888 Poker has begun its qualifier series for the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 888 Poker WSOP 2012 Qualifier Series features weekly qualifier tournaments every alternating Sunday, starting promptly at 20:05 GMT, for a direct buy-in of $500 + $25.
Players can avoid that $525 buy-in, however, by winning their way to that event through a series of smaller satellites with buy-ins as low as $1.10.
It starts with WSOP Step 1 qualifiers, with a player’s choice of $1 + $0.10 rebuy/add-on events, taking place daily every 2 hours and awarding one Step 2 qualifier seat for every $25 in the prize pool, or a $5 + $0.50 with no rebuy or add-on, taking place 3 times weekly and from which 1 of every 5 players will advance to Step 2.
The Step 2 qualifier has a $23 + $2 direct buy-in and also takes place thrice weekly and advances one 1 in 5 to the next step. That would be Step 3, with its own $105 + $10 direct buy-in, taking place three times a week and advancing 1 in 5 to the final WSOP Qualifier.
Each qualifier winner receives a prize package valued at $15,000 that includes the $10,000 WSOP Main Event buy-in as well as $2,000 for travel expenses, $500 in spending cash, 8 nights of hotel accommodations in Vegas, exclusive access to the 888 Poker player’s lounge, with pool table, XBox, TV, drinks all day long and breakfast, as well as an 888 Poker Live Event merchandise kit and a special invite to a VIP event.