A WSOP High Roller online event had to be called off after only eight players signed up
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) faced an unexpected outcome recently when one of its online bracelet events had to be canceled due to a complete lack of participants. The $5,300 High Roller tournament, held on WSOP.com for US players, didn’t attract the minimum number of eight participants needed to proceed. As a result, the event was auto-canceled, raising concerns about the value of online WSOP bracelet events.
Looks like 8 people weren’t there at the start and it got cancelled https://t.co/E5oknHGIJY
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) October 15, 2024
While the WSOP typically draws large crowds, especially for live events, this online tournament’s lack of participation highlights some of the ongoing challenges. Many high-stakes players tend to register late for tournaments, and if this event had allowed extended late registration, it might have attracted a decent turnout. However, the player pool for online tournaments in the US is restricted to just three states, making it difficult for these events to compete with international platforms like GGPoker.
The incident has raised further debate within the poker community, with some questioning whether WSOP bracelets are losing their prestige, especially when compared to large-scale online events that have drawn thousands of players in the past. For example, another recent online WSOP series had record-breaking participation, with over 6,000 entries in its $5,000 Main Event.
The cancellation of the WSOP High Roller event is a reminder that online poker, especially within limited regions, faces unique hurdles. Whether this marks a deeper shift in the value of WSOP bracelets or simply a hiccup in online participation remains to be seen, but it certainly raises questions about the future of these prestigious poker tournaments.
