The second half of the series eliminates the chance at a seat at the WSOP Tournament of Champions
The World Series of Poker has officially announced the remaining schedule for the 2025 WSOP Circuit, revealing 29 additional stops and introducing key format changes for the second half of the season. From July through December, the tour will include 17 domestic events across the US and 12 international stops. One of the most notable changes involves the shift to a calendar-year structure beginning in 2026, aligning the tour with traditional annual scheduling rather than linking it to the summer WSOP in Las Vegas.
A major update for players is that winners from the remaining 2025 Circuit events will no longer qualify for the WSOP Tournament of Champions. That event, recently won by Kevin Li for $200,000, will continue but with different qualifying criteria.
Instead, all gold ring winners between July 1 and December 2 will be awarded a “Ticket To Paradise”—a $5,000 prize package that includes a $2,500 tournament buy-in and accommodations for the WSOP Paradise event in the Bahamas later this year. The package is non-transferable and meant to highlight the growing importance of the international WSOP expansion.
To further modernize the tour, WSOP will be launching its WSOP+ app at all Circuit stops. The app aims to improve player experience with streamlined registration, real-time updates, and other support tools. This digital rollout is part of a broader effort to enhance tournament operations.
Additionally, new leadership has been installed to guide the expanded Circuit. Dennis Jones has been appointed as US Circuit Tournament Director, while Andy Tillman will oversee the international schedule. Their appointments come after a record-setting 2024/2025 season that featured 45 events, nearly 300,000 total entries, and over $168 million in prize money distributed.
The WSOP Circuit continues to serve as a bridge between grassroots players and the spotlight of the main WSOP series, now offering fresh incentives and destinations to match its growing global presence.
