The World Series of Poker officially got under way today in Las Vegas with Event No.
1, . But the action will really heat up Thursday at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino for Event No. 2, a $40,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event that should feature most poker’s biggest names. The buy-in reflects the 40th anniversary of the WSOP. (I can’t wait for the $46,000 buy-in event in 2015.) In total, there are 57 bracelet events this year, with the $40,000 no-limit event among the highlights. Also back is the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, now regularly considered the truest test of poker’s best. And if those events are too pricey, a $1,000 buy-in “stimulus special” is on the schedule for the opening weekend. (.) Among the changes is the elimination of rebuy events and the the increase of starting chip stacks for all events. For the main event, players will begin with 30,000 in chips, up from 20,000 in 2008. Starting chips now are tripled in relation to buy-ins. Some blind levels also have been added. There will be another final-table delay for the main event, as the November Nine proved a ratings success for ESPN in 2008. The final day of main event play will be July 15 and the remaining players will reconvene in Las Vegas on Nov. 7-10. ESPN’s TV coverage will begin July 28 with two hours of coverage from the $40,000 buy-in event. It also will air two hours from the WSOP Champions Invitiational — an invite-only to past main event champions — on Aug. 4 and then two hours of the Ante Up for Africa charity event on Aug. 11.
Their main event coverage begins Aug. 18.