2008 World Series of Poker Kicks Off Today
May 30th, 2008
Following last year’s success, the 2008 World Series of Poker is set to be bigger and more popular than ever this year as the famous series of events kicks off later today in Las Vegas. It remains the world’s richest and most prestigious gaming tournament.
The 39th annual event runs from May 30th until July 14th and encompasses 47 days of high stakes poker at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
In all, the 2008 WSOP will feature 55 bracelet events, including an all-time high of eight $10,000 World Championships and eight $5,000 championships. Tournament organizers also have included eight $1,500 championships in the schedule to create a diverse mix of bracelet events.
For the first time, the $10,000 World Championship Main Event will see the final table delayed until November to be shown on live primetime television. Last year’s main event saw 6,358 entrants creating a prize pool of just under $60 million, with Jerry Yang winning the title and a massive $8.25 million first place prize.
Last year’s WSOP event broke a number of records including; total entrants in all events of 54,288, and largest ever total prize pool of $159,796,918.
WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said: "If you’ve dreamed of becoming a WSOP champion, this is the year to enter. With 55 opportunities to win a bracelet, more $1,500 and $10,000 events than ever before, and same day television coverage of our Main Event Final Table, the WSOP stage has never been brighter."
The 2008 WSOP kicks off on Friday 30th May with a 3-day $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Hold’em event.
Other tournaments to look out for:
June 4th - $10,000 World Championship Mixed Event
June 6th - $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout
June 7th - $10,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud
June 9th - $5,000 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball w/ReBuys (Event 18)
June 11th - $5,000 No Limit Hold’em (Event 21)
June 13th - $10,000 World Championship Heads Up No Limit Hold’em (Event 25)
June 14th - $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha W/Rebuys (Event 28)
June 15th - $10,000 World Championship Limit Hold’em (Event 30)
June 17th - $5,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split 8 or Better (Event 33)
June 19th - $10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split 8 or Better (Event 37)
June 25th - $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E (Event 45)
June 26th - $5,000 No Limit Hold’em/Six Handed (Event 46)
June 29th - $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha (Event 50)
July 2nd - $5,000 Ante Up For Africa
July 3rd - $10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas Hold’em (Event 54) - Main Event
