This is your complete guide to the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), from the WSOP 2025 tournament schedule, dates and highlights, to how to stay healthy, strategy tips, frequently asked questions and more.
What is the World Series of Poker?
The World Series of Poker is an annual festival of poker tournaments in Las Vegas, Nevada and is considered by many to be the pinnacle of tournament poker. With a packed schedule of around 100 different poker tournaments, it runs for almost two months each summer.
The WSOP dates back to 1970 when casino owner Benny Binion brought together seven of the era’s most well-known poker players for a single tournament. Since then, the WSOP has grown to offer players an event schedule with dozens and dozens of tournaments to choose from across a wide variety of formats and structures.
The winners in each event earn a WSOP gold bracelet – one of the most sought-after and prestigious trophies in poker – to go with their cash prize. Phil Hellmuth currently holds the record for the most WSOP bracelets won with a total of 17.
The highlight on the WSOP calendar is the $10,000 Main Event – widely considered the biggest and most prestigious tournament of the year. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker started the ‘Poker Boom’ after turning a satellite ticket into over $2M with his Main Event victory.
In the following years, attendance numbers for the Main Event skyrocketed, with 2006’s tournament setting a high watermark of 8,773 entrants that stood for more than a decade.
In 2023, the Main Event broke the records for entries (10,043), first-place prize ($12.1M), and total prize pool ($93,399,900). The very next year, the record for entries (10,112) and total prize pool ($94,041,600) was topped once again.
While the Main Event holds a special place in the pantheon of WSOP events, there are a number of other highly-prestigious, high-stakes events that attract players from across the world, including the $50K Poker Players’ Championship and the $250K Super High Roller.
When is the 2025 World Series of Poker?
The 2025 WSOP runs from May 27 to July 16.
The World Series of Poker takes place on an annual basis during the summer months, with the action typically kicking off in late-May and running through to mid-July. As the event schedule grew over time, so too did the festival’s length and, with around 100 events regularly part of the schedule, the WSOP has become a months-long series for players to sink their teeth into.
While there are events running every day during the series, players can pick and choose specific events to prioritize with the help of the comprehensive 2025 WSOP schedule. With the entirety of the festival outlined, players can also carve out time for breaks from the table to keep their minds sharp throughout the summer.
On any given day, multiple events will run in tandem with one another which means planning your personal event schedule accordingly is of the utmost importance.
WSOP 2025 schedule
The full 2025 WSOP tournament schedule will be available here as soon as it’s officially announced.
What is the buy-in for the 2025 WSOP Main Event?
The buy-in for the WSOP Main Event is $10,000.
In 1972, WSOP organizers set the pricepoint for the Main Event at $10,000 and, since then, it has remained unchanged. Each year, there are multiple starting flights offered for players to choose from, as well as numerous lower priced satellites awarding seats, making the Main Event accessible to all players in terms of both scheduling and buy-in.
Unlike many other events at the WSOP, the Main Event is a single-entry, freezeout tournament. Other events at the WSOP allow players to enter multiple times, but the Main Event has always been a freezeout, which grants the tournament added prestige.
First-place prize money is traditionally dumped on the table when play reaches the final two players.
Matthew Berglund
Where can I watch the World Series of Poker?
You can watch the World Series of Poker on PokerGO.
PokerGO currently retains the exclusive rights to live-streamed coverage of the WSOP and provides coverage via its website and YouTube channel. As part of its coverage, PokerGO releases an edited version of the live stream via CBS that airs across the months following the WSOP. While the majority of events will air on PokerGO behind the site’s paywall, there is still free partial coverage offered to viewers on its YouTube channel.
Despite PokerGO’s existing monopoly on live-streamed coverage, there are a number of other ways to follow along with the action from Las Vegas in as close to real time as possible. The best of these, of course, is right here at PokerOrg. We’ll bring you results, features, interviews, videos and more, reporting on everything happening on the ground at the WSOP to keep you in the loop, even if you can’t make it to Las Vegas to be here in person.
For those who want to follow along episodically with the series, one great option is the daily vlog episodes provided by Daniel Negreanu. Kid Poker provides a glimpse into the day-to-day activity on the tournament floor while also giving insight into a more rounded view of his life beyond the poker table.
Daniel Negreanu keeps his camera close to hand to capture big moments for his vlogs.
WSOP 2025 event highlights
Few know the highs and lows of the WSOP better than the members of PokerOrg’s Player Advisory Board. We asked some of them what they were particularly looking forward to playing this summer.
“Other than the Main Event, I’ll be trying to play all the tournaments under $1,500 buy-in. My favorite is the mystery bounty that guarantees a random bounty will make someone a millionaire.”
“The events I look most forward to are always the big weekend ones like the Monster Stack and the Millionaire Maker. You get so many home game heroes and dreamers in there with a chance for life-changing money.”
“In the past I was primarily a player in the great game of PLO events, but with my new found 2-card knowledge I’ll be looking forward to the 6-handed and heads-up events.”
‘The entire town gets popping and cash games go to another level’ – Joey Ingram
“I love that the WSOP has a whole slate of $1,500 buy-in mixed game bracelet events. For many of us mixed game players, playing in a $10K Championship bracelet event is beyond the boundaries of our bankrolls, but hopping into a $1,500 or two is doable and something special.”
“I always look forward to the various $5,000 and $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em events. They usually attract large fields for decently large buy-ins.”
“The event that is a ‘can’t miss’ for me is the Salute to Warriors event.”
“I’m always looking forward to the $3K price point events. You get a good amount of chips in those events, it’s a good structure. It’s a really good bang for your buck in terms of play and skill level.”
Faraz Jaka is especially looking forward to the $3K events.
ALICIA SKILLMAN
How can I qualify for the World Series of Poker?
You can qualify for the World Series of Poker Main Event by earning an entry through a satellite event. In the weeks leading up to the WSOP, you can take your shot at winning an online poker satellite event to win a ticket to the WSOP Main Event. In the past these have been available at GGPoker and WSOP.com. We’ll let you know as soon as satellites are confirmed.
Alternatively, there are live poker satellite events which will run throughout the 2025 WSOP which award Main Event entries.
Who is the WSOP Player of the Year?
The current reigning WSOP Player of the Year is Scott Seiver. In 2024, he earned the honor thanks to three WSOP bracelets, five final tables, and 17 cashes.
WSOP 2024 Player of the Year Scott Seiver.
The WSOP Player of the Year honor goes to the poker player who finishes the series at the top of the overall points leaderboard. Over the course of the summer, players accrue points for each cash they earn in a WSOP event. The points system is weighted, with a number of factors including buy-in size, field size, format, placement, and many others affecting the number of points earned via each cash. The POTY award was first given in 2004 as Daniel Negreanu put together a series that included one WSOP bracelet, five final tables, and six cashes.
The race for the WSOP POTY award draws the best of the best from the poker world as many see the honor as the pinnacle of the summer’s potential conquests. As the summer wears on, frontrunners emerge from the pack and, as the series conclusion approaches, all eyes are on the players within striking distance of the top spot.
Notable POTY winners from years past include Josh Arieh, Shaun Deeb, Jason Mercier, Jeremy Ausmus, and Ben Lamb.
Who is the world champion of poker?
The current World Champion of Poker is Jonathan Tamayo and you can read our exclusive interview with Tamayo shortly after he won.
In 2024, Tamayo bested a field of 10,112 entrants to claim the $10,000,000 first-place prize and the prestigious Main Event Champion title. Tamayo defeated Jordan Griff in the heads-up stage of play after maneuvering his way through a difficult final table lineup.
A jubilant Jonathan Tamayo shows off the champion’s bracelet – and a big old stack of cash.
Matthew Berglund
Tamayo, a Humble, Texas native, has been a poker professional for more than a decade and had one previous deep run in the WSOP Main Event when he finished in 21st place in 2009. Prior to his Main Event victory, Tamayo had cobbled together a tournament resume which included over $2 million in earnings, 64 WSOP cashes, and four WSOP Circuit rings.
Tamayo is ready to defend his Main Event title but said it “will be weird not being a nobody” this time around and there will be plenty of people gunning to knock out the reigning champion. Watch his winning hand from 2024 below.
There are a number of notable players still active within the poker community who have won the WSOP Main Event, including Phil Hellmuth, Chris Moneymaker, Jamie Gold, Joe McKeehen, Koray Aldemir, and Espen Jorstad. For the most part, WSOP Main Event winners are remembered fondly, each for different reasons, but most often with reverence.
The one they all want: the WSOP Champion’s Bracelet.
Matthew Berglund
Here is a list of every bracelet winner from last year’s WSOP in 2024:
- Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion – Asher Conniff (USA)
- Event #2: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em – Jose Garcia (USA)
- Event #3: $500 Kickoff No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout – Daniel Willis (UK)
- Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed) – James Chen (USA)
- Event #5: $1,000 Mystery Millions – Malcolm Trayner (Australia)
- Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship – Darius Samual (UK)
- Event #7: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice – John Hennigan (USA)
- Event #8: $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha (8-Handed) – Bryce Yockey (USA)
- Event #9: $1,500 Limit Hold’em (8-Handed) – Nick Guagenti (USA)
- Event #10: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship – Scott Seiver (USA)
- Event #11: $1,500 Badugi – David Prociak (USA)
- Event #12: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em – Simeon Spasov (Bulgaria)
- Event #13: $10,000 Dealers Choice Championship – Robert Mizrachi (USA)
- Event #14: $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold’em – Thibault Perissat (France)
- Event #15: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better – Caleb Furth (USA)
- Event #16: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Brent Hart (USA)
- Event #17: $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack – TJ Murphy (USA)
- Event #18: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha – Dylan Weisman (USA)
- Event #19: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship – John Racener (USA)
- Event #20: $300 Gladiators of Poker No-Limit Hold’em – Stephen Winters (USA)
- Event #21: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em (6-Handed) – Brek Schutten (USA)
- Event #22: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw (6-Handed) – Aaron Cummings (USA)
- Event #23: Event #23: $1,500 SHOOTOUT No-Limit Hold’em – Dan Sepiol (USA)
- Event #24: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship – Sean Troha (USA)
- Event #25: $3,000 Limit Hold’em 6-Handed – Daniel Vampan (USA)
- Event #26: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em (8-Handed) – Nick Schulman (USA)
- Event #27: $1,500 Big O – Michael Christ (USA)
- Event #28: $1,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em – Evan Benton (USA)
- Event #29: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Championship (6-Handed) – Phil Ivey (USA)
- Event #30: $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack – Alen Bakovic (Canada)
- Event #31: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed – Nicholas Seward (USA)
- Event #32: $1,500 Seven Card Stud – Richard Ashby (UK)
- Event #33: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (8-Handed) – Alex Manzano (Chile)
- Event #34: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout – Antonio Galiana (Spain)
- Event #35: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. – Phillip Hui (USA)
- Event #36: $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack (8-Handed) – Timur Margolin (Israel)
- Event #37: $10,000 Big O Championship – John Fauver (USA)
- Event #38: $1,500 MONSTER STACK No-Limit Hold’em – Pedro Neves (Portugal)
- Event #39: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em (8-Handed) – Sergio Aido (Spain)
- Event #40: $1,500 Razz – Scott Seiver (USA)
- Event #41: $1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em/Pot Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot – Xixiang Luo (China)
- Event #42: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship – James Obst (Australia)
- Event #43: $1,500 Mixed: PLO Hi-Lo 8; Omaha Hi-Lo 8; Big O – Magnus Edengren (Sweden)
- Event #44: $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Jared Kingery (USA)
- Event #45: $10,000 HORSE Championship – Maksim Pisarenko (Russia)
- Event #46: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship – Khang Pham (USA)
- Event #47: $100,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em – Chris Hunichen (USA)
- Event #48: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) – Chris Vitch (USA)
- Event #49: $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em – Erlend Melsom (Norway)
- Event #50: $10,000 Razz Championship – George Alexander (USA)
- Event #51: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout – Peter Park (USA)
- Event #52: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em – Mostafa Haidary (Australia)
- Event #53: $3,000 Nine Game Mixed – Yuri Dzivielevski (Brazil)
- Event #54: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold’em – Franco Spitale (Argentina)
- Event #55: $250,000 Super High Roller – Santhosh Suvarna (India)
- Event #56: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball (2-7, A-5, Badugi) – Patrick Moulder (USA)
- Event #57: $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em – Frank Funaro (USA)
- Event #58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship – Daniel Negreanu (Canada)
- Event #59: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em – Sean Jazayeri (USA)
- Event #60: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Paolo Boi (Italy)
- Event #61: $2,500 Mixed: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better – Dario Sammartino (Italy)
- Event #62: $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship – Hector Berry (UK)
- Event #63: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw – David Funkhouser (USA)
- Event #64: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack – Chris Moen (USA)
- Event #65: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold’em – Mark Checkwicz (USA)
- Event #66: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship – Elie Nakache (France)
- Event #67: $500 Salute to Warriors – No-Limit Hold’em – Ben Collins (UK)
- Event #68: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em – Colin Robinson (USA)
- Event #69: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better – Nikolay Fal (Russia)
- Event #70: $400 Colossus – Martin Alcaide (Bulgaria)
- Event #71: $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship – Shiina Okamoto (Japan)
- Event #72: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship – Scott Seiver (USA)
- Event #73: $25,000 Hit Roller Pot-Limit Omaha – David Eldridge (USA)
- Event #74: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship – Arash Ghaneian (USA)
- Event #75: $1,000 TAG TEAM No-Limit Hold’em – Jimmy Setna & Jason James (Canada)
- Event #76: $10,000 Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold’em (8-Handed) – Matthew Lambrecht (USA)
- Event #77: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet (6-Handed) – Wing Liu (Hong Kong/UK)
- Event #78: $1,000 Mini Main Event – Georgios Skarparis (Cyprus)
- Event #79: $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha – Daniel Perkusic (Germany)
- Event #80: $800 Independence Day Celebration – No-Limit Hold’em – Francis Anderson (USA)
- Event #81: $10,000 MAIN EVENT No-Limit Hold’em World Championship – Jonathan Tamayo (USA)
- Event #82: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Aditya Agarwal (India)
- Event #83: $1,500 Eight Game Mix (6-Handed) – Garth Yettick (USA)
- Event #84: $600 Ultra Stack No-Limit Hold’em – Carsten Heidemann (Germany)
- Event #85: $1,000 FLIP & GO No-Limit Hold’em Presented by GGPoker – Chance Kornuth (USA)
- Event #86: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha – Sascha Wilhelm (Germany)
- Event #87: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em (8-Handed) – Matthew Alsante (USA)
- Event #88: $10,000 Eight Game Mixed Championship – Calvin Anderson (USA)
- Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes No-Limit Hold’em Championship – Clement Richez (France)
- Event #90: $1,500 6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha – Joseph Sanders (USA)
- Event #91: $3,000 HORSE (8-Handed) – Gary Bolden (USA)
- Event #92: $50,000 HIGH ROLLER No-Limit Holdem – Jared Bleznick (USA)
- Event #93: $777 Lucky 7s No-Limit Hold’em – Michael Liang (USA)
- Event #94: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Championship (6-Handed) – Michael Rocco (USA)
- Event #95: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold’em – Jamie Walden (UK)
- Event #96: $25,000 High Roller HORSE – Xixiang Luo (China)
- Event #97: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (6-Handed) – Alex Livingston (Canada)
- Event #98: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em – The Closer – Ching Da Wu (Taiwan)
- Event #99: $1,000 Super Turbo No-Limit Hold’em – Aneris Adomkevicius (Lithuania)
How to hit peak performance at the WSOP
Sitting down and playing poker all day, while maintaining mental focus, can be physically tougher than you think. Luckily, we have some expert advice that will enable you to play your a-game while staying healthy and rested, courtesy of fitness coach TJ Jurkiewicz.
Click through for instant, WSOP-focused guides to…
Pro tips for the WSOP Main Event
Looking to gain an edge before the series even begins? Check out these exclusive strategy tips from some of the game’s most successful players:
Be sure to check PokerOrg regularly in the run-up to the 2025 WSOP as we’ll be sharing even more tips from the top.
Rec’s Guide to the WSOP
Player Advisory Board member Jim Reid made a deep run in the 2024 WSOP Main Event, thanks in part to some meticulous planning which he outlined across two articles on PokerOrg. Get his tips on budgeting and scheduling in Part 1 and tips on where to stay in Las Vegas, where to eat and how to relax in between events in Part 2.
Jim Reid began his epic Main Event journey on Day 1D.
Matthew Berglund
World Series of Poker 2025: FAQ
Where does the WSOP take place?
The WSOP takes place at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas.
When should I start planning my WSOP trip?
Players should begin planning their WSOP itinerary as soon as the tournament schedule becomes available, as it’s a busy time in Las Vegas and hotel rooms become harder to find as the series gets nearer.
Is cash the only form of currency accepted for buy-ins at the WSOP?
No, the WSOP accepted card payments, and in the past players have been able to wire funds into a WSOP account which enables them to register for events with ease, as well as use automated cashier kiosks to save valuable time. The WSOP has also emplyed an app more recently to aid with online buy-ins. Once payment methods are confirmed, we’ll let you know.
Where should I stay in Las Vegas to be close to the WSOP?
If you want to be in close proximity to the WSOP action, you should prioritize finding accommodations somewhere on the Las Vegas Strip as many of those properties are within walking distance of the WSOP venues. To be as close as possible, consider a room in the Horseshoe or Paris casino hotels where the WSOP takes place.
Are all the tournaments at the WSOP No-Limit Hold’em?
No, there are a multitude of events played out in other poker variants such as Pot-Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Omaha 8-or-Better, Limit Hold’em, and Mixed Games.
What time do WSOP tournaments begin?
The start times for tournaments varies throughout the series, but typically range from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
How many players enter the WSOP Main Event?
Over the years, Main Event entry numbers have fluctuated, but for the past two years the total has exceeded 10,000 players.
What’s the lowest buy-in event at the WSOP?
The lowest buy-in of the series is usually around $300. Check the schedule above to see the various buy-in levels available across all events.
What’s the biggest buy-in event at the WSOP?
With rare exceptions, the $250,000 Super High Roller is the biggest buy-in at the WSOP.
Who owns the World Series of Poker brand?
GGPoker owns the World Series of Poker brand after purchasing the entity from Caesars Entertainment in a deal which closed in October of 2024.