The Big One for One Drop Poker Satellite Qualifiers Get Underway

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) will stage their first satellite qualifier for the $1 million buy-in The Big One for One Drop poker tournament in Los Angeles today – with players aiming to make the event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on July 1 able to begin their journey to Las Vegas for as little as $65.

Today’s Bicycle Casino event in California comes after a month that saw some players win free seats into the qualifier while others gained their place through a $150 buy-in step satellite, although hopefuls can stump up $500 to buy directly into the tournament, as all aim to earn a $25,300 seat for the Mega Satellite that will take place on Saturday, June 30, in Vegas.

Each fortunate qualifier will also have their airfare paid, as well as accommodation in the Nevada city – courtesy of Caesars Interactive Entertainment – for the mega satellite that guarantees at least one seat at The Big One for One Drop tournament, although the WSOP are promising to provide additional seats at one per every 40 entries.

Fourteen Venues Confirmed for Step Satellites

Now, for all of you budding stars out there who fancy a shot at winning what will be the highest stakes poker game of all time, the WSOP have revealed details of 14 confirmed venues – including the Bicycle today – in the USA that will host live step satellite tournaments, with each guaranteeing a seat at the mega satellite that starts at 13:00 on the eve of the star-studded three-day event itself.

This historic tournament – which will be capped at 48 players – will see qualifiers take on big-name professionals such as Team PartyPoker Pro Tony G, Johnny Chan, Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan, Gus Hansen, Patrik Antonius, and Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier and Jonathan Duhamel, as well as philanthropists and businessmen.

ESPN plan to broadcast the No-Limit Hold’em event which will see a specially-designed WSOP platinum bracelet awarded to the winner, as well as what is likely to be an eight-figure first prize, while an incredible 20% of the field – about double the typical level for a poker tournament – will also make the money.

Just $65 Can Earn Shot at Glory

Following on from today’s satellite in LA, 13 more step tournaments will be staged throughout the States, with more to be added soon, as each winner picks up a mega satellite seat.

The next confirmed event takes place in Minnesota’s Canterbury Park on Sunday, May 13, while the other definites will be held in Philadelphia (Harrah’s Chester, May 19), New Orleans (Harrah’s, May 19), Dallas/Oklahoma (Choctaw Durant, May 20), Vegas (Caesars Palace, May 20), St Louis (Harrah’s St Louis, May 20), Chicago Area (Horseshoe Hammond, May 26), Indiana (Horseshoe Southern Indiana, May 27), Iowa/Nebraska (Council Bluffs, May 27), Colorado (The Lodge Casino, June 3), Florida (Palm Beach Kennel Club, June 9), Louisiana (Horseshoe Bossier City, June 10) and Mississippi (Horseshoe Tunica, June 10).

Now, you might be wondering where these $65 qualifiers I mentioned previously come in. Well, all the above events are actually culminating tournaments, so players can still contact the venues to get details of when their step satellites take place – with those starting from as little as $65. See? There you are. Good luck.

Schedules and Much More Available

Schedules and other tournament details, including buy-in amounts, start times and any updates, can be found by visiting http://www.wsop.com/2012/thebigone/satellites.

Now, don’t forget that this tournament is being staged for a very good cause, with One Drop chairman Guy Laliberté – who also founded the Cirque du Soleil – introducing the event at last year’s WSOP with the aim of raising money for a project designed to provide easy access to clean water for impoverished countries.

That means $111,111 from each $1 million buy-in will be handed to One Drop, leaving $888,889 for the prize pool.

The Big One for One Drop Qualifying Events Schedule

The Bicycle Casino, Bell Gardens, Los Angeles, California, Thursday, April 5, 18:00

Canterbury Park, Shakopee, Minnesota, Sunday, May 13

Harrah’s Chester, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Saturday, May 19, 11:00

Harrah’s New Orleans, Louisiana, Saturday, May 19

Choctaw Durant, Dallas/Oklahoma, Sunday, May 20

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, Sunday, May 20

Harrah’s St Louis, Maryland Heights, St Louis, Missouri, Sunday, May 20, 14:00

Horseshoe Hammond, Chicago Area, Saturday, May 26

Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Indiana, Sunday, May 27

Horseshoe Council Bluffs, Iowa/Nebraska, Sunday, May 27, 12:00

The Lodge Casino, Black Hawk, Colorado, Sunday, June 3

Palm Beach Kennel Club, West Palm Beach, Florida, Saturday, June 9

Horseshoe Bossier City, Louisiana, Sunday, June 10

Horseshoe Tunica, Tunica, Mississippi, Sunday, June 10, 11:00