Final table delayed for WSOP* ME

Author: Simon Dexter

In a radical move, the World Series of Poker* has confirmed that the final table of the 2008 Main Event will take place some four months after the rest of the tournament, which kicks off on July 3 in Las Vegas.

The 39th running of the annual event will begin as normal with the field being whittled down to the last nine by July 14, but then those players will not actually compete for the title, bracelet and multi-million dollar first prize until November 9, with the winner expected to be determined in the early hours of November 11.

Organisers also confirmed that the tournament’s TV partner, ESPN, plan to televise the final table’s action on the very same day that the winner is crowned - unlike in previous years when the winner was confirmed immediately after a two-week long battle in July at the Rio hotel and casino in Las Vegas, but television pictures were not shown until the autumn.

The changes are designed to increase the suspense and exposure of the world’s best known and richest poker event and tournament commissioner Jeffery Pollack said: “I think the goal is to create a greater sense of anticipation for the outcome of our final table.

“We want people, as many people as possible around the world, talking about who’s going to win.

“Instead of being just one star who emerges from our main event, there will be nine stars.”

This change of game-plan is bound to have its critics and supporters alike but poker star Daniel Negreanu, who serves on a 15-member advisory council for the WSOP*, is firmly behind the idea.

“You’re going to see some really kind of more sophisticated play,” he said. “They’re going to watch the ESPN broadcasts and go, ‘Oh, did you notice that? When he does this, he’s bluffing.’

“Great players and amateurs alike will have an opportunity to really devise schemes and plans for how they’re going to play.”

Greg Raymer, the 2004 WSOP* main event champion, appears a little unsure over the move as fears players might be able to completely alter their style of play.

“It might be huge for the continued growth of poker; however, the down side is this long gap allows the players to become completely different people between the time they make the final table and when they play it,” he said.

Whichever way you stand on this, it will certainly build up the hype and publicity for both the tournament and players - who may be able to land lucrative sponsorship deals on the back of their success in reaching the last nine - but if you do enter, you may need to think about two trips to Sin City.

If you love the World Series of Poker, you’re sure to love the great poker community here at Littlewoods Poker. With table and tournaments to suit all playing styles and levels, you’ll feel right at home, so login and start playing the best online poker around!

*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah’s License Company, LLC (”Harrah’s”). Harrah’s does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with Littlewoods Gaming or it’s products, services, promotions or tournaments.

Tags: poker table, World Series of Poker, WSOP

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 10:13 am and is filed under News & Promotions Blog, Poker News.