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WSOP Circuit: Grand Victoria Casino

Mrinal Gujare

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Last updated: 10 Apr 2025

Mrinal Gujare 10 Apr 2025

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The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) was back to Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois for yet another intense series. WSOP Grand Victoria offered 18 ring events.

The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) returned to Illinois this spring, with Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin scheduled to host a full festival from April 3 to April 14, 2025.

The stop is packed with 18 WSOP Circuit gold ring events, supported by daily satellites and side events throughout the 12-day series.

Located on the Fox River just outside Chicago, Grand Victoria Casino continues to serve as a regular destination on the WSOPC calendar.

The live poker series carries a total of $2,010,000 in guaranteed prize money spread across the ring events.

WSOP Grand Victoria

The tournament schedule includes events with guarantees ranging from $25,000 up to $750,000. Each ring event on the schedule comes with a listed guarantee, with the series culminating in a $1,700 buy-in Main Event offering a $750,000 prize pool guarantee.

The majority of events fall within the lower buy-in range, providing opportunities for players across different bankroll levels. Key events scheduled during the stop include the $600 Mini Main Event, $400 Monster Stack, $400 Seniors Event, and $400 Ladies Event.

For players interested in non-Hold’em formats, the schedule includes a $600 Pot Limit Omaha event and a $400 Big O event.

Additional tournament formats on the schedule include double stack structures, turbo events, and short-handed formats.

Image Credit: Poker.Org

Main Event Preview

The $1,700 Main Event stands out as the primary event on the Grand Victoria schedule. With a $750,000 guarantee, it is expected to draw significant turnout across multiple starting flights.

The Main Event will take place during the final days of the festival, with the winner earning both a WSOPC ring and an entry into the 2025 Tournament of Champions.

This structure follows the WSOPC model of offering competitive prize pools at accessible buy-in levels. The Main Event will also serve as the primary point earner for players competing in the WSOPC leaderboard standings.

Recap of the Previous WSOP Circuit Grand Victoria

Grand Victoria Casino last hosted the WSOP Circuit in November 2024. That series featured a Main Event with 757 entries, generating a prize pool of $1,146,855. The event concluded with Jeremy Lenz claiming the title after defeating Cero Zuccarello heads-up.

Lenz’s win came just one day after his 39th birthday, and he earned $194,977 for first place. Zuccarello secured the runner-up payout of $120,506.

The final table also included veteran player Roland Israelashvili, who finished in third place for $66,514. That result added to Israelashvili’s record-setting combined WSOP and WSOPC cashes, which currently total over 500.

The previous Grand Victoria series attracted steady participation and included notable performances from both regional players and established names on the WSOP Circuit.

WSOP Circuit Schedule Following Grand Victoria

Following the conclusion of the WSOP Circuit at Grand Victoria Casino, the next scheduled stop will be at Horseshoe Tunica, beginning April 17, 2025. That series will then be followed by WSOPC Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina, starting May 1.

Later in the season, additional stops will include WSOP Circuit events at Commerce Casino in California and Caesars Southern Indiana. These series continue to serve as qualifiers for the 2025/2026 WSOPC season leaderboard and the invitation-only Tournament of Champions.

After the Caesars Southern Indiana stop, the circuit will enter a short break before resuming its next run of scheduled festivals.

Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois

Grand Victoria Casino, located at 250 South Grove Avenue in Elgin, Illinois, is a riverboat casino situated along the Fox River, approximately 40 miles northwest of Chicago.

The casino opened its doors on October 6, 1994, and has since become a notable gaming and entertainment destination in the region.

Gaming and Amenities at Grand Victoria Casino

The casino features a 29,850-square-foot gaming area that includes approximately 1,100 slot machines and 36 table games.

In October 2022, Grand Victoria Casino expanded its offerings by opening a 4,400-square-foot World Series of Poker (WSOP) Poker Room, which hosts weekly tournaments and various poker games.

Dining options at the casino include Buckinghams Steakhouse, Buckinghams Bistro, and The Slice Pizzeria & Pasta, providing a range of culinary experiences for visitors.

WSOP Circuit at Grand Victoria Casino

The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) hosted at Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois, remains to be a highly-anticipated event among the poker community. The casino's proximity to Chicago and its comprehensive amenities make it a favourable venue for poker players.