John G. Brokopp
Watching poker on TV will never be more compelling than 8 p.m. next Tuesday on ESPN.
That's when the nine finalists from this year's World Series of Poker will play for $32.3 million in prize money at the Final Table of the $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold'em Main Event.
Instead of seeing the action months after it took place, you'll be watching literally hours after the fact.
"We wanted to shift the paradigm from 'who won' to who will win'," explained World Series of Poker commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.
Historically poker has been consumed on a strictly tape delay basis.
"So, this year, we decided we would stop play in July when we hit the final nine, take a pause of a few months, and bring people back so that the final episode still airs when it would have aired otherwise. But now, for the first time ever, viewers will see who wins our coveted bracelet the same day it is being handed out. That has never been done in poker before."
Play will resume Sunday when the so-called "November Nine" reconvene in the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, home of World Series of Poker.
The final two players will square off in heads-up play starting at 8 p.m. Monday. The match is expected to end early Tuesday morning. The winner will earn $9.1 million and the runner-up $5.8 million.
The entire competition will be taped by ESPN, which will edit the two days of play into the prime time Tuesday special.
Pollack revealed the World Series of Poker isn't committed to the revolutionary format beyond this year.
"Theoretically this is something that could be taken on the road if we continue going forward, but we haven't discussed it," he said.
That would mean the World Series of Poker branded poker room at Horseshoe Casino Hammond could be in line to host a future main event final table.
"Chicago is an incredible market, near and dear to my heart obviously," said Pollack, a Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism alum. "And Hammond is key to our growth strategy."
Casino news and notes
* If a career in the casino industry is of interest, you may want to check out Blue Chip Casino Hotel's job fair in the Michigan City facility's grand ballroom from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Blue Chip expects to hire more than 200 people to staff its new 302-room hotel tower, scheduled to open in January.
Applicants may apply in advance at bluechipcasino.com and bring a resume to the career fair.
* Qualifying rounds for the $100,000 Poker Challenge at Hollywood Casino in Aurora have been eliminated, which means all single table satellite winners will play for the championship Dec. 7. Also, players will be allowed to buy in for $1,000 without having to win one of the $120 tournaments. FYI: (630) 801-7471.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at jbrokopp@comcast.net.
