2011 World Series of Poker Schedule Released

It's time to dig out the Rolodex and start sweet-talkin' your backers again. The 2011 World Series of Poker schedule was released on Monday, and it's going to make for another busy (and expensive) summer inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The 42nd Annual WSOP boasts a full schedule of 58 events -- up one from last year -- packed into the 50 days spanning May 31 to July 19. As usual, the summer kicks off with the $500 Casino Employees event, and the familiar $1,000 Ladies' and Seniors' Championships are slotted in as Events #22 and #34, respectively. Things get shaken up a bit from there on out, however, and there are a few noteworthy changes in store for the open events this time around.

Event #2 is a familiar event that's received a face-lift as the Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship graduates to a $25,000 buy in. It's capped at 256 players, and if it fills up, which it will, the champion will earn just over $1.5 million and the first open bracelet of the 2011 season. Other new additions to the schedule include a pair of first-time six-handed events: the $2,500 10-Game Mix event (Event #29) and the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #35). Both figure to be resounding successes in their first years, and the 10-Game means that the dealers will be spreading Badugi for the first time ever at the WSOP. This year also sees the return of the $2,500 Omaha/Stud Hi-Lo event, slotted in at #47 after a one-year absence from the schedule. All told, 24 of the 58 events feature disciplines other than hold'em.

Including Event #2, there are 12 events distinguished as "Championship" events. Ten of them carry a $10,000 buy in, and they run the game-selection gamut from pot-limit hold'em to H.O.R.S.E. It also appears that the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy has found itself a permanent home as the $50,000 Poker Player's Championship returns, grammatical idiosyncrasies and all. Rather than opening the Series this year, however, the Player's Championship finds itself tucked away cozily as Event #55, a fine lead-up to the $10,000 Main Event.

Other tidbits

• As was the case in 2010, all events are scheduled to begin at noon or 5 p.m.
• Late registration will remain open for four levels for Events #1-57 with the standard two levels during the Main Event.
• The new late registration rules apply to the daily deep-stack events and mega-satellites, as well, but these events will also include re-entries for the first time.
• Speaking of re-entries, the rebuy events are still banished from the schedule for 2011, though there are two Triple Chance events, Events #12 ($1,500) and #50 ($5,000).
• There are five $1,000 events, one fewer than last year. Only the first and last (#8 and #54) will have two starting days whereas the other three will likely see the Pavilion bursting at the seams for massive Day 1s.
• A daily 9:00 a.m. $75 mega-satellite has been added. It's going to be quite an unpopular hour for most poker players, but it's a great way to earn a $500 tournament chip plus $50 in cash.
• The Ante Up For Africa event is absent from the schedule for the first time in five years. We understand the staff intends to add another charity event in its place, but the details are still TBD for now.
• Preregistration will open for all 58 events on February 7.

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2011 WSOP Schedule announced

The schedule for this year's World Series of Poker has been officially set. The 2011 WSOP will run from May 31st to July 19th when the final table for the Main Event is set.

With 58 events, one more than last year, there will be $1,500 events every Saturday and $1,000 events every Sunday throughout the series.

The added game is a $25,000 Heads up which replaced the $25,000 short handed Hold'em game.

Satellite games will soon be running at various online poker rooms including Carbon Poker and PokerStars. 

The full schedule is listed below.

1 May 31 12pm Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em (2 day event) $500 

2 May 31 5pm Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship (4 day event) $25,000 

3 June 1 12pm Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3 day event) $1,500

4 June 2 12pm No-Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $5,000 

5 June 2 5pm Seven Card Stud (3 day event) $1,500 

6 June 3 12pm Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500 

7 June 3 5pm Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship (3 day event) $10,000 

8 June 4 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (5 day event) $1,000 

9 June 5 5pm 2-7 Draw Lowball (No-Limit) (3 day event) $1,500 

10 June 6 12pm No-Limit Hold’em / Six Handed (3 day event) $1,500 

11 June 6 5pm Omaha Hi-Low Split Championship (3 day event) $10,000 

12 June 7 12pm Triple Chance No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500 

13 June 8 12pm No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (3 day event) $1,500 

14 June 8 5pm Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $3,000

15 June 9 12pm Pot-Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $1,500

16 June 9 5pm 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship (No-Limit) (3 day event) $10,000

17 June 10 12pm H.O.R.S.E. (3 day event) $1,500

18 June 11 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500

19 June 11 5pm Limit Hold'em / Six Handed (3 day event) $2,500

20 June 12 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,000

21 June 12 5pm Seven Card Stud Championship (3 day event) $10,000

22 June 13 12pm Pot-Limit Omaha (3 day event) $1,500

23 June 13 5pm Eight Game Mix (3 day event) $2,500

24 June 14 12pm No-Limit Hold'em Shootout2 (3 day event) $5,000

25 June 14 5pm Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better (3 day event) $1,500

26 June 15 12pm No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed (3 day event) $2,500

27 June 15 5pm Limit Hold'em Championship (3 day event) $10,000

28 June 16 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500

29 June 16 5pm 10-Game Mix / Six Handed (3 day event) $2,500

30 June 17 12pm Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship (3 day event) $1,000

31 June 17 5pm Pot-Limit Omaha (3 day event) $3,000

32 June 18 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500

33 June 18 5pm Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Championship (3 day event) $10,000

34 June 19 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,000

35 June 20 12pm Pot-Limit Omaha / Six Handed (3 day event) $5,000

36 June 21 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $2,500

37 June 21 5pm H.O.R.S.E. Championship (3 day event) $10,000

38 June 22 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500

39 June 22 5pm Pot-Limit Hold'em/Omaha (3 day event) $2,500

40 June 23 12pm No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed (3 day event) $5,000

41 June 24 12pm Limit Hold’em Shootout (3 day event) $1,500

42 June 24 5pm Pot-Limit Omaha Championship (3 day event) $10,000

43 June 25 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500

44 June 25 5pm Seven Card Razz (3 day event) $2,500

45 June 26 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,000

46 June 27 12pm No-Limit Hold’em/Six Handed Championship (3 day event) $10,000

47 June 27 5pm Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better (3 day event) $2,500

48 June 28 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500

49 June 28 5pm 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball (Limit) (3 day event) $2,500

50 June 29 12pm Triple Chance No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $5,000

51 June 30 12pm Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split (3 day event) $1,500

52 June 30 5pm Mixed Hold'em (Limit/No-Limit) (3 Day event) $2,500

53 July 1 12pm Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship (3 day event) $1,000

54 July 2 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (5 day event) $1,000

55 July 2 5pm The Poker Player's Championship (5 day event) $50,000

56 July 5 12pm No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500

57 July 5 5pm Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better (3 day event) $5,000

58 July 7 12pm No-Limit Hold'em Championship Day 1A $10,000

July 8

12pm No-Limit Hold'em Championship Day 1B 

July 9

12pm No-Limit Hold'em Championship Day 1C 

July 10

12pm No-Limit Hold'em Championship Day 1D 

July 11 12pm Day 2A (1A + 1C) 

July 12 12pm Day 2B (1B + 1D) 

July 14 12pm Day 3 

July 15 12pm Day 4 

July 16 12pm Day 5 

July 17 12pm Day 6 

July 18 12pm Day 7 

July 19 12pm Play down to 9 players 

TBA Final Table

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PokerStars SuperStar Showdown: Blom Improves to 2-1 by Taking $51,196 from Cates

On Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, Pokerstars’ SuperStar Showdown hosted its third installment as Isildur1, recently revealed as the long-suspected Swede Viktor Blom, faced off against fellow online legend, Daniel “w00ki3z” Cates. Entering the match, Blom had a SuperStar Showdown record of 1-1 having taken Antanas “Tony G” Guoga for $44,280 while dropping $41,701 to Isaac "philivey2694" Haxton. Those numbers show that Blom was up a mere $2,579 in the SuperStar Showdown, which quickly changed Sunday night when Blom took $51,196 from Cates, bringing his total winnings to $53,775.

How It’s Played: While the SuperStar Showdown may conjure up images of the “durrrr Challenge,” there are some differences. The SuperStar Showdown is designed as a one-time high-stakes match in which challengers face off against Blom in a heads-up match of 2,500 hands (as opposed to the “durrrr” Challenge which last 50,000 hands over many months -- or years).

The match is played across four tables of $50/$100 or higher no-limit hold’em and/or pot-limit Omaha, depending on the competitors’ preference. The winner is decided by the player who shows a profit at the end of the match or felts his or her opponent in the process. What’s more, the SuperStar Showdown matches are announced far in advance so poker fans can enjoy the action, live, on PokerStars, unlike the “durrrr” Challenge, which has been inconsistent. In this particular match, Blom and Cates decided to play two tables of no-limit hold’em and two of pot-limit Omaha.

Ready, Set, Go: Blom and Cates played four $50/$100 no-limit hold'em tables and took only four hours to plow through the 2,500 hands. In just 13 minutes, the first all-in situation developed when Blom raised preflop and bet every street on a  board. Cates called each time but found himself out kicked holding  to the  of Blom. A short time later, Cates bet $1,200 holding  on a  flop. Blom responded with a raise to $2,850, Cates moved all-in for $14,450, and Blom called with his . The turn and river were no help to Cates and Blom took down another sizeable pot, giving him the early lead.

Cates Battles Back: After just a half hour of play, Blom was up $19,550; however, Cates got things back on track over the course of the next 200 hands. In one of those hands, Cates’ pocket nines flopped top set to crack Blom’s pocket aces, doubling him in the process. On the very next hand, Cates five-bet shoved preflop for his newly won $23,000 with  and was called by Blom's pocket sevens. The board ran out clean for Cates and he was then the one who was out in front with $20,000 in profit after 554 hands.

Even Steven: Cates’ lead did not last long as Blom doubled holding pocket jacks against the pocket eights of his opponent. By Hand #600, both players were essentially even. That soon changed when the largest pot of the match up to that point occurred. Cates opened for his standard $200, only to be three-bet to $800 by Blom. Cates responded with a four-bet to $2,100, Blom five-bet to $3,850, and Cates made the call. Little did Blom know, his opponent held the  as the flop came down . Blom led out for $2,850, Cates called, and the  hit the turn. Blom bet again, this time $4,650, and Cates shipped for $22,350. Blom called off his last $7,100 with  and soon discovered the bad news. The river blanked and the pocket rockets of Cates earned him the $36,900 pot and a $19,000 lead after 710 hands.

Rivered Flush for Both: Blom managed to battle back and by the halfway point had take a $9,500 lead of his own. In the hour that followed, Cates ran over Blom and developed a lead of over $60,000, which would turn out to be his high point in the match. When all looked lost for Blom, lady luck decided to smile upon him. With $9,800 in the pot and a board reading , Blom moved all-in for $11,050 and was called by Cates. Blom showed  for the rivered nut flush while Cates showed  for the second nut flush. It was bit of a cooler for Cates that saw the $32,000 pot shipped to Blom.

Blom's Straight Give Him the Lead: Blom had managed to reduce Cates’ lead to $15,000 when he raised to $300 on the button holding . Cates popped it to $1,300 with his , Blom called, and the flop fell . Cates immediately bet $1,500, Blom called, and the  was put out on the turn. Again, Cates bet $4,200 and Blom called behind. When the  spiked on the river, giving Blom a straight and Cates two pair, Cates bet $11,500, Blom raised to $22,600, and Cates called off his last $6,250. Just like that, Blom was back in the lead with a $10,450 profit. It took just another four minutes before Blom increased that lead to $24,100.

Cates Hit the River: With around 500 hands remaining, Blom continued to dominate. He won pot after pot in the last hour of the match and would have increased his lead substantially had it not been for a river card that ended his bid for a $54,400 pot. That hand began when Blom raised to $300 from the button, Cates made it $1,300 to go, and Blom called. The flop came down  and Cates led out for $1,500. Blom quickly made it an additional $2,350 to go, Cates reraised $3,850 on top, Blom made it $10,550, and Cates called. With $23,700 in the pot, the  was put out on the river. Cates check-called Blom’s all-in bet of $15,350 and the cards were turned up:

Blom: 

Cates: 

The  on the river gave Cates a bigger two pair and the monster pot. Coincidentally, the last major pot of the match was also determined by a river card. In that hand, Cates opened for $200, Blom raised to $800, Cates called, and the flop fell . Blom bet $1,000, Cates called, and the  hit the turn. Blom fired an additional $2,200 and was met with a raise to $4,900 from Cates. After Blom called, the  was revealed on the river. Blom shoved, Cates called off his last $6,000 with his  turned set but could not overcome the  rivered straight of Blom.

Who's Next?: After a few more uneventful hands, the third installment of the SuperStar Showdown came to an end with Blom ahead $51,196. His performance brings his record to 2-1 and his total SuperStar Showdown winnings up to $53,775. The question now is who will be the next player to accept Blom’s challenge? If the chat box is any indication, it might just be fellow Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu who had this to say at the end of the match:

KidPoker (TeamPro): good game guys

KidPoker (TeamPro): well done Isildur

Isildur1: ty

KidPoker (TeamPro): email me later

Isildur1: yep

Isildur1: bye

KidPoker (TeamPro): I have some questions about the rules

Isildur1: kk

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