Change100 at PokerWorks

Harrah’s rolled out their schedule for the 2007 World Series of Poker today, which includes a slew of changes in terms of tournament selection and variety. Last year’s NLHE-fest has been greatly diversified to include over a dozen new events. They’re also promising enough space for 300 tables in one room, increasing the player capacity to 3000 (up from about 2300 this year). 55 bracelets will be awarded in all, up from last year’s 46.

Here’s a quick look at the major changes:

• In addition to the $50K H.O.R.S.E. event introduced last year, there will be two more bracelets awarded in H.O.R.S.E. tournaments with buyins of $2,500 and $5,000. Played as a grueling 3-day event last year, this year’s $50K H.O.R.S.E. will unfold over five days. This means Pauly will probably not have to nap in his rental car during another 19-hour final table.

• For the first time, WSOP bracelets will be awarded in 2-7 triple draw lowball. A $1K rebuy event is scheduled for June 29, while the $5K World Championship event will be held on the 4th of July.

• Two “mixed hold’em” events, rotating limit and no-limit hold’em play have been added. There is also a $2,500 Omaha hi-lo/stud hi-lo event on the docket.

• Continuing with the WSOP’s mixed-game expansion, S.H.O.E. is back with a $1K event.

• There are three stud hi-lo events scheduled for 2007, up from one in 2006.

• PLO8 gets it’s WSOP debut on June 25th with a $1,500 bracelet event.

Also worthy of note is the fact that Harrah’s has scheduled three Main Event “Day Ones” for 2007, down from 4 in 2006. Their supposedly increased floor space, however does allow for up to 9000 entrants (3K each day one). There is also a scheduled day off for everyone after the three Day Ones are complete, and another scheduled day off between Day 7 of Main Event play and the final table, scheduled for July 17. All in all, the ME will take 12 days to complete.

Remember those weird bracelet events that were going on during last year’s Main Event? Well they’re gone too, replaced by nightly $550 buyin second-chance tournaments. $1060 NLHE second-chancers will also run every night of the Series at 7 P.M. I think this is a good choice, as these events were treated almost as an afterthought last year– the “official” media outlets didn’t even give them any coverage, despite the fact that bracelets were being handed out.

The increased variety of events on the schedule show more of a commitment to cater to the all-around player, while there are still plenty of $1,500 and $2K NLHE events for Joe Sixpacks, home-game heroes, Vegas tourists taking a shot, and brave poker bloggers to play in. Speaking of bloggers, might we see Drizz on that PLO8 final table or TD junkies like Garth or Fargis slinging chips in the triple draw championship? Whaddya think, guys?

Now, if Harrah’s can finally figure out how to count chips we’ll really be in business.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 9th, 2007 at 8:24 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.