WSOP reshapes international event format.

By RP, November 26, 2013

Caesars Entertainment’s World Series Of Poker announced significant changes to its International event schedule Tuesday, consolidating and making bi-annual the WSOP Asia-Pacific and the WSOP Europe events.

The second WSOP Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC), in partnership with Australia’s Crown Melbourne, will be expanded to feature 10 open bracelet events and is expected to run from October 1 to October 17, 2014.  Thereafter, WSOP APAC will officially move to an even year calendar with 2014’s event followed by the next in 2016.

The decision to move the event to October provides for a springtime tournament and allows Crown Melbourne more time to arrange satellites and promotions.

“The WSOP standard is bigger, better and different. Moving to a rotational approach, with one international event per year allows for better organization and more marketing in each region. We also want to do right by the players, and provide more value for their travel dollar. There is a glut of poker tournaments around the world, and our vision is to each year put on a single global showcase that can’t be missed,” explained Ty Stewart, WSOP Executive Director.

Crown Melbourne Chief Operating Officer, Xavier Walsh added: “Crown is once again proud and excited about this partnership between two industry leaders to create another premier poker event in this region. The new scheduling sits perfectly within the Melbourne events calendar, at the tail end of the Australian Rules Football finals and the beginning of the internationally renowned Spring Racing Carnival.

“This provides Crown with significant exposure in Asia, Europe and America, which will in turn form an integral part of Crown’s global marketing strategy to attract additional international visitors to Australia and Crown Melbourne.”

WSOP Europe will return to the schedule in 2015 moving forward in odd-years.  The complete schedule and dates are expected to be announced early in 2014.