The Big One is back.
This week World Poker Tour, in conjunction with One Drop foundation, announced the imminent return of the historic $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop tournament.
Set to take place this December at the 2023 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, the event not only looks to raise money to bring sustainable access to water to in communities in need, but if history is any indicator it will also produce one of the biggest poker payouts of the year.
Not only has the Big One For One Drop produced some of the largest paydays in poker history, but also some of the most iconic moments. The first iteration took place in 2012 at the WSOP with Antonio Esfandiari, lifted off his feet by the crowd in celebration, claiming a historic $18,346,673 payday. Two years later in 2014, it was a dominant Dan Coleman denying Daniel Negreanu in heads-up play and stoically standing above his pile of more than $15 million in earnings.
The event followed every other year thereafter with high-roller Elton Tsang claiming the invitational 2016 title in Barcelona for $12.2 million and, finally, in 2018 Justin Bonomo scored his career-high cash of $10,000,000 in the event which, in part, lifted him to his spot atop the All-Time Money List.
And that’s where it was left, until now. The Big One for One Drop has found a new home with the WPT and after a nearly five-year break, the anticipation is that with a new partnership will come a renewed sense of excitement.
“We are beyond excited to be announcing the resurgence of our most iconic charity event,” said Alexandre Meunier, One Drop Foundation’s Chief Marketing and Events Officer. “It is an incredible feeling to be able to have the support of WPT and Wynn to run our fifth edition of the Big One. There is always a palpable buzz in the air during the lead-up to the one-million-dollar affair. The magnitude of the buy-in, of the prize pool, but also of the funds that are directed to the crucial cause of access to safe water makes the Big One the event of all superlatives.”
The announcement of the return of the $1 million Big One comes on the heels of the unveiling of a pair of charitable One Drop events taking place this summer at Wynn Las Vegas. The first, the $10,400 WPT EveryOne for One Drop takes place on July 9-14 and comes with a hefty $10,000,000 prize pool guarantee (outside of the charitable donation). Immediately after, another return, as WPT Alpha8 For One Drop with a $111,000 buy-in is set to bring out the high rollers promising another big-time payday.
In the end, it’s the WPT and One Drop looking for a win-win. Marquee tournaments that benefit those in need.
“The Big One for One Drop is such an iconic tournament in the world of poker. We are honored to put on this incredible event in conjunction with the One Drop Foundation and Wynn Las Vegas,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “The $1 million buy-in is a testament to the heights this industry can reach and the continuous evolution of the World Poker Tour.