The 2012 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is well underway into its 61-event series of poker tournaments. One such tournament, perhaps the most talked about event of them all, is set to take place July 1st through the 3rd. Known as “The Big One for One Drop”, it features a staggering $1,000,000 buy-in.
Some of the best professional poker players in the world are already registered for the million dollar poker event, including the likes of the infamous online poker phenom Tom “durrrr” Dwan, 8-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Ivey, ESPN’s top power-ranking player Jason Mercier, and Guy Lilabert, who’s presence comes as no surprise due to the construct of the WSOP event.
The name, “The Big One for One Drop”, refers to the structure of the buy-in. It is a charity tournament that will see exactly $111,111 from each player’s buy-in donated to the “One Drop” foundation, a non-profit organization founded by professional poker player Guy Laliberte benefiting people who do not have a natural source of clean water. On an interesting side note, Guy Laliberte is also the founder of the universally recognized Cirque du Soleil .
In terms of WSOP payouts, this particular event is expected to award a vast sum of money, potentially doubling that of the 1s place prize for winning the 2012 WSOP Main Event. Registration is still open, so it’s hard to say just how many players will be participating in the $1M Big One for One Drop poker tournament, but with 20% of the field expected to receive a slice of the pie, current analysis estimates anywhere from $12-$15 million going to the top victor alone.
Of the most prolific poker pros known to be registered for the charity poker tournament, it’s a toss-up as to who has the upper hand. Tom Dwan, one of the first poker players to ever break into the million-dollar profit range via online poker cash games, is certainly a front-runner. At just 25 years of age, Dwan started at a young age and has been dominating the nosebleed stakes at Full Tilt Poker, of which he is now a sponsored team member, for years now.
Phil Ivey is another favorite to take down the WSOP $1M buy-in event. Ten years Dwan’s senior, Ivey is a high stakes poker elite and career tournament specialist with 8 WSOP bracelets and more than $14 million in live tournament winnings under his belt. His cool demeanor and unparalleled success make him a force to be reckoned with in any card playing venue.
The young American poker pro, Jason Mercier, is another top choice to take down the WSOP’s Big One for One Drop. At 25, Mercier already has two bracelets, his first in the 2009 WSOP and the second last year at 6-handed PLO. He has raked in near enough to $7.5 million in live tournament winnings alone. Currently, he is placed in the number one position on ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Poker is a game of skill, but one cannot discount the small measure of luck that plays its part in the dealing of the cards and occasional misreads by even the best poker players in the world. Thus it is impossible to say who will emerge victorious this coming Tuesday when The Big One for One Drop comes to a close, but it will certainly be an interesting one to watch throughout the three-day WSOP event.
