In a media guide released prior to the start of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP), the television schedule for the prestigious tournament series on ESPN was unveiled. A total of four events will be televised.
The action gets underway on Tuesday, July 28th at 8:00pm ET with a two hour review of the $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament. The event is aimed to commemorate the 40th running of the WSOP, which makes its home at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This special tournament is expected to bring out the world’s most popular poker stars, setting the stage for the rest of the television schedule. Last year, the $10,000 World Championship of Pot Limit Hold’em kicked off ESPN’s coverage, with Full Tilt Poker pro Nenad Medic winning his first bracelet.
On August 4th, the following Tuesday, the WSOP Champions Invitational will air on ESPN at 8:00pm ET and run for two hours. Norman Chad and Lon McEachern will once again provide commentary on the spectacle. Poker News Daily Guest Columnist and “Celebrity Apprentice” candidate Annie Duke, who won $2 million for her efforts and bested fellow Ultimate Bet pro Phil Hellmuth heads-up, won the 2004 WSOP Tournament of Champions. Mike Matusow took down the 2005 installment, defeating Hoyt Corkins heads-up, while World Poker Tour Host Mike Sexton outlasted Daniel Negreanu in 2006, the last year the event was run. The 2009 Champions Invitational is a freeroll that is open to all past WSOP Main Event winners. Its victor will receive the Binion Cup along with a new car.
On August 11th from 8:00pm ET to 10:00pm ET, the Ante Up for Africa tournament will hit television airwaves. The $5,000 buy-in contest is held just before the Main Event and helps raise money and awareness for the crisis in Darfur. Ante Up for Africa was founded by Duke, actor Don Cheadle, and Norman Epstein and has raised over $2 million for the cause over the past two years. In 2007, a total of $700,000 was raised from the inaugural WSOP Ante Up for Africa tournament. Brandon Moran and Dan Shak, who finished first and second, respectively, donated their entire winnings to the non-profit. In 2008, John Hennigan and Michael DeGusta (who finished first and second) also donated their cash prizes. Others in the field last year included Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Jerry Cantrell, and Casey Affleck.
Starting on August 18th, the Main Event will air every Tuesday night on ESPN. Each of the four starting days will receive its own two hour block of coverage over four consecutive weeks. Day 2A and Day 2B will air on September 15th and 22nd, respectively. Each of the remaining days of play in the 2009 WSOP Main Event will play out over the course of one week, culminating in the final table, which will air on Tuesday, November 10th. The “November Nine” will once again experience a 100 day delay in the final table playing out. Last year, ESPN television ratings boomed by 50% as a result. There are 31 episodes of WSOP coverage in total. Beginning on October 13th, they will kick off at 9:00pm ET.
In an interesting twist, the final table will play down from nine players to two on Saturday, November 7th. Once two players remain, play will pause for another three days, resuming on Tuesday, November 10th, just before the final table will air on ESPN. The $50,000 HORSE Championship will not be seen this year on ESPN. In 2008, Scotty Nguyen infamously won the prestigious tournament while allegedly under the influence. His verbal abuse of tablemates and floor staff challenged ESPN editors. In the end, Nguyen took home nearly $2 million for the victory and the ceremonial Chip Reese trophy.
