PokerStars has revealed the dates for its World Championship of Online Poker, and players from Canada (excluding the ones residing in Ontario) can start making plans for the upcoming autumn. The popular WCOOP is set to kick off in September, and the 21st edition of the arguably largest online poker festival will run from Sep 4 — 28.
The exact schedule for this year’s WCOOP remains a secret, but most players already have a good idea of what to expect during its more than three weeks of electrifying tournament action. Large fields and extensive guarantees are mandatory.
Over the two decades it has been around, the series awarded in excess of one billion dollars in prizes, with the last year alone dishing out over $122 million.
What to Expect from WCOOP 2022?
The 2021 WCOOP was the biggest one in the operator’s history in terms of numbers, which was expected, given the whole pandemic situation and the fact people spent much more time in front of their computers, many of them (re)discovering their love for online poker.
It is hard to expect the 2022 WCOOP to enjoy the same success, so we may see smaller guarantees across the board. According to pokerfuse, the operator might scale things down a notch and reduce the overall guarantee from $100 million to around $80 million.
The staple events of the series will most certainly be on the schedule, including the $5200 Main Event and the $25,000 High Roller. Players can also expect a good variety of game formats featured in the tournaments, going beyond just Texas Hold 'em and Pot-Limit Omaha. Some newer variants that have picked up traction recently, such as Short Deck and Six Card Omaha, may also find their place on the upcoming schedule.
Will Changing Market Conditions Influence WCOOP Numbers?
While it is safe to assume that the WCOOP will be one of the most significant online events of the year, PokerStars has to deal with recent changes that might influence the overall turnout. As many Canadian players know, the operator recently received an Ontario license to operate in the province’s newly regulated — and segregated — market, splitting Ontarians from the rest of the global pool.
Over the past few months, developments on the world scene also saw PokerStars exit Russia, one of the largest markets by far, and the lack of Russian players at the tables will undoubtedly show during upcoming WCOOP proceedings.
All of this could mean that some events will feature overlays, which is good news for players from other parts of Canada, who will be able to take advantage of the added value.
As for Ontarians, while they may not be able to play in the WCOOP, PokerStars Ontario has shown every desire to keep its players in the province happy, kicking things off with the inaugural Platinum Series. In addition to some nice overlays, Ontario players also had a chance to compete for a coveted Platinum Pass.
If the early series is any indication, players in the province can look forward to many more great tournaments in the future. While missing the WCOOP is not something most will be thrilled about, the operator seems intent on making up for it via smaller, Ontario-specific events.
