Wsop Charity Poker Event Already Attracting Attention

By Casinomeister, Last updated Mar 21, 2014

$1 Million buy-in event already has 23 commitments

The second running of The BIG ONE for ONE DROP $1 million buy-in No-Limit Hold'em charity poker event due to be held as part of the 45th Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas has already confirmed the participation of 23 poker players, despite the event being over three months away.

Almost half of the players from the inaugural event held in 2012 have indicated their willingness to participate for a second time around, the WSOP said.

The inaugural event was won by Antonio Esfandiari who took a record prize of $18 346 673 (see previous InfoPowa report) while $3.5 million was raised for the ONEDROP charity, a non-profit organisation initiated by Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberté, that initiates projects around the world for the provision of access to water.

The buy-in for The BIG ONE for ONE DROP at $1 Million, remains the largest ever for a poker event. There will be no rake or house fees to operate the event, and $111,111 of each buy-in is taken out as a charitable donation to ONE DROP. Thus, $888,889 of each buy-in goes directly into the prize pool. The first prize could potentially reach $ 20,000,000 based on all seats being bought.

This year's event will take place over three days, from June 29 to July 1, 2014. The event is now able to accommodate 56 entrants following the addition of one more table after the 2012 event sold-out and seats will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.

"I can't wait to defend my title," said defending champion, Esfandiari. "The event was life-changing, but so was my trip to El Salvador after it with the ONE DROP organization to see first hand what a difference the money raised from this event can do for those in dire need of help."

"Amazingly I lost a million dollars in this event in 2012 but still had a great time," said investor Bill Perkins. "Little do the others know, but that was all part of a plan to set them up for this year. I'm calling my shot now. I will win the 2014 BIG ONE for ONE DROP."

The list of committed players so far are:

1. Antonio Esfandiari

2. Guy Laliberté

3. Bobby Baldwin

4. David Einhorn

5. Phil Galfond

6. Philipp Gruissem

7. Phil Ivey

8. Jason Mercier

9. Paul Newey

10. Bill Perkins

11. Vivek Rajkumar

12. Brian Rast

13. Andrew Robl

14. Erik Seidel

15. Brandon Steven

16. Sam Trickett

17. Noah Schwartz

18. Anonymous Businessman

19. Anonymous Businessman

20. Anonymous Businessman

21. Aria Resort Satellite Seat

22. Bellagio Resort Satellite Seat

23. World Series of Poker Satellite Seat

"The inaugural event made history and I look forward to another historic moment again this June," said event co-founder, ONE DROP Founder, and inaugural participant, Guy Laliberté. "The support from the poker community continues to be just incredible."

Online Casino News Courtesy of Infopowa

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