This week’s poker news starts us off with the details of the 2020 World Series of Poker. An announcement has been made with details of this year’s event, so let’s take a closer look at what poker players can expect.
World Series Of Poker Announces $10K Championship Events
The countdown is on to what should be another memorable spring and summer season of championship poker events at the highest level. The World Series of Poker has announced its championship event schedule for the 2020 WSOP.
In total, there will be 24 different poker variants over 17 events, with No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw added to the Poker Players Championship. Championship events are defined as events with a buy-in of $10,000 or more. The biggest tournament of them all is still the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.
There are now 32 different events confirmed for the 51st annual WSOP, including the full championship schedule. The one major omission will be the $10,000 no-limit hold’em heads-up event, which will be cancelled for this season.
A year ago, WSOP saw a record 187,298 entries over the 90-event schedule. A total of $293,183,345 in prize money was handed out. This year’s WSOP tour is scheduled to run from May 26th through July 15th.
The first championship event on the schedule will kick off on June 3rd. With the best in the world set to compete again, poker fans can’t wait for the spring to roll around.
Maurice Hawkins Extends Record With 14th WSOP Circuit Ring
Maurice Hawkins has picked up from right where he left off last year in 2020. The 39-year-old poker pro extended his record with a 14th WSOP Circuit ring by winning the 2019 WSOP Circuit Choctaw $400 no-limit hold’em event. Hawkins took out a field of 218 entries in the single-day tournament to cash in on a $16,898 prize.
Hawkins, who is already the WSOP Circuit’s all-time money leader and all-time titleholder, has shown no signs of slowing down with a very legitimate shot at adding to his already impressive resume this season. The American is already two titles ahead of his nearest competitors in the race for the rings as Valentin Vornicu and Josh Reichard are the only other players to record more than 10 victories in WSOPC events.
In addition to the title and the money, Hawkins was also awarded 144 Card Player Player of the Year points or the victory. Andrew Robinson took home $10,442 for his runner-up finish, while Kurt Haiss secured $7,406 for placing third.
Ankit Ahuja Wins PokerStars Red Dragon Manila High Roller
After an excruciating 11-hour showdown, Ankit Ahuja managed to take down Natalie Teh in heads-up play to win the PokerStars Red Dragon Manila High Roller.
The Indian freelance business and tech consultant, who survived a field of 101 entries to take the top prize, earned $119,533 for his efforts. It was his second-largest live cash ever. Ahuja, who has over $600,000 in live tournament cashes, has been playing tournaments seriously online for just over two years now.
The fact that he is earning that kind of cash in such a short amount of time is an obvious sign that he got in to the right industry at the right time. For her part, Teh earned $83,079 for her runner-up result. Shigeji Kusakabe of Japan won $54,936 for placing third.