As one of the biggest Circuit stops of the year hits high gear with the Main Event just days away in Austin, Texas, a more intimate WSOP Circuit series is about to get underway in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The annual series at Horseshoe Council Bluffs draws a strong field of locals from the Midwest, along with a healthy dose of travelling tournament pros, seeking a ring at one of the best stops to do so.
Situated just across the Missouri River from neighboring Omaha, Nebraska, Council Bluffs remains a Circuit staple with 18 of the best chances to claim Circuit glory and one of the $5,000 WSOP Paradise packages.
Ari Engel became only the second member of the WSOPC 20-ring club last year at Council Bluffs.Intimate venue, big names!
Last time out, Council Bluffs saw some of the biggest names on the Circuit add to their ring collection, headlined by Ari Engel winning his 20th, in the $1,100 No-Limit Hold ‘em event just hours after he’d arrived in town.
Other notables adding to their trophy cases included Kasey Mills, who won the $400 PLO 8 or Better event, PokerOrg’s own Liam Gannon, who won his first ring in the $400 Mini Main Event. Steven Gnatovich, who multi-tabled his way to the $400 PLO title, Jared Ward who took down the $400 Black Chip Bounty event and Andre Allen, who claimed a pair of rings.
Andre Allen won the Monster Stack and Double Stack events last year at Council Bluffs.You can check out some of the great stories that came out of last year’s series in our Instant Live archives.
Going big out of the gates
The series kicks off with two of the biggest events across the 12-day schedule: the $400 Monster Stack, from Wednesday, September 16 to Friday, September 18, and the $400 Mini Main Event, from the 17th to the 20th.
The Monster Stack will have three starting flights, while the Mini Main offers four. Unlimited re-entry is available for both events.
A wide variety of tournaments follow, including the popular $400 40/40/40, $400 Pot-Limit Omaha, $400 Big O, and a $400 Seniors event.
WSOPC Council Bluffs schedule highlights:
- Event #1: $400 Monster Stack - September 16-18
- Event #2: $400 Mini Main Event - September 17-20
- Event #4: $400 40/40/40 - September 20-21
- Event #6: $400 Seniors - September 21
- Event #12: $1,100 NLH - September 24
- Event #14: $1,700 Main Event - September 25-28
Then it’s time for the Main Event
After 13 rings have been awarded, Event #14 is the true headliner, the $1,700 Main Event. Two starting flights will be available on Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, with two re-entries available in each flight.
Day 2 will see the Day 1 survivors regroup on Sunday, September 27, before a scheduled final day on Monday, September 28.
Last time out, it was Ryan Brown besting the 265-entry field to claim $85,239 and his first ring in what turned out to be a rare two-day Main Event.
Brown capped off a 13-hour Day 2 by defeating Christopher Rodriguez heads-up for the title after outlasting other notables, including aforementioned series ring winners, Kasey Mills and Jared Ward.
2025 WSOPC Council Bluffs champion Ryan Brown.WSOPC Council Bluffs Main Event schedule:
- Friday, September 25 (11 am) – Day 1A
- Saturday, September 26 (11 am) – Day 1B
- Sunday, September 27 (noon) – Day 2
- Monday, September 28 (noon) – Day 3
Time to bluff at Council Bluffs!
The series gets underway on Wednesday, and PokerOrg will be there for the Main Event to bring you all the action from the floor of the latest WSOP Circuit extravaganza. Join us on our Instant Live feed for complete live reporting coverage as another WSOP Circuit Main Event champion is crowned in the Great Plains.
Horseshoe Council Bluffs is ready for another edition of the WSOP Circuit.Full series schedule and tournament details are available on WSOP.com and the WSOP Live app
