WSOP 2008: change for change's sake?

When organisers Harrahs recently announced radical plans to change the format of the WSOP main event many questioned their decision. Here Guidetopoker looks at the reasons behind the change and the potential winners in the new set-up.

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Harrahs announced at the beginning of May that when the 10th placed player is knocked out on July 14, the final nine will not return the next day and play the final table, as they have in the past. The nine will go home and return to play the final table on November 9, with the heads-up match set for November 11.

Reasons for change

Poker television audiences have dropped recently, with the massive hype that is sure to happen in the weeks leading up to the final table it will give the WSOP a huge publicity shot-in-the-arm. It will also lend the event as a massive boost that could make it once again THE tournament to win.

Prize money

On July 14, when the final nine are decided, they will immediately be paid the minimum prize that they could win, the rest of the money will be put into a bank account and any interest that is gained from it will be added back into the prize pool. This could be another $300K or so in potential winnings for those who have made the final table.

Potential problems

Some players have voiced concern over worst-case scenarios. They generally fall into the categories of foul play (collusion, death threats) or the possibility of missing the final table, due to incarceration, illness, or death.

The rules have always covered the last three scenarios, and they remain the same this year. "A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play and no refund will be provided to that disqualified player. Any player who forfeits play for health or other personal reasons after the start of a tournament will have his or her chips blinded off accordingly."

Sponsorship

The potential here is huge and for the lucky November nine, poker rooms across the land will be vying to sponsor them, making the rewards for reaching the final table even greater.

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