European players (and precocious pros between the ages of 18 and 21) should be heading to London double quick, because the 2nd World Series of Poker Europe starts tomorrow.
The World Series of Poker is always a well televised affair, and the WSOPE is no exception: ESPN is set to air 8 hours of table coverage and distribute them worldwide, as well as making video content available online on ESPN360.com for fans from Brazil, Europe, Mexico and the U.S.
Several top poker players confirmed their attendance a long time ago, including this year’s WSOP Player of the Year Erick Lindgren, poker legends Chris Ferguson and Jennifer Harman and the bombastic 11 bracelet owner and poker personality Phil Hellmuth, who is not shy about wanting to add another piece of hardware to his collection: “Harrah’s has obviously put effort into making a lot of improvements to the event. I would like to make history by being the first American to win a bracelet in Europe.”
Other famous attendants include members of the November Nine, who will be honing their skills in preparation for the WSOP Main Event: David Rheem, Ivan Demidov and Peter Eastgate are expected at the felt of the swish Casino at the Empire in Leicester Square, and it remains to be seen if any other November Niners rise to the occasion.
Another big draw of the WSOP is that European casino laws allow players over 18 to play in casinos, which is how reigning WSOPE Champion Annette Obrestad got to win her first WSOP bracelet the day before turning 19. This should attract many other online prodigies who are still years away from playing legally in a Vegas casino, including Obrestad who is still 2 years away from playing at the Rio.
Almost all satellites available for the WSOPE on sponsoring site Betfair Poker have been played, but there is still one chance to score a seat into the WSOPE £10,000 Main Event: a £1,000 freezeout to be played at the Casino at the Empire on September 26. Also according to Betfair “Single table satellites for all events are currently running at the Empire every day.”
This is the schedule for the WSOPE 2008. We will keep you updated on all developments in the next days.
19th September:
Event 1 – £1500 +£75 No Limit Hold’em Event
3 day event with 2 starting days
Final table: 22nd September
CAP: 500 players
22nd September:
Event 2 – £2500 +£150 H.O.R.S.E. Event
3 day event
Final table: 24th September
24th September:
Event 3 – £5000 +£250 Pot Limit Omaha (Double Chance)
3 day event
Final table: 26th September
27th September:
Event 4 – £10,000 + £350 No Limit Hold’em Main Event
5 day event with 2 starting days
Final table: 2nd October
CAP: 500 players
