,115,000 chips (#8, 6.62%)

43.72 Big Blinds, M = 16.19

$3,844 in prior live tournament earnings

Could be youngest World Champ ever

EV: $1,805,099

Jeremy Ausmus

32 years old

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Poker Pro

Seat 3

9,805,000 chips (#9, 4.95%)

32.68 Big Blinds, M = 12.10

$427,145 in prior live tournament earnings

9 cashes in 2012 WSOP

EV: $1,349,523

Note: EV (Expected Value) is calculated using chip stacks and relative percentages of total chips

2012 WSOP Payout Stats

Here are some payout stats I compiled on the on the 2012 World Series of Poker bracelet events (no satellites).

Abbreviations:
NLHE = No-Limit Hold'em
PLO = Pot-Limit Omaha

Rake per buy-in:
$500 (Event 1: Casino NLHE only), $1000, $1500: 10%
$2500, $3000: 9%
$5000, $10000: 6%
$50000 (Event 45: 8-Game Poker Player's Championship only), 4%
$1,000,000 (Event 55: One Drop NLHE only): 0%, but 11.1% to One Drop charity

% of Prizepool that 1st place gets: (useful for players who always play for the bracelet)
Lowest:
1. Event 61: $10k NLHE Main Event (13.8%)
2. Event 59: $1k NLHE (15.8%)
3. Event 29: $1k Seniors-only NLHE (16.2%)
Highest:
1. Event 55: $1,000,000 One Drop NLHE (43%)
2. Event 60: $10k No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball (31%)
3. Event 45: $50k 8-game Poker Player's Championship (28%)

% of players who end up in the money: (useful for players who always want to "min-cash")
Lowest:
1. Event 34: $5k 6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha (10.024%)
2. Event 9: $1.5k NLHE with Re-entries (10.047%)
3. Event 17: $10k Pot-Limit Hold'em (10.056%)
4. Event 54: $1k NLHE (10.059%)
5. Event 37: $2.5k 8-game (10.063%)
Highest:
1. Event 12: $10k Heads-up NLHE (20.053%)
2. Event 3: $3k Heads-up NLHE/PLo (20.189%)
3. Event 55: $1,000,000 One Drop NLHE (18.75%)
4. Event 45: $50k 8-game Poker Player's Championship (14.814%)
5. Event 60: $10k No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball (13.861%)