WSOP Coverage to Begin Tuesday on ESPN
21st July, 2008
The World Series of Poker is over for now, after 54 events have concluded, with only one more tournament result left, the Main Event. All that’s left now is to watch the hours of footage to be aired repeatedly on ESPN and wait patiently to find out who finally wins, but will we really care by then?
Either way, ESPN’s television coverage of the entire WSOP begins Tuesday, which means it is once again that time of year to find out what terrible jokes Norman Chad has managed to come up with in the year he’s had to prepare.
This year will be a bit different, however, because WSOP Main Event officials have changed the schedule of the tournament, delaying the final table until November, to build up anticipation for it.
“We’re shifting the paradigm,” said Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP commissioner. “Instead of fans and TV viewers talking about who won, they’re now going to anticipate about who will win. It’s really no different than the buildup before the Super Bowl, the NBA finals, the World Series or the ‘American Idol’ finale. We’re calling it “poker’s biggest night.” We think sports fans and poker fans will look forward to leaning the outcome of the World Series of Poker and will be excited for the event we’re making of it.”
The Main Event final table will be played on 9 November and will play down to heads-up action. The remaining players will reconvene on 10 November to finish up play. Finally, the final-table coverage will be aired on ESPN on 11 November.
Therefore, as long as you don’t read the papers 9-11 November, you’ll have the opportunity of watching the final table without already knowing who the winner will be.
This year’s WSOP will be aired on ESPN in the following schedule:
July 22: 5-7 p.m. $10,000 pot-limit hold’em world championship
July 29: 5-7 p.m. $1,500 no-limit hold’em
Aug. 5: 5-7 p.m. $1,500 pot-limit hold’em/$5,000 mixed hold’em
Aug. 12: 5-7 p.m. $1,000 no-limit hold’em with rebuys
Aug. 19: 5-7 p.m. $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. world championship
Aug. 26: 5-7 p.m. $10,000 pot-limit Omaha world championship
Sept. 2: 5-7 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Sept. 9: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Sept. 16: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Sept. 23: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Sept. 30: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Oct. 7: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Oct. 14: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Oct. 21: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Oct. 28: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event
Nov. 4: 5-7 p.m. Main event final-table preview show
Nov. 11: 6-8 p.m. $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event final table
By Michael
