WSOP Europe Ready for 1,000 Players in Main Event

The WSOPE is one of the biggest yearly poker events in Europe and this year it will be played at Hôtel Majestic Barrière in Cannes, France from September 21-October 4.

The WSOPE has been around since 2007 (the original World Series of Poker started in Las Vegas in 1970) and for the first four years was held in London, but in 2011 it was moved to Cannes and that will be the venue once again.

WSOP vice president Ty Stewart has high hopes for the 2012 WSOPE:

“We can’t wait to return to the Cote D’Azur in 2012,” said Stewart. “We have moved up the schedule a couple of weeks to take better advantage of the great weather and all Cannes has to offer.”

“Ask anyone who attended last year. This tournament is now a certified major championship and the experience is second to none.”

Due to French gaming law only Texas Hold’em and Omaha tournaments are allowed, but there will still be seven coveted gold bracelets up for grabs.

The most prestigious tournament is of course the €10,000 buy-in Main Event. In 2011 it attracted 592 players and was won by American Elio Fox, but an even bigger starting field is expected this year.

“The media is already speculating on 1,000 players for the Main Event and we will be ready for them,” said Stewart.

No Swedish player has ever won a tournament at the WSOPE. The best Swedish result in the WSOPE Main Event came in 2009 when Bengt Sonnert from Linköping finished in 4th place.

There has been great Scandinavian success in the WSOPE, however. In the opening year, 18-year-old Norwegian Annette Obrestad won the Main Event and took home the massive first prize of £1,000,000.

Here is the 2012 WSOP Europe schedule:

September 21 - €2,500 + €200 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em (3 Day Event)

September 22 - €1,000 + €100 No-Limit Hold’em (5 Day Event)

September 24 - €5,000 + €300 Pot-Limit Omaha (3 Day Event)

September 25 - €3,000 + €250 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout (3 Day Event)

September 26 - €10,000 + €450 Mixed-Max (4 Day Event)

September 27 - €1,500 + €150 Six-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha (3 Day Event)

September 29 - €10,000 + €450 Main Event (5 Day Event)

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Article sponsored by Poker Listings.