On Tuesday night at 8:00pm ET, ESPN kicked off its coverage of the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP), which just wrapped up its midyear action from the Rio in Las Vegas. One of the many features in the preview special was a roundtable discussion with former Main Event champs Chris Moneymaker, Chris Ferguson, Scotty Nguyen, and Dan Harrington. Moneymaker urged, “If I can do it, anybody can do it.”
Ferguson told the story about how Moneymaker parlayed a $40 satellite into the most prestigious title in poker. Then, Harrington conveyed to ESPN poker analyst Lon McEachern what he missed most about the “good old days” of the game: “The camaraderie. You knew most of the players in the tournament. It was a social gathering.” Ferguson retorted, “You can be nostalgic about the old days, but I don’t miss it at all.”
Ferguson was asked what he thought the greatest WSOP feat was. The 2000 Main Event champion answered that Johnny Chan’s wins in the 1987 and 1988 installments before falling heads-up to Phil Hellmuth in 1989 took the cake: “It’s safe to say that’ll never happen again.”
Many have dubbed 2010 the Year of the Woman, with Annie Duke, Liv Boeree, and Vanessa Selbst all winning major titles. On whether a woman taking down this year’s Main Event would ignite another poker boom, Ferguson forecasted, “I think it would make an enormous impact if a woman won the Main Event. More and more women are getting into poker already.” While Ferguson spoke, b-roll of Nichoel Peppe, Maria Ho, and Tiffany Michelle appeared on screen.
ESPN host Norman Chad doled out the annual Flushy Awards. WSOP Tournament of Champions qualifier Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier received honors for his “unique head of hair and Bedazzled attire.” Also receiving a Flushy was Prahlad Friedman for his rap war with Jeff Madsen. Ninety-six year old Jack Ury claimed a Flushy for “Best Reaction” after scooping a pot during last year’s Main Event.
Victory Poker pro Antonio Esfandiari claimed a Flushy for “Best Begging” after telling a dealer that he’d wash his car if clubs hit the board. Chad awarded himself a Flushy for “Best Fan” for his unyielding support of 2009 WSOP Main Event November Niner Phil Ivey and a “Lifetime Achievement Award” went to Hellmuth, who commented, “No Poker Brat this year… in theory.”
A special ESPN “Inside Deal” segment aired with host Bernard Lee profiling several changes for the 2010 WSOP Main Event, including expanded tournament space, new bracelets designed by Steve Soffa, and new events like the $50,000 Player’s Championship, $25,000 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max, and the rekindled Tournament of Champions. The $50,000 contest will take center stage next Tuesday on ESPN.
Also featured during Tuesday’s kickoff broadcast were reigning Main Event titleholder Joe Cada, DoylesRoom’s Doyle Brunson, Tom “durrrr” Dwan, Scott Seiver, and Isaac Haxton. Chad rounded out the broadcast by explaining what he’s eyeing the most when coverage of the 2010 WSOP Main Event begins next Tuesday on ESPN: “I always look forward to the unknown, the unexpected, the unbelievable.”
In case you missed it, the WSOP Preview will replay from 1:00am to 2:00am ET early Sunday morning on ESPN2. As first reported by Poker News Daily, here is ESPN’s Tuesday air schedule for the 2010 WSOP. All times are Eastern:
July 27th at 8:00pm: $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship
July 27th at 9:00pm: $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship Final
August 3rd at 8:00pm: Tournament of Champions
August 3rd at 9:00pm: Tournament of Champions
August 10th at 8:00pm: Main Event Day 1A
August 10th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 1A
August 17th at 8:00pm: Main Event Day 1B
August 17th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 1B
August 24th at 8:00pm: Main Event Day 1C
August 24th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 1C
August 31st at 8:00pm: Main Event Day 1D
August 31st at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 1D
September 7th at 8:00pm: Main Event Day 2A
September 7th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 2A
September 14th at 8:00pm: Main Event Day 2B
September 14th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 2B
September 21st at 8:00pm: Main Event Day 3
September 21st at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 3
September 28th at 8:00pm: Main Event Day 4
September 28th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 4
October 5th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 5
October 5th at 10:00pm: Main Event Day 5
October 12th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 6
October 12th at 10:00pm: Main Event Day 6
October 19th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 7
October 19th at 10:00pm: Main Event Day 7
October 26th at 9:00pm: Main Event Day 8
October 26th at 10:00pm: Main Event Day 8
November 2nd at 9:00pm: Main Event Final 27
November 2nd at 10:00pm: Main Event Final 18
November 9th at 9:00pm: Main Event Final Table
