Dec
31
by Chad Holloway
The 2010 WSOP will see several changes from last year.
Can you believe that final table of the Doyle Brunson World Poker Classic? It was the last World Poker Tour event of 2009 and it definitely ended the year on a high note. The final table was a laundry list of poker pros including Shawn Buchanan, Scotty Nguyen, Josh Arieh and eventual winner, Daniel Alaei. You may best remember Alaei for his performances on High Stakes Poker on GSN, but he is quite an accomplished tournament pro as well, adding a WPT title to his two WSOP titles. Congratulations to Daniel Alaei.
In other news, I see the WSOP released it schedule for the 2010 series as well as a number of changes. This year there will be 57 bracelet events running from May 27-July 17, 2010. Here are some of my thoughts on the upcoming series and newly implemented changes:
Expanded capacity- I was at the WSOP last year and was amazed by the sheer size of everything. Poker tables as far as the eye could see; however, as it turned out it still wasn’t enough. After the Day 1D Main Event debacle, where players were shut-out for the first time ever, the staff has decided to add more tables (about 20% more) and utilize their biggest space, the Pavilion Ballroom (58,000 sq ft). I thought the Amazon Room was tremendous so I can’t wait to see the Pavilion. Needless to say, this year’s event is going to be huge.
No Food Tent- Instead, the staff is using the Miranda Room to develop a food court. This is a great idea. The food tent last year was nothing special, over-priced and way too warm for comfort. Hopefully, they will add to their selection. Definitely a positive change here with a lot of potential.
$50k H.O.R.S.E. Format Change- The decision has been made to transform the format from H.O.R.S.E. to an 8-game mix. The Chip Reese Trophy is still up for grabs and I think this is another good change. Unlike last year, this event will be broadcast on ESPN, brining the prestige back into the mix. Furthermore, most of the top pros have been enjoying the 8-game mix online and in big cash games, making it the best test of poker skill for all-around players.
Deep Starting Stacks- Last year the players really seemed to enjoy getting 3x the buy-in starting stacks with slower blind structures. This allowed players to get more play for their buck, and I’m glad the WSOP staff kept it.
More $1,000 Buy-in Events- I was there for the $1,000 “Stimulus Special” last year and it was amazing. Literally too many people too count, with multiple eliminations occurring every minute. It was obviously popular and realistic for the average poker player in today’s economy. It was a fantastic idea to expand on a successful tournament and provide the players with an affordable shot at a bracelet.
$25k 6-Handed No Limit- This is a brand new addition to the tournament schedule. With such a large buy-in, the event will likely attract the biggest names in poker. This should be a field stacked with pros, which always makes for intense competition and entertainment.
I always get excited when the new WSOP schedule is announced. It’s a great opportunity to check out the changes and begin planning what events are worth playing. This year was no different and I don’t know if I’ve ever been this excited for a WSOP. If the new changes are any indication, this may just be the best WSOP yet.