The WSOP Tournament of Champions: A Celebration of Poker’s Best

The World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions (WSOP ToC) is an exclusive invitational freeroll poker event that began in 2004. A dozen players qualified to this year’s WSOP ToC freeroll at Commerce from May 22 to 24 and will play for a share of $1 million and a chance to earn a WSOP gold bracelet before the WSOP summer camp begins next week. A dozen more players will punch their tickets by winning one of the 12 WSOP Circuit gold rings on tap at the 2024 WSOP Circuit Tallinn from July 19-28 at Olympic Park Casino.

Over the years, the WSOP ToC has undergone several transformations but has always tried to celebrate and showcase the best poker offers.

In its initial years, the event was similar to an NBA All-Star event, featuring a mix of invitations, qualifiers, and public voting, where only the best of the best could play and compete for prestigious trophies they could proudly display on their shelves, along with million-dollar prizes.

After a decade-long hiatus, the WSOP ToC triumphantly returned in 2022. The revival coincided with the World Series of Poker’s relocation to a new home on the Las Vegas Strip, at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas casinos. This time, the tournament was introduced as an official WSOP Bracelet event with a $1,000,000 prize pool.

The revamped Tournament of Champions now has clearer qualifications criteria. Winners of the WSOP Circuit events, WSOP bracelet events, and other specified tournaments throughout the season are automatically invited to participate in the million-dollar freeroll championship, which ensures only true champions are competing, adding to the event’s prestige.

In 2022, Benjamin Kaupp emerged victorious from a field of 470 champions out of 569 eligible qualifiers, claiming the first-place prize of $250,000. Last year, Ronnie Day triumphed among 741 WSOP ring and bracelet holders out of 989 qualifiers, pocketing $200,000 for the win. Both Kaupp and Day were WSOP Circuit ring winners and have now added the coveted WSOP gold bracelet to their collection with these wins.

This year’s WSOP Tournament of Champions is scheduled for May 22 to 24 at The Commerce Casino & Hotel in Los Angeles, featuring a $1,000,000 prize pool. The event will celebrate all champions from the 2023/2024 WSOP Circuit seasons and bracelet winners from WSOP Paradise, WSOP Online, and WSOP Europe.

Ty Steward, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the WSOP expressed excitement about the event, stating, “For years, the Commerce has been the home of poker in Los Angeles and one of the leading card rooms in the world. We look forward to kicking off our new strategic relationship with a special WSOP Circuit finale and the Tournament of Champions bracelet event. We also look forward to qualifying more players from Los Angeles for the WSOP Main Event than ever before.”

Close to 1,200 players from festivals worldwide have qualified for the 2024 WSOP ToC, including twelve ring winners from WSOP Circuit Tallinn, held at the Olympic Park Casino last September. Among the notable Tallinn winners, who will fight for their share of the $1,000,000 freeroll prize pool and a gold bracelet are Ignacio Gonzales, the €1,500 Main Event champion, Ranno Sootla, who is already sporting a bracelet from 2020, Jon Kyte, winner of the in €1,100 Pot Limit Omaha event, and Roope Tarmi, who secured his ring in €3,000 6-handed event.

In total, this diverse group of Tallinn ring holders hail from nine different countries, adding a vibrant international flair to the competition.

2023 WSOP Circuit Tallin Ring Winners

While qualifications for this year are complete, all aspiring champions have another opportunity in July when the World Series of Poker Circuit returns to the Estonian capital.

The 2024 edition of the WSOP Circuit in Tallinn returns to the luxurious surroundings of Olympic Park Casino and the Hilton Tallinn Park from July 19 to 28 with a dozen gold ring events on tap, including a €1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event. This presents another chance for players to qualify for a future edition of the WSOP ToC and compete for six-figure prizes and a gold bracelet on poker’s most prominent stage across the pond.

WSOP Tournament of Champions Past Winners