Will WSOP HORSE Return to TV? Plus More on Schedule Changes

The limited number and variety (all no-limit hold 'em) of televised events at this year's WSOP has come in for a lot of criticism, especially the absence the $50,000 HORSE tournament from TV. ESPN's Doug White says "We heard that loud and clear. I'm not ruling out that HORSE won't be back for 2010." WSOP Communications Director Seth Palansky says "Unless it goes back to no-limit hold’em (for the final table), the event will exist, but the television component probably will not." White doesn't agree, however, saying "It’s not so much what the H.O.R.S.E. event has to do as it is what else might be out there that we think would be compelling."

I'm not optimistic that we'll get much variety next year. WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack says "ESPN knows how to program its channel better than anyone else. They know what poker fans are interested in watching. Historically the Main Event always does the best by far." The Champions Invitational and $40,000 no-limit hold 'em events won't be back next year, despite the good turnout for the latter. Some feared that the $40,000 tournament would erode the Main Event's position as poker's unofficial championship. What will there be next year? More $1000 events. The Stimulus Special this year sold out, and about six $1000 tournaments are expected on the 2010 schedule. When asked about the prestige of bracelets, Steve Zolotow said: "I’m trying to think of a delicate way to say this … They talk about (things like): 'We don’t want to have a turbo event because it would demean the prestige of a bracelet.' To me, bracelets are nice, but they’re giving away more than 50 a year. They’re pretty much demeaned at this point. You can win a $1,000 crapshoot and get a bracelet." I commented on the declining value of bracelets and the potential erosion of the Main Event's prestige in my 2009 WSOP TV Schedule Analysis.

The 2010 WSOP schedule will be released later this year.

Sources:

• WSOP Ratings Slightly Up as ESPN Begins Day 2 Coverage, CardPlayer.com
• WSOP heads into Europe stronger than ever, PokerListings.com
• $40K Hold'em Event Unlikely to Return to 2010 WSOP, CardPlayer.com

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