WSOP 2009: Tournament Format Improved

In 2008, players who sat down in the Main Event would have been faced with 20,000 starting chips, double what they received the previous year. In 2009, the figure will rise to 30,000. Increased starting stacks will grace all of the events in the WSOP. In addition to the increased starting stacks, levels will be added to accommodate the increased amount of chips. In all $1,000+ events new levels will include 75-150 and 1,200-2400 and the main event can expect more on top of that.

Tournament director Jack Effel said that in the economic situation players needed "more play for their money" and this is what they should have in the new, updated format: “You'll feel that in the beginning. It gives players more of an opportunity to make moves and use strategy. It's going to benefit both the little guy who won his way in and it's also going to benefit the pros, who have additional time to perfect their game.”

The lack of chips has been a recurring issue over the last few years at the WSOP and the change to the structure will be a welcome addition to many of the players. Organisers worried about a lower than normal turnouts in these turbulent times are also aware that more chips will entice more recreational players to enter the events.
Other changes are planned for this year's festivities, including the addition of a $40,000 no-limit event where players will start with 120,000 chips and blinds starting at 200-400. There will also be a $1,500 no-limit ‘stimulus event’. On the behest of the Players Advisory Council all re-buy events have been taken off the agenda. This will not be completely the case for the pot limit Omaha tournaments where players will receive stacks equal to the buy-in and then, in lieu of a re-buy, can add on twice during the first three levels.

The big guns will be out for the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E event which has its starting stack increased from 100,000 to 150,000 and the 10 $10,000 World Championship events which are, including the Main Event: Seven-card Stud, mixed games, Omaha Eight-or-better, Deuce-to-seven draw Lowball, Heads-up No Limit Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, Seven-card stud eight-or-better, Pot Limit Omaha and Pot Limit Hold’em. Again, all will start with 30,000 chips.

The increased stacks will add time (thought to be around 4 hours or 2 blind levels in the main event) and give tournament directors and floor staff more to worry about. As a result, there will also be wholesale changes to how the vast 300 table floor of the Rio will be run.

Last year's events were marred by incident and overtly extended television time given to Scotty Nguyen’s supposedly intoxicated run to H.O.R.S.E victory and Hellmuth’s tirades at other, less than special, players. That such continued behaviour was not more seriously punished will not be repeated as floor staff will use a player tracking database to log and follow any incidents so all staff have a log and history of any player's less than polite outbursts. There are 57 events in total and everything kicks off on May 27th.

Related news:

• WSOP 2009 Schedule Released