The countdown to the 2024 World Series of Poker is on. Each day until the start of the series on May 28, we'll bring you tips and insider info from some of the biggest names in the game.
Vanessa Kade won the record-breaking Sunday Million 15th Anniversary tournament on PokerStars for $1,500,000, and she has over $1,000,000 in live cashes, including a fourth place finish in the 2022 Wynn Millions Main Event for $527,000, and a hatrick of PokerGo Highroller final tables in the Summer of 2022. Follow Vanessa on X/Twitter and Instagram.
How should players prep for the WSOP summer grind?
If you plan on playing a full schedule, it’s important to be as rested as possible. This year I plan on taking all of May off (except for SCOOP) so that I’m relaxed, and excited to play.
Good rest and healthy food are at the top of the list. For the last few years, I’ve been using some meal-prepping places to ensure I’m eating well and not putting on the dreaded WSOP 20 lbs.
It also helps to wear layers in case you find the rooms too warm or too cold, and find some healthy snacks. And I highly recommend bringing a Theragun or other massager so you don’t get too sore from long hours of sitting.
If you’re just going for a week or two to have a good time, just enjoy the experience and have fun. There are hundreds of amazing restaurants, shows, clubs, pools, and activities to check out around Las Vegas.
Many nearby casinos have parallel series to the WSOP that are worth checking out, including the Wynn and Aria, and many people enjoy the games at the Golden Nugget. There is a full week of ladies tournaments at various casinos that is worth checking out for women.
If you don’t already, I recommend following Kevin Mathers on Twitter, an excellent WSOP information source throughout the series.
What event are you most looking forward to playing?
It’s always the Main Event. It’s the biggest event I’ll play at the WSOP this year, and there’s still nothing quite like it. Every poker player dreams of winning the WSOP Main Event.
It’s extra exciting because you only get one shot at it with no re-entries. Even long-time pros feel the heartbreak of busting the Main, knowing you have to wait an entire year to go again.
For women, there is also the added excitement that no woman has reached the final table since there were more than a few hundred entrants (Barbara Enright being the only one to reach the final table in 1995 in a field of 273 players). Many players believe that a female winner may trigger another poker boom similar to the Moneymaker effect from 2003.
Check out the full schedule for the 2024 WSOP and plan which events you're going to target this summer. If you're looking at the lower end of the buy-ins, check out The Rec's guide to the WSOP. If you're looking for action with a bigger budget, follow what Jennifer Tilly is doing.
Images courtesy of PokerStars/Danny Maxwell
