The 2021 World Series of Poker will take place in the fall, and poker pro Olivier Busquet wants it to stay that way. And he isn't the only one who shares those sentiments.
Due to COVID-19, last year's live WSOP was canceled altogether and replaced with an online series on GGPoker and WSOP.com. This year, however, Caesars Entertainment recently announced plans for a fall series as they feel that enough people will be vaccinated by late September to make it happen.
The series has taken place over the summer since 2002, but Nevada COVID-19 restrictions and a slow vaccine rollout around the world prevented the WSOP from being hosted over the summer. And some poker players seem to think that's a good thing.
One chance to make change
The WSOP staff seems content on keeping the series in the summer, save for unconventional years like 2021. But the upcoming fall series just might be a golden opportunity to bring about some change. Or, at least Olivier Busquet thinks it is.
"Ok guys this is it. Our one chance, one opportunity to turn this awful situation into positive change. Lets not let it slip. Let’s reclaim our summers and make this the new permanent @wsop schedule. Please. Whatever it takes," Busquet wrote.
Busquet is one of the top poker pros in the world to have never won a WSOP bracelet. He has 44 cashes in bracelet events for over $2 million and $9 million in overall lifetime live tournament earnings. The New York native makes Las Vegas his home over the summer to compete in WSOP events and cash games around town.
For many years, some poker fans have called for the series to move to the fall for a couple of reasons. First off, temperatures exceed 100 degrees during most summer days in Las Vegas. The summer heat is scalding hot and becomes an issue to those who can't handle it. In the fall, the weather in Las Vegas is gorgeous, with temps mostly in the 70's and 80's.
Another reason many prefer the WSOP in the fall is because it coincides with football season. Thousands of sports bettors already come to Las Vegas to gamble on college and NFL games in the fall, many of whom also play poker.
"Yah, I totally agree. This is a VERY welcome change and should be permanent. I don't need to be sweating my ass off walking into the RIO every June," Twitter user @theNEZguy argued in response to Busquet's tweet.
Joey Ingram, host of the popular Poker Life Podcast on YouTube, said that he thinks if the series goes well, the WSOP staff will consider moving it to the fall permanently.
Jason Koon, one of the top high-stakes pros in the world, also agrees with Busquet on moving the WSOP to the fall. But not everyone is on board with a fall World Series of Poker.
"Bad idea. Summer is much better for wsop. It's more affordable in the summer (room rates) and more people would be able to attend in summer during their vacation/break," @whaler55 argues.
The 2021 World Series of Poker begins September 30 at the Rio, and is expected to run through November 17, the planned date of the Main Event final table.
Featured image source: Flickr
