Bodog today announced that it is launching a new online poker tournament series this summer that will mirror all 25 Holdem events of the 2008 World Series of Poker* in Las Vegas at just a fraction of the buy-in. The Bodog Poker Mini-SOP will run from May 30-July 3, with each tournament held on the same date as its counterpart in Las Vegas but with buy-ins equal to just one percent of the actual buy-in of the WSOP* Event.
After the completion of the series’ 25 events, Bodog will host a final tournament on July 10 that will award three seats to the 2009 WSOP* Main Event, making Bodog the first online poker site to give away seats to next summer’s Main Event.
“We’re happy to offer those not able to attend the 2008 WSOP* in person an affordable and exciting online alternative,” says Morris Mohawk Gaming Group CEO Alwyn Morris. “For only one percent of the standard WSOP* Main Event buy-in cost, Bodog online poker players can have a shot at the Mini-SOP crown and three $12,000 prize packages including entry into the 2009 WSOP* Main Event.”
The Mini-SOP kicks off with a Pot-Limit Holdem tournament on Friday, May 30, on the same day as Event No. 1 of the WSOP*, the $10,000 buy-in World Championship Pot-Limit Holdem tournament. At one percent of the buy-in of the real deal, Event No. 1 of the Mini-SOP will cost players just $100+$9 to enter.
With buy-ins ranging from as low as $10+$1 up to $100+$9, the Mini-SOP is a great value for players of all skill levels. For a total of $821, a player could enter all 25 events of the series, and there is great incentive to do so as Bodog will be running a Tournament Leader Board (“TLB”) throughout the series that will be used to determine who will compete in a final 27-player tournament held on July 10. There, the top three finishers will each be awarded a $12,000 prize package to the 2009 WSOP* Main Event. Places four through nine will each receive T$109 to buy into online poker tournaments in the Bodog Poker room.
Players can earn a spot at the Mini-SOP Final on July 10 in several ways. The top four players on the TLB automatically qualify, while places five through 100 on the TLB will compete for one of 18 seats awarded in a Semifinal qualifier held two days before the final. The remaining five seats to the final will be picked from a random “wild card” drawing of players who have entered at least three Mini-SOP events.
Online poker players can still secure a spot at the 2008 WSOP* Main Event this summer in the Bodog Poker Room, where Bodog is guaranteeing at least six $12,000 Main Event Prize Packages weekly through its “Main Event Semifinal” tournaments and the ongoing “Player’s Choice” promotion. Players can get in on the action for as little as $1 or 100 PTS. Qualifiers are running daily, and all lead to the four weekly Main Event Semifinal tournaments and the weekly Player’s Choice Semifinal. Players can also buy-in directly to the Main Event and Player’s Choice Semifinals for $250+$20.
Each Main Event Semifinal will award at least one $12,000 Main Event Prize Package with the Main Event Semifinal on Sundays guaranteeing two of the packages, which include the $10,000 buy-in to the Main Event, $2,000 for travel expenses, loads of Team Bodog gear and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Las Vegas in total Bodog style, including meeting the Bodog Girls and much, much more.
Lastly, on Sunday, June 8, at 3:15 p.m. ET, Bodog will also host a Main Event Semifinal where they will be guaranteeing five WSOP* Prize Packages and all the perks that come with being a member of Team Bodog.
