International news

    On September 16, 2026, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) officially announced a brand new bracelet event: the WSOP Pro-Am, with a buy-in of up to $250,000. This tournament will be held at the WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas in December, employing a unique structure that separates professional and amateur players. The two groups of players will compete separately in the early stages, only merging after reaching the money bubble to continue competing for the same WSOP bracelet. This design has sparked discussions about eligibility, player classification, and the fairness of the tournament. On September 19, poker commentator Mo Nuwwarah published a commentary on Card Player, questioning whether the WSOP's introduction of an invitation-only system for bracelet events is changing the traditional open competition model of tournaments. The inaugural WSOP Pro-Am: $250,000 buy-in, champion wins a bracelet. According to the WSOP's announced event schedule, the first Pro-Am will be held during the 2026 WSOP Paradise. The key information for this event is as follows: Event Name: WSOP Pro-Am NLH Series: 2026 WSOP Paradise Dates: From December 5th Location: Bahamas, Baha Mar Buy-in: 1TP 4T 250,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool: 1TP 4T 10,000,000 Duration: 3 days Champion Award: WSOP Gold Bracelet Event Format: Professional vs. Amateur Group Competition The most unique feature of this event is not the buy-in amount, but rather that participants will be divided into different groups based on their professional and amateur status. Professional players register directly, while amateur players must first pass an audit. According to the WSOP Pro-Am rules, the two types of players will use different entry procedures. Professional Players Professional players can register themselves. No nomination from amateur players is required, nor is an invitation necessary. Amateur Players Players wishing to participate as amateurs must apply to the WSOP. Applications will be reviewed by the WSOP Pro-Am Committee, which will determine which players will receive an invitation. The official criteria currently listed for potential eligibility include poker experience, professional or business background, participation in the poker community, and contribution to the overall tournament experience. The WSOP also states that no single criterion guarantees a successful application. The two groups will compete separately until they reach the money bubble, at which point they will merge. Once eligibility is confirmed, professional and amateur players will not immediately mix. Initially, two separate contingents will form: a professional group and an amateur group. These two groups will compete separately until both groups reach the money bubble. Only then will the two contingents merge into a regular tournament to compete for the final championship. This means that players qualified for the amateur group do not need to sit at the same table as professionals before reaching the money bubble. Professional players, on the other hand, must compete directly with other professional players in the early stages. (Compared to Triton)