$1 Million Buy-In Big One for One Drop Returning to 2014 WSOP
It’s back, and it’s getting bigger. As World Series of Poker officials announced on Saturday, the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop charity poker tournament will make its way to the 2014 WSOP. The dates are June 29 to July 1and, this time around, all play until the televised final table will not be held at the WSOP’s home at the Rio, but rather across Interstate 15 at Caesars Palace.
One additional table will be in play in 2014, bringing the maximum capacity of the tournament up to 56 players from 48. This means the first place prize could lap $20 million, instantly shooting the winner to the near the top of poker’s all-time tournament money list. Last time the event was held, which was in 2012, Ultimate Pokerpro Antonio Esfandiari scooped a first place prize of $18 million.
One Drop and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Lalibertéhas announced he plans to play in the $1 million buy-in tournament and commented in a press release, “It was a terrific inaugural event in 2012 with One Drop raising nearly $5.3 million from the Big One event. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure access to water for all. I have no doubt that the poker community will once again live up to its reputation for generosity by helping to transform lives sustainably.”
Caesars Interactive Entertainment CEO Mitch Garbersaid in the same release, “This event quickly established itself as special and unique and for that reason we chose to make it an every other year affair. But, we can’t wait to host it again in 2014 and continue to use this vehicle to impact the planet through One Drop’s platform.”
A sold out field of 48 players took to the felts for the first ever Big One for One Drop in 2012. Nine made the money, all for at least $1.1 million, and two – Esfandiari (pictured) and Sam Trickett – cashed for at least $10 million. The tournament aired as part of ESPN’s coverage of the 2012 WSOP and $111,111 of each $1 million buy-in went to the One Drop charity. In 2014, seats will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
WSOP officials expect to announce the dates for the 2014 WSOP in November. The full schedule is typically announced in the first quarter.
Want the latest poker headlines and interviews? Follow PocketFives on Twitterand Like PocketFives on Facebook. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed.
