Usually around this time in a year you can see a lot of World Series of Poker Satellites popping-up at most of the respectable online poker rooms. Therefore I decided to give it some attention in this blog post and shine some light on the most attractive ones from a selection of poker rooms you can find on Max Poker Bonus.
WSOP Satellites at partypoker
My personal favourite this year is definitely partypoker, not because they offer the best Main Event package, but because their qualification structure seems to be the easiest (and most cost effective) amongst all. They run a variety of Single Table Tournaments (STTs), Multi Table Tournaments (MTTs) and even a WSOP Freeroll Qualifier.
The actual WSOP Satellite, which gives away one Main Event package valued at $12,000 per 20 players, has a buy-in of $600+$40 – which by all means is a pretty low buy-in. Of course getting into this satellite tournament through one of the sub satellites is more interesting.
I suggest the following sub satellites and sub qualifiers if you want to qualify online for the 2009 WSOP at partypoker:
WSOP Satellite Qualifier Special (MTT)
- Buy-in: $172
- When: Daily
- Tickets: 1 in every 4 players will gain entry to the WSOP Satellite ($600+$40)
WSOP Sub Qualifier Special (MTT)
- Buy-in: $47
- When: Daily
- Tickets: 1 in every 4 players will gain entry to the WSOP Satellite Qualifier Special ($172)
If you rather keep your spending limit low, there are several other WSOP Sub Qualifiers to choose from. The buy-ins start as low as $2 and $4, both of these tournaments having 1 ticket available for every $70 in the prize pool, or for the buy-in of $8 there’s a ticket for every 10 players.
WSOP Satellites at Everest Poker
The best WSOP package is offered by Everest Poker, the official sponsor of the WSOP last year. The standard package is worth $13,000, but there is more…
Everest Poker runs a promotion called the $1 Million Match, which simply means that the total winnings at the 2009 WSOP of all their qualifiers will be matched up to $1,000,000 and will be redistributed equally over all qualified players. Basically, this means that you don’t even have to end in the money – to get money!
On the other hand, they allow every qualifier to bring a friend and share the experience of the World Series of Poker circus. Everest Poker will cover your friend’s air fare.
Besides all of the above, you will officially be part of Team Everest Poker during the 2009 WSOP, meaning you will get gear to wear, but also be able to get VIP treatment just about everywhere you go, i.e. the Everest Poker lounge and penthouse – but more important at the Everest Poker annual WSOP Party.
Here’s how to qualify for the WSOP at Everest Poker:
Everest Poker offers you the possibility to qualify for the WSOP online, playing Steps Tournaments. You can start at Step 1 for just $2.70+$0.30 or you can buy-in directly at Step 6 for $1650+$78. Naturally, you can enter anywhere in between. The WSOP Steps Tournaments have a regular steps structure, where generally the best two players advance to the next step, third and fourth try again and fifth (sometimes also sixth) bounce back one step.
Besides a package for the WSOP Main Event, Everest Poker also offers a Side Event package valued at $3,500. After Step 4, you will have to choose if you want to play for the WSOP Side Event, or advance to Step 6. Direct entry on this level is $473+$30.
If you climb all the way up to Step 6 you will see that only the winner will get a WSOP package. Finishers from second to fifth will receive a cash prize, $1,500, $1,000, $500 and $500 respectively.
WSOP Satellites at bet365 Poker
The third room for a World Series of Poker qualification that I suggest is bet365 Poker. As everywhere else, you can qualify for the No-Limit Hold’em Main Event ($10,000), No-Limit Hold’em Side Events #28 plus #34 (both $1,500), but also for the WSOP Pot-Limit Omaha Championship Event ($10,000).
Ongoing sub satellites for all WSOP Super Satellites run daily. Direct buy-in for the Main Event Super Satellites is $500+$35, direct buy-in for the Side Events Super Satellites is $200+$15 and direct buy-in for the World Championship of Pot-Limit Omaha Satellites is $500+$35.
No-Limit Hold’em Main Event Package
- $10,000 buy-in to the Main Event
- $850 for accommodation at the Rio – 7 nights, July 4th – July 11th 2009
- $250 WSOP registration fees
- $1,900 travel and spending money
No-Limit Hold’em Side Events Package
- Buy-in to WSOP NLHE Events 28 and 34, both with a buy-in of $1,500
- $950 for accommodation at the Rio – 8 nights, June 11th – June 19th 2009
- $250 WSOP registration fees
- $1,800 travel and spending money
World Championship of Pot-Limit Omaha Package
- $10,000 buy-in to the Main Event
- $650 for accommodation at the Rio – 5 nights, June 18th – June 23th 2009
- $250 WSOP registration fees
- $2,100 travel and spending money
