World Series of Poker to delay final table
'To create a greater sense of anticipation' final nine will play in November
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LAS VEGAS - The final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker will be played in November, four months after the nine players in the no-limit Texas Hold ’em game win their spots.
Organizers also said Thursday that they plan to televise final table play the same day the winner is crowned. The changes are intended to heighten suspense and promotional hype of the world’s best known and richest poker tournament.
In past years, the final table was played at the end of a two-week, $10,000 buy-in main event held in July at the Rio hotel-casino in Las Vegas.
The winner was reported immediately, but the tournament’s TV partner, ESPN, did not air the final table until the fall.
The 39th annual World Series of Poker main event is scheduled to begin July 3, with the field whittled down to the final nine players on July 14.
The final table will begin Nov. 9 and likely award the championship bracelet in the early morning hours of Nov. 11. ESPN will air the final table competition on Nov. 11.
“I think the goal is to create a greater sense of anticipation for the outcome of our final table. We want people, as many people as possible around the world, talking about who’s going to win,” said Jeffery Pollack, the tournament commissioner.
Organizers said they expect the nine final players to use the four-month break to secure sponsorships, study their opponents and capitalize on the publicity.
“Instead of being just one star who emerges from our main event, there will be nine stars,” Pollack said.
ESPN will air World Series of Poker programming Tuesdays from July 22 through Nov. 11, including a preview of the final game on Nov. 4.
California psychologist Jerry Yang won the 2007 World Series of Poker main event, taking home a $8.25 million payday after topping a field of 6,358 players. Besides the main event, last year’s poker tournament featured 54 other events, including a $50,000 buy-in HORSE event.
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