We’re one day away from the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP), which kicks off from the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Friday. Headed to the Nevada desert are officials from the WSOP Academy, who released a revised event schedule on Wednesday.
Among the new additions to the WSOP Academy schedule is a Mind and Body seminar with Sam Chauhan and Joe Navarro. At $499, it’s also the least expensive session on the schedule. When asked what class he was most excited about, WSOP Academy President Brandon Rosen told Poker News Daily, “It definitely has to be the Main Event Primer and the Mind and Body. We’re offering two separate packages and if you combined the two, I can’t think of a better way to prepare for the Main Event.”
The Advanced Main Event Primer is a two-day class that runs from July 2nd to 3rd. Instructors include Annie Duke, Greg Raymer, Mark Seif, Shawn Rice, Court Harrington, and Mark “P0ker H0” Kroon. The focus is on topics like advanced post-flop techniques and stack size strategy. Rosen boasted, “Our pros are the best out there. Not only do they have the most credentials as far as tournament wins and longevity, but their instruction is also top-notch. I can’t speak highly enough of them.”
The aforementioned Mind and Body seminar features Navarro, a former FBI agent, reviewing more than 200 nonverbal tells. Rosen explained, “He’s spent a lifetime observing people. Who better to learn about nonverbal communication from than a former FBI agent? All of Joe’s observations have been scientifically tested. All of the nonverbal communication that people emit is true no matter where you are.”
Also new this year is a Ladies Only Live Hand Analysis Academy featuring Duke, the winner of the 2010 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, and poker television host Ali Nejad. Rosen detailed what participants in the seminar can expect: “We’ll be playing a lot of hands throughout the day and Ali and Annie will be giving real-time feedback. For women who are new to poker or going to the WSOP for the first time, it’s a great learning environment. There’s a lot of camaraderie among all of the women involved.”
The pro to student ratio at WSOP Academy classes is typically around 10:1. If more people sign up, then additional instructors are added. Rosen explained what went into the development of the 2010 WSOP Academy schedule: “We’re always looking for unique angles. Sam, for example, is very unique in that poker is between your ears. It’s well documented that Sam has had great success with some of the top pros. To be able to offer people the opportunity to get exposed to Sam for a half-day right before the Main Event is great.”
Every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00am and 4:00pm PT, WSOP Academy instructors will be holding free seminars in the Brasilia Room at the Rio. Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson, who have a combined 21 bracelets, are just two of the players expected to appear. Rosen explained, “We want to give people the opportunity to see what we’re all about. They’re not going to get everything, but there will be some good tips presented over the weekends, so it’s worth checking it out.”
Here are the 2010 WSOP Academy classes at the Rio:
May 28th to 29th – Two-Day Tournament Academy
Instructors: Mark Seif, Shawn Rice, Mark Kroon
Price: $1,599 – 10% discount offered with promotional code RIOTEN
May 30th – Live Hand Analysis Academy
Instructors: Shawn Rice
Price: $999 – 10% discount offered with promotional code RIOTEN
June 10th – Ladies Only Live Hand Analysis Academy
Instructors: Annie Duke
Price: $999
July 2nd to 3rd – Two-Day Advanced Main Event Primer Academy
Instructors: Annie Duke, Greg Raymer, Mark Seif, Shawn Rice, Court Harrington, Mark Kroon
Early Bird Price: $1,599, Regular Price: $1,999
July 4th – Mind and Body Academy
Instructors: Sam Chauhan and Joe Navarro
Price: $499
Visit WSOPAcademy.com for registration information.