In a pretty quick turnaround, the 2021 U. S. Poker Open has been picked up for broadcast by one of the major sports channels in the States. NBC Sports Network, which has past background in airing poker, will be the television outlet for the USPO. There are three days that are being set aside for broadcasts on the channel and there will be a corresponding online element in addition to the televised proceedings.
Three Consecutive Mondays of Poker on NBCSN
Beginning on August 16, the entirety of the 2021 U. S. Poker Open will air on NBC Sports Network (it is assumed that they will go from Event #1 in a linear fashion, but there were no precise details or schedule from PokerGO, who streamed the USPO for its viewers). August 23 will see a second series of four new episodes air on NBCSN, with the final four episodes – and the Main Event of the 2021 USPO – hitting the NBCSN airwaves on August 30.
***SPOILER ALERT***
For those who might have missed it, the 2021 U. S. Poker Open was a “made for streaming” event that was created by Poker Central, the ownership behind the streaming outlet PokerGO, to create product for the channel to air. Conducted between June 3 and June 15, it was a twelve-event series which feature exclusively “High Roller” events. The cheapest events on the schedule were ten, $10,000 buy-in tournaments across a variety of disciplines, capped by a $25,000 and an $50,000 No Limit Hold’em tournaments to round out the schedule.
Many of poker’s deeper pocketed pros took part in the tournament, including current Player of the Year leader Ali Imsirovic, defending champion David Peters, veteran pro Eli Elezra, and former World Champion Joe McKeehen took part in the tournaments, One thing that was lacking in these events, however, was a larger field; for the most part, each event maxed out at significantly less than 100 competitors (Event #1 saw 95 entries, not players, while the $50,000 Main Event only had 42 entries).
Global Poker and PokerGO Celebrate with Online Series
To celebrate the airing of the 2021 USPO on NBCSN’s airwaves, PokerGO has teamed up with their title sponsor, Global Poker, to offer an online version of the tournament series.
Starting on August 23 and going through September 5, Global Poker will offer two versions of their online U. S. Poker Open. One version will be eligible for entry through their Gold Coins (and feature a total of 500 MILLION Gold Coins for competitors), with a 125 Million Gold Coins Guaranteed Main Event. The other version will be through using the Sweeps Coins has one million Sweeps Coins up for grabs and a 250 Million Sweeps Coins Guaranteed Main Event.
“Global Poker is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 2021 U.S. Poker Open on NBC Sports Network and offer an enhanced viewing experience for poker fans,” said David Lyons, General Manager of Global Poker, “In addition to watching all of the compelling action unfold from inside the PokerGO® Studio in Las Vegas, fans will be able to compete for dedicated U.S. Poker Open titles taking place on Global Poker for two weeks starting August 23.”
“PokerGO is pleased to take its partnership with Global Poker to the next level,” Mori Eskandani, President of PokerGO, said. “With the online U.S. Poker Open series on Global Poker running alongside the premiere episodes on NBC Sports Networks, poker enthusiasts will have an elevated viewing experience that includes being able to both watch and play the U.S. Poker Open at the same time.”
Whether you enjoy your poker on television or online, over the next few weeks you will have your passions sated. Check your local listings for when the 2021 U. S. Poker Open will run on your own NBC Sports Network outlet beginning on Monday and, if you partake of Global Poker’s offerings, get ready for some poker beginning on August 23.
