WSOP Coverage ON ESPN July 28th
July 24, 2009 10:46 amESPN will start airing its WSOP 2009 coverage on Tuesday July 28th. The episodes will be shown every Tuesday at 8pm E.T, up until November 10th when the Main Event’s final table begins and this will enjoy a special 24 hour round the clock spot.
The focus of their episodes have drawn some disappointment, however, as they are slanted toward the high buy-in NL Hold’em events and other games, such as stud and Omaha are not represented. Most surprising for most fans was ESPN’s decision not to cover the $50K H.O.R.S.E, which had a star studded turn out and is often seen as the test of a true champion. This lack of coverage meant that sponsors were unwilling to shell out their usual high prices for their players to enter the H.O.R.S.E. resulting in a smaller field this year.
Instead, the tournaments that will be shown have been reduced to four and are the WSOP 40th Anniversary $40,000 NL Hold’em event, Champions Invitational, Ante up for Africa Charity Event and $10,000 Main Event.
ESPN’s producer, Jamie Horowitz, said their research had shown that what their viewers had been asking for was “More Main Event” . He also added that last year’s introduction of a delay before airing the final table had seen viewing figures rise by over 50%.
ESPN are expecting this years Main Event to draw even more viewers, particularly with the appearance of Phil Ivey at this year’s final table. Not only is he considered one of the best players in the world but this is also the first time since mainstream poker has really taken off, that such a well recognised player has made it this far in the tournament.
Norman Chad, the shows host, has always been a firm believer that Ivey would one day win the WSOP Main Event and believes this year might just be that time. He said of Phil Ivey’s ability as a player: “There’s some mystical, magical quality that actually elevates him above the rest. He has an amazing table presence unequalled in the game.”