Poker Mom

Yes, you heard that right.  The 2008 WSOP Main Event final table will be held on November 9 - 10, 2008.  The $10,000 buy-in Main Event will begin on July 3, 2008 at the Rio and will continue until July 14, 2008 at which point play will stop once there are nine contestants left.  In past years, these contestants would then come back the following day and play until there was a winner.  All of that changes this year.  Players will go home and then come back nearly four months later, on November 9, to play the final table and complete the Main Event.

In a WSOP Press Release, Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker says of the change, “Our intent is to provide an even bigger stage for our players.  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.”

There is a lot of buzz about this change, both good and bad.  “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, a WSOP PAC member, three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner and one of today’s most successful and popular poker professionals.  “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.  I’m very excited about this decision and can’t wait to see it all unfold, hopefully from a seat at the final table!”

I’m undecided as to whether I like the idea.  From the standpoint of not having to keep in the dark about who won until it shows up on ESPN I like it.  However, for someone who is not patient, a wait of four months to find out the winner is a bit long.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter, add your comments below.

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