RbPkr Field Reports
The 2024 WSOP Kicks Off With Action-Packed Opening Weekend
The 55th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) is officially underway at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, and the early numbers indicate another record-breaking summer for live poker. Opening weekend action delivered on its promises with massive fields, new tournament formats, and intense final table drama.
The $5,000 Champions Reunion
One of the most anticipated additions to the 2024 schedule was Event #1: the $5,000 Champions Reunion No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout. The unique format placed an automatic Main Event seat bounty on the head of any former WSOP Main Event champion who entered the field.
After a grueling battle against a field of 493 entrants, poker pro Asher Conniff emerged victorious, claiming his first career WSOP gold bracelet and a top prize of $408,468. Conniff defeated Halil Tasyurek in heads-up play, marking an incredible start to his summer campaign.
"It’s incredible," Conniff told reporters after his win. "I’ve been coming out here for a long time, and you always dream about starting the series like this."
Early Winners Make Their Mark
The opening weekend also featured the traditional Event #2: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em, which drew an impressive 1,189 entries. Jose Garcia navigated the massive field to secure his first bracelet and $79,134.
Meanwhile, the $500 WSOP Kickoff (Event #3) attracted a staggering 3,485 entrants, further proving that the appetite for live, lower-stakes tournament poker remains at an all-time high. UK pro Daniel Willis took down the event for $175,578 after a marathon final table.
Bringing the Action Home
Watching the pros battle it out in Las Vegas is the perfect inspiration to revitalize your local home game. The Champions Reunion format is an incredible idea to steal for your own kitchen table: place a fun "bounty" (like buying the next round of drinks or a small cash bonus) on the player who won your previous week's game.
If you are inspired to run a fast-paced tournament format like the WSOP Kickoff, keeping the blind levels moving is essential. At a casino, professional dealers ensure you get a high number of hands per hour. At home, fumbling with the deck can slow your tournament to a crawl.
That’s where RbPkr steps in. By taking the physical deck out of the equation and dealing directly to players' phones, you can increase your hands-per-hour dramatically, ensuring your tournament finishes on time and everyone gets to play plenty of poker.