Big One for One Drop Back in 2018

The Big One for One Drop is back. This summer, the biggest buy-in tournament in the world returns to Las Vegas, after last year’s €1,000,000 buy-in event was organized in Monte Carlo, and will be a staple event of the 2018 World Series of Poker.

Five years ago, the World Series of Poker and One Drop made history with the first instalment of the Big One for One Drop. Featuring a $1,000,000 buy-in, the tournament created the largest first place prize in poker history and has since given businessmen, philanthropists, and professional poker players the opportunity to play for over $100 million in prize money across three $1 million buy-in events.

The $1 million buy-in event will begin on July 15 and the field will be capped at a maximum of 48 players. Once again, the WSOP will be waiving their fee and that portion of the pot will be donated to One Drop, the charity of Cirque du Soleil’s founder Guy Laliberte, and its sustainable safe water access projects in communities in need.

This past week, during World Series of Poker Europe held at King’s Casino, the WSOP and One Drop announced that since 2012, over $20,000,000 has been raised by the poker community thanks to 10,412 unique players that have participated in One Drop branded events.

“The Big One is an important landmark in the history of poker. Players that I meet here and there remind me on a constant basis that this history lives on and that they want to be a part of it.” said One Drop founder and previous Big One participant Gay Laliberte. “The thrill to compete for the chance of walking away with millions all the while contributing to an important cause – providing safe water access globally – has given strong roots to the event.”

Tsoukernik First to Register

Leon Tsoukernik, owner of King’s Casino, has also been announced as the first player to register for the Big One for One Drop 2018. Tsoukernik final tabled this year’s Super High Roller Bowl and his participation sets the stage for the next 47 players to take their spot in the $1 million buy-in event.

“I am a father of two, and when I heard that every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-borne disease, it convinced me that I had to do all in my power to change this situation. And I have decided to do it with what I am best at: bringing people together to play poker.” said Tsoukernik through a WSOP press release.

Some of poker’s biggest names have had success in The Big One. Antonio Esfandiari won the event in 2012 for just over $18 million, and Daniel Colman defeated Daniel Negreanu heads up to claim the title in 2014. High Roller Cary Katz and Hollywood’s Rick Salomon are the only players that have multiple Big One for One Drop scores.

More information on the Big One for One Drop will be available on WSOP.com when the full 2018 WSOP schedule is announced later this year.