Newly revamped 2008 WSOP Schedule

The World Series of Poker denied blog reports Tuesday that it was considering televising the Main Event final table live — or “plausibly live” — on ESPN.

“It is just a rumor,” said Seth Palansky, communications director for the WSOP. “We’re not going to stoke it.”

“We’re not shy,” Palansky added. “If we have news to announce, we’ll do it.”

And even though the live final table is not going to happen, that doesn’t mean the WSOP isn’t looking at ways to improve.

“We are constantly in discussion about several ideas that are beneficial to the poker community,” Palansky said. But any changes have to be “something we believe could have many benefits for poker as long as it keeps the integrity (of the game) intact and are not gimmicks.”

“They have to be real ways to advance tournament poker,” Palansky said. “We have a bigger responsibility to poker as a whole. We certainly want to be innovative. But we will be mindful of the tradition and not compromise it.”

The official 2008 WSOP schedule of events for the 39th World Series of Poker has been released by Harrah’s Entertainment. The entire poker tournament schedule will run from May 30 – July 16, 2008.

55 different events will be played out this year.

“We’re holding steady at 55 events this year,” said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the WSOP. “But, we’ve mixed it up a bit to keep it interesting for our players and fans.” Pollack also noted that the mix of events is designed to attract a wide mix of poker enthusiasts, saying, “Both amateur and professional poker players will have new opportunities to compete for a WSOP bracelet and can choose from the widest variety of games and buy-ins ever offered in one poker tournament and certainly at the WSOP.”

Mr Pollack also said that the infamous ‘Poker Pavilion’ will not return in 2008. “The poker tent is gone, We heard folks loud and clear last year, and there will be no tents used for tournament play at the 2008 WSOP.”

The complete 2008 WSOP schedule of events:

Date Time (Event #) Buy-In

5-28 9 AM Registration Opens, Live Action & Satellites Begin
5-29 Registration, Live Action & Satellites
5-30 Noon (#1) *Pot-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $10,000
5-31 Noon (#2A) No-Limit Hold’em (4 days) Day 1A $1,500
6-1 Noon (#2B) No-Limit Hold’em Day 1B
6-2 Noon (#3) Pot-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,500
6-2 5 PM (#4) Mixed Hold’em (Limit/No-Limit, 3 days) $5,000
6-3 Noon (#5) No-Limit Hold’em w/Re-Buys (3 days) $1,000
6-3 5 PM (#6) Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3 days) $1,500
6-4 Noon (#7) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $2,000
6-4 5 PM (#8) *Mixed Event (3 days) $10,000
(Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better, Seven Card Razz , Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better, No-Limit Holdem, Pot-Limit Omaha, 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball)
6-5 Noon (#9) No-Limit Hold’em / Six Handed (3 days) $1,500
6-5 5 PM (#10) Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better (3 days) $2,500
6-6 Noon (#11) No-Limit Hold’em Shootout (3 days) $5,000
6-6 5 PM (#12) Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,500
6-7 Noon (#13) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $2,500
6-7 5 PM (#14) *Seven Card Stud (3 days) $10,000
6-8 Noon (#15) Ladies No-Limit Hold’em World Championship (3 days) $1,000
6-8 5 PM (#16) Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3 days) $2,000
6-9 Noon (#17) No-Limit Hold’em Shootout (3 days) $1,500
6-9 5 PM (#18) No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball w/Re-Buys (3 days) $5,000
6-10 Noon (#19) Pot-Limit Omaha (3 days) $1,500
6-10 5 PM (#20) Limit Hold’em (3 days) $2,000
6-11 Noon (#21) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $5,000
6-11 5 PM (#22) H.O.R.S.E. (3 days) $3,000
6-12 Noon (#23) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $2,000
6-12 5 PM (#24) Pot-Limit Holdem/Omaha (3 days) $2,500
6-13 Noon (#25) *Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em (256-player max, 3 days) $10,000
6-13 5 PM (#26) Seven Card Razz (3 days) $1,500
6-14 Noon (#27) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,500
6-14 5PM (#28) Pot-Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys (3 days) $5,000
6-15 Noon (#29) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $3,000
6-15 5 PM (#30) *Limit Hold’em (3 days) $10,000
6-16 Noon (#31) No-Limit Hold’em / Six Handed (3 days) $2,500
6-17 Noon (#32) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,500
6-17 5 PM (#33) *Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3 days) $5,000
6-18 Noon (#34) Pot-Limit Omaha W/Re-Buys (3 days) $1,500
6-18 5 PM (#35) Seven Card Stud (3 days) $1,500
6-19 Noon (#36) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,500
6-19 5 PM (#37) *Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3 days) $10,000
6-20 Noon (#38) Pot-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $2,000
6-21 Noon (#39) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,500
6-22 Noon (#40) *H.O.R.S.E. (5 days) $50,000
6-22 5 PM (#41) Mixed Hold’em (limit/no-limit, 3 days) $1,500
6-23 Noon (#42) *Seniors No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,000
6-24 Noon (#43) Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better (3 days) $1,500
6-25 Noon (#44) No-Limit Hold’em w/Re-Buys (3 days) $1,000
6-25 5 PM (#45) 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball (Limit) (3 days) $2,500
6-26 Noon (#46) No-Limit Hold’em / Six Handed (3 days) $5,000
6-26 5 PM (#47) Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better (3 days) $1,500
6-27 Noon (#48) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $2,000
6-28 Noon (#49) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,500
6-29 Noon (#50) *Pot Limit Omaha (3 days) $10,000
6-29 5 PM (#51) H.O.R.S.E. (3 days) $1,500
6-30 Noon (#52) No-Limit Hold’em (3 days) $1,500
7-1 Noon (#53) Limit Hold’em Shootout (2 days) $1,500

7-2 10 AM Media Event
7-2 Satellite Day
7-2 2 PM Ante Up For Africa Charity Event (1 day) $5,000

7-3 Noon (#54A) *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 1A (2,500 players) $10,000
7-4 Noon (#54B) *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 1B (2,500 players)
7-5 Noon (#54C) *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 1C (2,500 players)
7-6 Noon (#54D) *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 1D (2,500 players)
7-7 Main Event Off Day
7-7 Noon (#55) Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em (2 days) $500
7-8 Noon (#54) *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 2A
7-9 Noon *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 2B
7-10 Noon *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 3
7-11 Noon *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 4
7-12 Noon *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 5
7-13 Noon *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 6
7-14 Noon *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Day 7
7-15 Main Event Off Day
7-16 Noon *No-Limit Hold’em (Main Event) Final Table

* — indicates ‘World Championship’ event.