The 2021 WSOP will happen this year in Las Vegas, Kevin “Kevmath” Mathers reported on Twitter, but the World Series of Poker won’t confirm it, nor will they deny the poker information guru’s claims. But Ty Stewart says regardless of what the WSOP wants to happen, they must follow state and local guidelines.
Last year’s summer poker extravaganza was replaced with an Online Bracelet Series split between WSOP.com and GGPoker. At the end of the year, the poker sites hosted separate Main Events with the final tables played live in Las Vegas and Rozvadov, Czech Republic. The winners — Joseph Hebert and Damian Salas — then met for a heads-up match at the Rio to determine the 2020 world champion. Salas defeated Hebert and won the bracelet.
The coronavirus is still a major problem around the world. But cases have dropped significantly and a vaccine may soon become available to anyone who wants it. So, a 2021 WSOP in Las Vegas is becoming more likely, but one executive told CardsChat News there’s nothing official at this point.
2021 WSOP Chances Rising
Mathers, however, said the summer event is going to happen. He claimed on Twitter that he spoke with an executive who assured him the series will run this year.
Spoke with a high-ranking WSOP executive last night
To answer two frequently asked questions*:
A LIVE edition of the WSOP will happen in 2021
The dates of the live WSOP will NOT be during the usual timeframe (late May-mid July)
*Assuming conditions continue improving
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) March 2, 2021
“Spoke with a high-ranking WSOP executive last night To answer two frequently asked questions*: A LIVE edition of the WSOP will happen in 2021 The dates of the live WSOP will NOT be during the usual timeframe (late May-mid July),” Mathers tweeted.
“Kevmath” has inside info on poker and the WSOP. He’s worked as the social media czar for the WSOP’s Twitter account the past few years and is a respected member of the poker media. But did he jump the gun here?
“Not sure who Kevmath spoke with, but a little early for us to make any official comment,” Stewart told CardsChat News. “If there is a pending announcement, we’ll try to make sure it’s comprehensive.”
Stewart, the executive director for the World Series of Poker, said the fate of the 2021 WSOP hinges on state and local government guidelines, along with the vaccine rollout.
“Everyone is trying to predict when broad vaccination will occur, and many feel comfortable that is toward the back half of the year. Safety and comfort of our players will be the primary determination for 2021,” Ty Stewart said.
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak recently permitted casinos in his state to operate at 35% of maximum capacity, up from 25% the previous three months. On March 15, that number will bump up to 50%. And then on May 1, he’s going to allow local governments to determine their own COVID-19 restrictions. That could set the table for Clark County, home to Las Vegas, to soon remove large gathering restrictions, perhaps setting the stage for a live 2021 WSOP.
