[CAPTION=98%]The Pavilion Room will be filled to capacity every weekend of the World Series of Poker as thousands of “Weekend Warriors” take their shot at a bracelet.[/CAPTION]
Each year the World Series of Poker carefully plans its schedule around the lower buy-in No Limit Hold’em events that run every weekend of the series. This is done to cater to the “Weekend Warriors” who only have one or two weekends a year to play in a WSOP event. All of these events carry a catchy name and huge fields guaranteed to give all players the maximum bang for their buck.

Here at PocketFives, as part of our 2017 WSOP Preview, we are happy to provide a list of all the novelty events running over the course of the summer to give every Weekend Warrior the information they need to go to Las Vegas and return with an experience of a lifetime – and maybe even a bracelet.

The Colossus (June 2-June 7): The most attended event of the World Series is back for the third consecutive year with an $8,000,000 guarantee available for only a $565 buy-in. Both years of this event, the field has reached over 20,000 entrants and 2017 should be no different. The first of six starting flights kicks off on Friday, June 2 with two available each day through Sunday, June 4. The 5,000 chip starting stack is a deviation from the 5x starting stack per buy-in of most WSOP events and provides a relatively good bang for the buck. For the second straight year, $1,000,000 is guaranteed to first place and the largest lottery drawing in all of poker always provides an exciting start to the summer.

Millionaire Maker (June 7-June 14): The novelty event that started them all, Millionaire Maker is a permanent staple of the WSOP schedule. Now its fifth year on the schedule, Millionaire Maker draws every hopeful in poker who is looking to turn $1,500 into a least $1,000,000. The first place guarantee is a relative rarity in poker and every year since the event was first introduced, that number has been exceeded. Two starting flights are available for Millionaire Maker with one on Friday, June 7 and the other on Saturday, June 8. At least 6,500 entrants are expected for this event and by the time it wraps on Day 4, another seven-figure winner will exit the Rio with all the glory along with a bracelet.

Seniors Weekend (June 16-June 20): While most of the younger WSOP-going crowd is out attending Electric Daisy Carnival, the older generation takes center stage. For players age 50 and over, the $1,000 Seniors event starts on June 16 and wraps up on June 18. A few days later, those 65 and up are eligible to participate in the $1,000 Super Seniors tournament. Both events are among the most joyful and fun to participate in tournaments of the summer and this year should be no different come the middle of June.

Monster Stack (June 24-28): Perhaps the most must play event of the entire Weekend Warrior schedule, Monster Stack IV starts on June 24 with another humongous field expected. All previous runnings of Monster Stack have featured a first place prize of over $1,000,000 and this year should be no different. As with every year of its existence, the $1,500 buy-in event provides all entrants with a starting stack of 15,000 and 60-minute levels for the full duration of the tournament. This tournament always has a special aura surrounding it and the World Series will crown another millionaire once the dust settles on June 28.

Crazy $888 (July 1-4): The second annual Crazy $888 event provides something for everyone, from an affordable buy in to the eight-centric theme which features an $888,888 first place prize. There are four starting flights for this event, two on Saturday, July 1 and two on Sunday, July 2. The tournament starts with an 8,000 chip starting stack and plays eight-handed for its entirety. Last year’s Crazy $888 event drew a field of 6,761 and with the starting stack increasing this year from 5,000 to 8,000 and payouts starting on every Day 1 flight, there should be an increase in attendance for the final novelty event prior to the Main Event.

The Giant: (June 9-July 8): The WSOP is known for their great structures but a month long event; that’s crazy, right? Well, not exactly. Similar to the format of the WPT 500 at Aria, The Giant offers five Day 1 starting flights beginning on June 9 and each subsequent Friday before all Day 2 qualifiers combine on Day 2. All Day 1 levels are 20 minutes and players start with 20,000 chips. Each starting flight will play until the end of 18 levels or until 10 players remain. Days 2 and 3 provide 40-minute levels and the unlimited re-entry event has payouts for each starting flight.