One Drop Tournament Returns To WSOP Starting 2013

After the buzz of excitement generated by the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop, the popular tournament is all set to make a return to the WSOP in 2013 and 2014.
This year, 48 competitors at the ‘Big One for One Drop’ managed to create a prize pool worth $42,666,672, with the tournament eventually won by US pro Antonio Esfandiari for a staggering $18,346,673. Other big names rising to the top of the wealthy businessmen/poker pro mixed-field was Sam Trickett in 2nd ($10,112,001) and Phil Hellmuth in 4th ($2,645,333), with hedge fund manager David Einhorn coming in an impressive 3rd ($4,352,000), before promptly donating all his winnings to charity.
In addition, with 10% of the overall prize pool going towards Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte’s personal charity, the made for TV event proved a huge smash for the poker community. As Laliberté explained following the tournament’s success: “It’s amazing what you can achieve when you dream. 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. Projects in Honduras, El Salvador, and West Africa have already put to use the money we raised in the initial event.”
However, when the WSOP braceleted event makes a return in 2013, it will be on a reduced level and appropriately named the “Little One for One Drop,” with just a $1,111 buy-in. Nevertheless, the potential to generate an impressive prize pool will still be possible, especially as it will not be subjected to the same player cap as its predecessor, and will also be a re-buy format with  unlimited rebuys over the first two days of play.
The following year in 2014 WSOP, the $1 million ‘Big One for One Drop’ will then return for a second time in its original form with another capped elite field competing at the Rio in Las Vegas. As Caesars Interactive Entertainment CEO Mitch Garber, explains:
“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.”