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WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack Discusses the 2009 World Series of Poker

On April, 29th, 2009, event organizers for the 40th- Annual world series of poker answered queries from reporters at the yearly media conference call. With less than a month remaining before the first WSOP event, the focus of the conference centered on TV coverage, new poker event and new player conduct rules in the event.

World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP Tournament Director Jack Eiffel and ESPN Senior Director of Programming and Acquisitions Doug White all gave introductory statement before entertaining questions from the media. Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack immediately hype the WSOP event, saying that the 2009 WSOP will be the best ever. Pollack cited that the fifty-seven bracelet events, featuring the brand new $40,000 no-limit holdem event and the first-ever Champions Invitation, a tournament that will invite main-event champions to play for the new Binion Cup and car.

Effel spoke about the World Series of Poker's starting chip stacks and structure and some of the new events in the WSOP this year, calling it "the most complete schedule of events" in WSOP history. Effel also highlighted the $1,000 no-limit holdem event in the opening weekend of the WSOP, saying that they are expecting around five thousand to six thousand poker players to participate for the event. White announced that ESPN will be covering 4 events from the 2009 WSOP, all of which will be no-limit holdem poker events.

ESPN will show twenty-four hours of the WSOP Main Event this year, an increase from the 2008 WSOP. Aside from the main event, ESPN will show the $40,000 buy-in cost event and two non-bracelet events-the World Series of Poker Invitational and the Ante Up for Africa charity event, which will showcase a lot of big-name poker players and Hollywood celebrities.

ESPN will not be showing the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E even this year, seen by a lot of people as one of the most prestigious poker events in the world. Jeffrey Pollack supported ESPN's decision, saying that they have learned that poker games other than no-limit holdem poker do not attract a significant television audience.

05/04/2009, Monday
Todd Sanders

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