The Big One for One Drop will take a one-year hiatus before returning to Las Vegas with another seven-figure price tag, a mandatory charitable contribution and a limited number of seats.
The inaugural version of the event raised $10 million for charity, including $5.3 million for One Drop, an organization that fights poverty by supporting access to water.
“It’s amazing what you can achieve when you dream,” said One Drop chairperson Guy Laliberté.
“We took the concept of a $1 million poker tournament and turned it into the most successful poker initiative ever held. As a result, over 100,000 people will be positively impacted.”
One Drop put the funds raised towards projects in Honduras, El Salvador and West Africa and plans to do even more with the money generated by future One Drop poker events.
“It was an honor to be a part of such a special event that raised a total of $10 million for charity and shone a positive light on the poker community,” said Caesars Interactive Entertainment CEO Mitch Garber.
But, as the WSOP announced this evening, you don’t have to be a millionaire or wait until 2014 to help raise money for One Drop by playing poker.
WSOP to Host ‘Little One for One Drop’ in 2013
Next summer in Las Vegas lower-stakes poker players will also have the chance to play in a charity event benefiting One Drop.
Branded as the “Little One for One Drop”, it will feature a $1,111 buy-in, unlimited re-entries over two starting days and will award an official gold bracelet to the winner.
“With the “Little One” and the “BIG ONE” on the horizon, we can continue to greatly impact the lives of those in need, while at the same time raising awareness of the impact water has on our planet,” said Laliberté.
Earlier this year Antonio Esfandiari won over $18 million, instantly becoming poker’s leading all-time money winner when he defeated Sam Trickett to win the first Big One.
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