The 2006 World Series of Poker season is set up to surpass what
was achieved in 2005 by Harrah's. With the start of the WSOP
Circuit Tournament series on August 11, 2005 and ending with the
regular WSOP tournament that will begin on June 26th, Harrah's
put into motion the basis for giving the world top level poker
action year round. The number of WSOP Circuit Tournament events
was increased from last year's 5 events to 12, allowing
basically an event each month. Each winner of the Main Event
from these WSOP Circuit Tournaments besides winning a nice sum
of money and a beautiful ring, received a freeroll entry into
the Tournament of Champions.
For 2006, the World Series of Poker tournament that begins on
June 26th at the Rio in Las Vegas, Nevada, will feature 44
separate events verses last years 45. But there will be sizable
changes in Event 38 which is the Main Event. Harrah's is gearing
up for 8000 poker players to descend on the tables with the
first day being split up into four rounds, (Day 1A, 1B, 1C and
1D), each round handling 2000 players per session. With the
entry fee still at $10,000 per person, the potential prize pool
for the Main Event could reach $80,000,000! This would surpass
the figures for 2005 in which 5,619 entrants and a prize pool of
$52,818,610 were the final statistics. Expect a huge portion of
players to win their seats from online poker rooms. Beginning on
July 28th, the Main Event action will continue over a period of
13 days ending on August 10th.
Harrah's also plans to host the World Series of Poker Lifestyle
show that will be held during the first week of the Main Event
from July 27th to the 31st. It will happen in the Rio's 55,000
square foot Pavilion Convention Center, so attending won't keep
anyone too far away from the table action. Last year there were
100 vendors that featured the biggest online poker rooms, poker
magazines, poker gift shops some with poker jewelry and even a
booth hosting Marcel Luske, the Flying Dutchman. 55,000 visitors
came through the aisles in 2005 to learn, see and experience
everything related to poker.
The only group of people who could have a better perspective on
the poker industry would be the fortunate few who become
champions. These lucky players have not only received offers of
endorsement, partnership in online poker rooms, but have begun
to achieve celebrity status. Book deals, video games, TV shows,
freeroll tournament invitations to big money poker tournaments
overrun these individuals. Why? Sponsors who anxiously want to
sink big money into poker related events want these people on
their side. Joseph Hachem, the 2005 Main Event winner, recently
announced his decision to leave Australia to live in Beverly
Hills, California because of the earning potential of
opportunities received since becoming champion. This came after
winning a major victory in Australia's courts that let him keep
his $7,500,000 won in the WSOP Main Event -- tax free! He even
has top level talent agency William Morris helping him to sort
out the best offers.
With the allure of money, status and celebrity fame, the World
Series of Poker has become one of the premier events on the
planet to follow. And 2006 will be no exception, giving the
public more of what it has been waiting for.
About the author:
Tom Howze is a webmaster for 9 sites that relate to
2006 World Series of Poker and
World Poker Tour events, updates and results
information.
