2021 World Series of Poker

Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info

2021 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j2
Prize
$39,013
Event Info
Buy-in
$500
Prize Pool
$175,980
Entries
419
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
419
Players Left
50

The 2021 WSOP Kicks Off Today With Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em

Nicholas Haynes, winner of 2019 Casino Employees Event
Nicholas Haynes, winner of 2019 Casino Employees Event

It is once again time for poker players and poker enthusiasts to rejoice following a prolonged wait. The 52nd annual World Series of Poker returns to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino today with 88 live bracelet events on the schedule.

As in previous years, the 2021 WSOP kicks off with the Casino Employees Event, and all of the players in this event today will have a chance at winning WSOP gold bracelet; this special tournament features a buy-in of $500. In the most recent edition back in 2019, the tournament attracted 685 entrants who generated a $297,975 prize pool. On the third day of play, Aria poker dealer Nicholas Haynes defeated Isaac Hanson in heads-up play to win a WSOP gold bracelet and the $62,345 top prize.

The structure is similar to the most recent iteration of this tournament. Players will start with 25,000 in chips and will play for two days, with 40-minute blind levels starting at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante.

The action is slated to get underway at 11 a.m. PST. Each player will be given the option of one re-entry during the late registration period of nine levels. During the first day, there will be a 20-minute break after every three levels and a 75-minute dinner break after level 9. A total of 17 levels are scheduled for Day 1, and a winner will be crowned on Day 2.

Previous Casino Employees Event Winners

YearWinnerPrize
2000Dave Alizadeth$21,800
2001Travis Jonas$40,200
2002David Warga$47,300
2003David Lukaszewski$35,800
2004Carl Nessel$40,000
2005Anthony Nguyen$83,390
2006Chris Gros$127,496
2007Frederick Narciso$104,701
2008Jonathan Kotula$87,929
2009Andrew Cohen$83,833
2010Hoai Pham$71,424
2011Sean Drake$82,292
2012Chiab "Chip" Saechao$70,859
2013Chad Holloway$84,915
2014Roland Reparejo$82,835
2015Brandon Barnette$75,704
2016C.J. Sand$71,157
2017Bryan Hollis$68,817
2018Jordan Hufty$61,909
2019Nicholas Haynes$62,345

Tags: Isaac HansonNicholas Haynes