The WSOPE stands for World Series Of Poker Europe, and is essentially the European version of the big WSOP event. The WSOP Main Event attracts thousands of players each year, and it the most prestigious poker tournament of the year. All of the big poker names look forward to this one event along with the rich amateurs that are looking to make a name for themselves; and if you intend on making a name for yourself, the WSOP Main Event is the place to do it. Due to the huge popularity of the WSOP, it was only a matter of time before a sister event was created for European players.
The WSOPE will be held in London in September 2007. The event will run from the 6th to the 16th in 3 different casinos; Fifty, in St James’s; The Casino at the Empire, Leicester Square; and The Sportsman, on Marble Arch. The buy in for the event is £10,000, which works out to be twice as much as the WSOP Main Event, which has a buy in of $10,000 (roughly £5,000). So the stakes have been raised, and you had better start saving if you want to enter because it is only a matter of months away.
To help get players more interested in the event, many poker rooms are currently running satellites for players with small bankrolls to have their shot to qualify for the WSOPE. Although satellites may seem like a bit of a long-shot when it comes to standing a chance to win any money, you may be fairly surprised at the number of players that regularly qualify for big events through them and end up winning sizeable amounts of money. After all, if players like Chris Moneymaker can do it, then I think we all have a fighter’s chance.
The WSOPE hopes to attract many players to the game, and hopes to attract European entrants that feel that America is too far to travel for one event. In addition, it is hoped that big name players and poker pros will be in attendance to help to raise the integrity of the event. However, there may be a problem in that it will be difficult to replicate the WSOP Main Event, which has been taking place for many years, and this will always overshadow the WSOPE. In spite of this, although the WSOPE will not have the history that the WSOP has, it should still prove to be a high quality event with great players battling it out for their share of a massive prize pool. I for one am looking forward to it greatly.
