© March 1, 2009
Daniel Cox
Editor, Poker Insider
Magazine
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the
largest and most prestigious gaming event in the world. It is also the richest, awarding millions of dollars in prize money and prestigious gold bracelets. These bracelets, especially the Main Event bracelet is
recognized world-wide as poker's top prize. Featuring a
comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is
poker’s oldest continually running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970.
Last year, the event attracted 58,720
entrants from 124 different countries to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in
Las Vegas and awarded over $180 million in prize money. The creation of the new
delayed Main Event final table more than doubled ratings on ESPN year over
year. Harrah’s License Company, LLC., an affiliate of Harrah’s Entertainment,
Inc. (HEI), has owned and operated the WSOP
since 2004. Since buying Binion's Gambling Hall (and reselling it a year later) five years ago, it has fostered an increase in player
participation by more than 300-percent and purses even more.
Harrah's has added a couple of new wrinkles for the 40th Annual World Series of Poker beginning May 27, 2009. This years event will continue through July 14th, with the final table again being held in November. During the four month break, the World Series moves to Europe for several events. The first
twist in this years
Series is the removal of all the re-buy events. Harrah's Seth Palansky, citing the excessive manpower requirements as one reason and taking the deep pockets out of tournament play and replacing it with skill as another. Event 2 should be the most interesting Hold'em Event ever. In honor of the 40th Anniversary of the WSOP, on Thursday,
May 28, 2009, a one-time only $40,000 gold bracelet event is scheduled. This makes Event 2 the richest Hold'em buy-in tournament in poker history.
All told there are 57 gold bracelet events spread over 50 days (not counting a four month break awaiting the November 9). A special event this year occurs on the opening weekend. The being a “stimulus special” $1,000 buy-in No-Limit
Hold’em tournament, which they anticipate to draw the largest-ever live tournament field outside the Main Event, with an estimated prize pool approaching $5,000,000. Though most events are $1,500, there are ten “World Championship” $10,000 buy-in events (“World Championship” refers to tournaments with a buy-in of $10,000 in each of the various disciplines of poker). The return of the “November Nine” where the nine finalists of the Main Event (July
3-15) return to the Rio on November 7-10, 2009 to vie for the multi-million dollar prize and the title of 2009 World Champion of Poker in front of a live audience with special primetime coverage on ESPN.
HEI will award the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy, as well as an enhanced gold bracelet, to the winner of the third annual $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. tournament. The Ladies Only No-Limit Hold’em World Championship on Sunday, June 7, 2009, features a $1,000 buy-in and helping to raise awareness for the Nevada Cancer Institute. The $1,000 buy-in Seniors Only No-Limit Hold’em World Championship is set for Monday,
June 22, 2009
and is open to all poker enthusiasts 50 years of age or older.
Whether you play poker around the kitchen table or are a seasoned professional, there is tournament for every level of play and every pocket book. Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker stated, "This year's
schedule offers more variety than ever before and we look forward to
welcoming players from around the world to the Rio for our 40th annual
extravaganza this summer." Even if you don't want to fork over $1,000 to $10,000 you can play in one of the near continuous single-table Sit 'n Goes or mega-satellites. These less expensive tournaments begin May 26th and continue through July 5th and allow players to step-up to their buy-in or the bracelet events. They are also offering nightly No-Limit Hold’em tournaments offered
from opening night until July 14th at
7:00 PM and 11:00 PM.
ESPN will continue to air many of this year's most exciting bracelet events, as well as extensive coverage of the Main Event and the popularly named November Nine. To pre-register for at the 40th Annual World Series of Poker, CLICK HERE.
