ESPN Will Broadcast the Entire WSOP Tournament

The final table of the H.O.R.S.E. tournament at the 2006 World Series of Poker was maybe the best final table in tournament-poker ever. For the big prize were playing Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, T.J. Cloutier, Patrik Antonius, Chip Reese and Andy Bloch. In the end, after the longest heads-up match in WSOP history — just over seven hours, the winner of $1.7 million was Chip Reese.

ESPN who broadcasted the final table in two one-hour episodes in 2006, this year plans to cover the entire tournament from start to finish. The final table will continue to play all of the five poker variants instead of switching to No Limit Texas Holdem poker game that was played till the end of 2005.

ESPN analyst Norman Chad considers that the main part of H.O.R.S.E. players prefer to keep playing the mixed game at the final table. In 2004, ESPN broadcasted a variety of games, from community card games like Holdem and Omaha to Seven Card Stud and Razz. But since then, ESPN focused on the more familiar no limit Texas Holdem poker game renouncing in this way to present other games. On the other hand, Lon McEachern, Chad's broadcast partner explains that Holdem is so popular because it is easier to watch and understand.

The two partners are now trying to bring in front of the viewers each game in an interesting way. There are several online poker rooms, like Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, which offer mixed game tournaments and cash games, including H.O.R.S.E. These games can be played by everyone from their home. In this way the promotion of the game will be assured more easy.

A renowned poker player, Daniel Negreanu, declared that no matter the changes of the games the event will be once again a huge success. Anyway, he wants No Limit Holdem at the final table because in his opinion it truly tests a player's overall poker skills, skills that include both limit and no limit poker.

The average viewers will have some problems to follow the game play because of the defective screen format.Until now the producers don’t have any solution to this.

If the final table of this year will be of the same caliber as last year, the organizers are expecting a higher audience. Moreover, they consider that the exposing of the audience to a variety of games can only be good for poker.

All in all, enjoy watching the poker tournament!