The World Series of Poker Europe returns to The Casino at the Empire in London’s Leicester Square on Friday 18th September. Now it in it’s 3rd year the event has become a firm favourite with both European players but also the big names from across the pond. Following last years epic 21 hour final table this years event has a lot to live up to; John Juanda, last year’s eventual winner, has certainly now given the event the kudos it undoubtedly deserves and after a couple of years tinkering with the format London Clubs International, the Harrah’s owned UK casino business and hosts of the WSOPE, believe they now have a world class event attracting quite simply the biggest names in the game.
Following last year’s introduction of a November “World Series of Poker” Main Event final table the profile of the European event has only increased as final table players head to London, sponsor endorsed and still in with a shot of the big one in Las Vegas. Ivan Demidov was a prime example of this featuring in both the WSOPE and WSOP final tables, quite a feat in itself, but he certainly arrived in London last September as one to watch, rather than perhaps a defeated finalist if the old format had still been in operation. There’s no doubt both he and his sponsors benefitted very nicely from it.
This year’s event has seen a few changes again to the format as is discussed in the video interview with Jonathan Spittle and Colin Hunt from London Clubs International, and there are still ways players can qualify for a seat at this years event via LCI Casinos.
This year LCI are holding satellites to offer a winner from each regional venue a seat at one of the main events.
The Rendezvous Brighton
Saturday 8th ,15th and 22nd August – £10 + £1 re fee NL Hold’em Super Satellites, 90 mins re-buys, 1000 starting chips, 3000 chips for £20 Add On. 7pm start
Saturday 5th September Satellite Final – £150 FREEZE OUT 6000 starting chips. Dealer dealt. 7pm start.
The 3 super satellites on 8th, 15th and 22nd August are qualifiers for the £150 Freezeout Satellite on the 5th September to win seats into the £150 satellite final. Then the players in the £150 freeze out can win the £1500 packages, the WSOPE £1000 event and the £500 travel expenses.
Manchester 235
Saturday 22 August – Satellite and Final
9pm registration, 9.30pm start
Minimum of 30 Players
£20 No Limit Texas Hold’em re-buys, blinds increase every
20mins, 1000 points for initial buy-in and subsequent re-busy
Prize includes seat in WSOPE £1000 bracelet event (18-21 Sept) plus travel and accomodation to the value of £500
LCI will be encouraging pre-registrations on Saturday 8th August and Saturday 15th August with promotion girls dressed up in the Casino.
Alea Leeds
LCI have started a new poker schedule which includes a seat at the WSOPE. They will also be holding a 1 night tournament in the Alea’s 1st anniversary week as part of the Birthday celebrations.
Details as follows:
Thursday 10th September – Satellite and Final
Minimum of 30 Players
The Casino at The Empire
£1000 W.S.O.P.E 18th – 21st September 2009 Satellite Schedule
Sunday 16TH August 7pm
£50 NL Hold-em + £ 5 Reg Free
Re-buys for 60 minutes + 1 double add-on
1 Seat guaranteed for every 10 players
Sunday 23rd August 7pm
£50 NL Hold-em + £ 5 Reg Free
Re-buys for 60 minutes + 1 double add-on
1 Seat guaranteed for every 10 players
Sunday 30th August 7pm
£50 NL Hold-em + £ 5 Reg Free
Re-buys for 60 minutes + 1 double add-on
1 Seat guaranteed for every 10 players
Sunday 13th September 7pm
£50 NL Hold-em + £ 5 Reg Free
Re-buys for 60 minutes + 1 double add-on
1 Seat guaranteed for every 10 players
Wednesday 16th September 7pm
£50 NL Hold-em + £ 5 Reg Free
Re-buys for 60 minutes + 1 double add-on
ALEA Nottingham
World Series of Poker Europe™ Poker League
League starts:- Monday 29th June 2009
League concludes:- Saturday 5th September 2009
10 Weeks Duration
The league will comprise of 30 qualifying poker competitions:
Monday: £30 No-Limit Hold-‘Em Freeze-out
Tuesday: £40 No-Limit Hold-‘Em Limited Re-buy
Saturday: £10 No-Limit Hold-‘Em Unlimited Re-buy
The top 18 players in the league will qualify for the League Play-Off Final which will take place on:- Sunday 13th September 2009 at 8pm
League points will be awarded as follows:-
Entry to a qualifying competition – 5 points
Finishing position points will be awarded to all players who make the final table of a qualifying competition as follows:
| Position | Points |
| 1 | 150 |
| 2 | 120 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 90 |
| 5 | 80 |
| 6 | 70 |
| 7 | 60 |
| 8 | 50 |
| 9 | 40 |
Where a deal is made to split the remaining prize money, finishing position will be determined by chip count.
Bonus Points: (Week runs from Monday to Sunday)
Enter 2 Tournaments in one week – 5 points
Enter 3 Tournaments in one week – 10 points
Make 2 final tables in a week – 10 points
Make 3 final tables in a week – 20 points
League tables will be updated weekly and displayed in the card-room on Monday updating players on the previous week’s results and current league positions.
Final league placing, qualifiers and chip allocation for the League Play-Off Final will be available in the club on Monday 7th September. Players wishing to be notified of their qualification status are requested to supply a contact phone number or e-mail address during the final week of the league.
In the event of two or more players achieving an equal League standing for any of the qualifying places, further players will be accommodated in the play-off final if necessary.
The points issued to players for the play-off final will be determined by each player’s final league points once the League has concluded:
10,000 points will be allocated for each of the 18 qualifying players giving a minimum total points allocation for the play-off final of 180,000.
Starting stacks for each qualifying players will be modified as follows:
The total league points of all qualifying players will be totalled and each player’s points total will be calculated as a percentage of this total. The percentage will then be applied to the total tournament points allocation to determine each players starting stack (rounded up to the nearest 25 points)
The play-off final will use the regular tournament blinds structure and a 24 minute clock. The tournament format will be No-Limit Hold-‘Em.
Overall League leader will receive a trophy and £500 cash
League Play-Off Final Prizes
1st Place £2,500 + £150 seat in WSOPE Event #2*: Pot Limit Hold-Em/Pot Limit Omaha
Or
£1,000 + £60 seat in WSOPE Event #1** : No Limit Hold-Em + 4 Night Hotel Package + £500 cash
2nd Place
£1,000 + £60 seat in WSOPE Event #1** : No Limit Hold-Em + 4 Night Hotel Package
3rd Place
£1,000 + £60 seat in WSOPE Event #1** : No Limit Hold-Em
*WSOPE Event #2 – £2,500 + £150 Pot Limit Hold-Em/Pot Limit Omaha – Monday 21st September (3 day event) *WSOPE Event #1 – £1,000 + £60 No Limit Hold-Em – Friday 18th September (3 day event/2 start days)
