Poker World Series Main Event Final Table Moved to November
Harrah's Entertainment, the owner of the World Series of Poker, announced the Main Event of the series will now take place over months, rather than days as before. The Main Event will begin on July 3rd this year, and play as normal down to the nine gamblers at the final table.
Action will then break until November, at which point play will resume November 10th, with elimination continuing through the day and possibly into the 11th to reach the champion and final player.
The break in schedule is designed to allow ESPN to broadcast the final table as a same-day event, almost covering the intensity and pressure of the last hands live. ESPN has previously broadcast the tournament as a series of programs that concluded months after the action had finished.
The rest of the World Series, including the Main Event, will run as normal from May 30th to July 14th. ESPN will start its airing of two-hour segments July 22nd, and run up to the new final table date.
WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said in a statement, "Now fans and viewers will ask 'who will win' our coveted championship bracelet instead of 'who won.' "
The Main Event is held annually at the Rio All-Star Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Almost 10,000 poker lovers take their shot at the millions awrded the winner each year.
