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#651 – The World Series of Poker is Back!
I’m keeping November 7-10 open on my schedule … and June 22
Harrah’s announced the schedule today for the 40th running of the World Series of Poker. The Series will begin on May 27; there will be 57 events (two more than 2008); the Main Event will begin on July 3; the final table will be set on July 15; and the final table will play out on November 7-10.
According to the press release I received today, here are the highlights of the schedule:
*57 gold bracelet events over 50 days.
*A “stimulus special” $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament on the opening weekend, May 30-31, 2009, which is anticipated to draw the largest-ever live tournament field outside the Main Event and offer a prize pool approaching $5,000,000.
*10 “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 third annual $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. tournament, with an enhanced gold bracelet and the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy awarded to the winner. [I believe this is actually the fourth annual for the HORSE.]
*A one-time commemorative gold bracelet event, a $40,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament to help mark the 40th annual WSOP on Thursday, May 28, 2009.
*Seven open $1500 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournaments, the most popular events in poker.
*The 3rd annual Ante Up For Africa $5,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em celebrity and charity tournament on Thursday, July 2, 2009, (the day before the Main Event begins) featuring the opportunity for anyone age 21 or older to enter and be seated at the same table as A-list celebrities and top poker pros.
*The Ladies Only No-Limit Hold’em World Championship on Sunday, June 7, 2009, featuring a $1,000 buy-in and helping to raise awareness for the Nevada Cancer Institute, the official community relations partner of the World Series of Poker.
*The Seniors Only No-Limit Hold’em World Championship on Monday, June 22, 2009 for all poker enthusiasts 50 years of age or older.
*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.
Here are a few highlights not listed in the official highlights:
(1) Rebuy events are gone from the WSOP, and good riddance.
(2) I’ll be making my Seniors Only debut on June 22, so steer clear of me that day. I’m apt to be cranky.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I do not agree with the WSOP removing the rebuy events. I hope that one of the other large Casinos schedules a few rebuy NLHE events. This is rediculous, especially the whole arguement that a “pro can buy a bracelet” what do you call the 50k H.O.R.S.E or this 40k NLHE tournament.
great blog as always MC, best of luck in the seniors event.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Event #52, Triple Chance NLHE is like a rebuy. You get to reload two more times. It is nicer than a rebuy in which there is a limited number of reloads instead of your typical rebuys which favors the players with the higher bankroll. It is more fair in that everyone has the same number of reloads.
January 30th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
If you dont have the proper bankroll for a rebuy dont play in it. That simple people play overly aggressive in a rebuy as well, so even if you have a tighter bankroll it is easy to exploit them.
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I am waiting for a Mens only event.
Or maybe an under 50 event, they could call it the Young guns event.
February 18th, 2009 at 3:54 am
It is very happy that world series of poker is back again. For the next time I would like to participate in the game if possible. Prices seem to be a little on the high side.