The
final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main
Event will
be delayed until Nov. 9-10.
ESPN will
edit the two-days of final table action and televise it in a
two-hour program from on Nov. 11, just hours after the
winner is crowned. The format is similar to coverage of the
Olympic Games where, due to time zone differences, events are
shown with same day coverage.
Under the new
format the final nine players will play on Nov. 9 until
only two players remain. Once the action is heads-up play will
be stopped until the following day when they will return to
the Rio to play to a winner.
“Our intent
is to provide an even bigger stage for our players,” said
Jeffrey Pollack,
Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. “Now fans and
viewers will ask ‘who will win’ our coveted championship
bracelet instead of ‘who won.’ The excitement and interest
surrounding our final nine players will be unprecedented.”
The change in
format has been rumored for months now and some of the game’s
biggest names are backing the concept. In fact, the WSOP
Players Advisory Council was heavily involved in the
decision-making process.
“This is a
huge step forward for poker and more specifically poker on
television because it will help create more buzz around the
final table and that is good for all of us,” said Daniel
Negreanu, who sits on the PAC. “Not only will this innovative
step create more buzz for the final table, the added time
prior to the final table will help get poker mainstream media
attention.”
ESPN will
begin its coverage of the 2008 World Series of Poker on
Tuesday, July 22. Viewers will see two hours of original poker
programming every Tuesday through Nov. 11 (except Nov.
4 when a special preview of the Final Table will be aired at
10 p.m.). Telecasts will be aired at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. July
22 through Sept. 30 and at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. from Oct.
7 through Nov. 11.
Players who
make the final table will all be paid 9th place money in July.
Airfare and accommodations for two will be provided to the
players to return to Las Vegas for the final table play.
