2008 WSOP Main Event Delay Final Table Until November
May 1st, 2008
The World Series of Poker which begins on May 30th through until July at the Rio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, will now have to wait until November to crown its champion following reports that the WSOP have decided to move the final table back to allow television coverage to be shown.
According to USA Today, this year’s WSOP main event will see the final 9 players returning to the tables a full 117 days after making it through to the final table. The start date for the final table is November 9th with a champion expected to be crowned two days later, and a two hour taped and edited television programme to be shown that night on ESPN.
Previously the tournament finished in July with a tape delayed television offering shown in November, however the 15-member player advisory council have agreed to the change in order to create a bigger hype for the final.
Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP commissioner said: "This is no different than the final chapter of American Idol or The Apprentice. It’s about building interest and excitement for the final chapter of this story."
Responses from poker professionals appear to be mixed with many unconcerned by the change. However some have commented on the long break between reaching the final table and playing the final itself, allowing players the chance to change habits and devise new strategies which previously they would not have been able to do.
The World Series of Poker is the largest set of poker tournaments in the world with 55 events included this year. Winners of each event are awarded a WSOP bracelet along with prize money. 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.
This year the winner will have to wait until November to collect their prize though.
Comments to this post
