Shuffle Up and Deal: 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event

The 2018 WSOP $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event begins July 2 in Las Vegas and concludes July 14 with thousands of recreational and professional poker players vying for millions of dollars. Let’s take a look at what’s in store for the Main Event next week.

Card Sharks


The full field for this year’s WSOP Main Event is not completely settled but there will be more than a few sharks circling the waters just waiting to fatten up on a whole lotta guppies on poker’s biggest stage. Getting in on the action is not cheap, but if you’ve got an extra 10 grand lying around then welcome to the table because there will be more than a few smiling faces eager to see dead money take a seat.

Last year the Main Event king proved to be New Jersey’s Scott Blumstein, a 25-year-old graduate of Temple University who bankrolled his entry fee with the proceeds of the close to $200,000 he won at the Borgata Summer Poker Open a year before. Blumstein bested more than 7,200 entrants and took home a whopping $8.4 million when his ace/deuce off suit defeated runner-up Dan Ott’s ace/eight of diamonds, with a two of hearts hitting on the river in the final hand of the tournament. Droppin’ a deuce never felt so good.

This year, the usual suspects will be seated at the felt and below we take a look at a few of the apex predators in search of their prey and their corresponding odds … yes, you can bet on them at SBR’s top-rated sportsbooks!

Daniel Negreanu (+5000) – The all-time tournament poker money-winner is gunning for his first WSOP Main Event championship to add to his six WSOP bracelets. The Toronto native’s boyish charm belies his stone-cold killer instincts when the cards fly.

Phil Ivey (+5000) – After a two-year absence Ivey will be back in the saddle trying for his first Main Event title but these odds appear predicated on Ivey’s name recognition more than his actual chances of emerging the victor. That’s what 10 WSOP bracelets will do for one’s reputation.

Johnny Chan (+12,500) – The Orient Express won the Main Event in 1987 and 1988, a feat that will perhaps never be matched as the tournament has swelled to gargantuan proportions versus the 160 some-odd competitors back in the late 1980s. Chan is a fading legend.

Phil Helmuth (+12,500) – The Poker Brat has a record 14 WSOP bracelets and is famous for his epic meltdowns when the cards don’t turn his way. Helmuth won the Main Event back in 1989 and if nothing else, he’s fun to watch when he’s on the short end of a bad beat.

Scott Blumstein (+20,000) – The odds on last year’s Main Event winner seem high, but repeating as champion is virtually unheard of with a field of 7000 contestants or more. Nevertheless, this is an arduous, tedious, and lengthy tournament that is geared for younger players with greater stamina. Blumstein, in his 20’s, fits that bill.















You Don’t Have to Play a Hand to Make a Bet


Nobody will ever accuse the average, or even the professional, poker player of being an athlete yet there is action to be had on the men and women who put their money where their mouths are and square off in a competition that is equal parts luck and skill. Such is the case in the WSOP’s main event where some of the best online sportsbooks offer odds on all the major competitors as well as some interesting prop bets.

If you are so inclined, get on over to Sportsbook Review, where you can get the lowdown on all of the best (and worst) online sportsbooks. SBR is the place to not only read reviews on the offshore shops but a site where you can see all the odds listed from Major League Baseball, to the NFL, NHL, and NBA. But online sportsbooks are not all created equal and many deal odds on individual sporting events like tennis, golf, and yes, even WSOP poker. Below are a few interesting proposition wagers being offered but to get the complete rundown, click over to Sportsbook Review and get informed.

Winner’s Country of Origin

USA -150

Europe +205

Canada +400

Central or South America +900

Australia +1200

Field (any other) +900

 

Age of Winner

28 years or older -120

27 years or younger -120

 

Final Winning Hand

Two pair or better -120

One pair or worse -120