2010 World Series of Poker Begins Friday
by: SIA PokerFriday, May 28, is a big day for the Rio Hotel and Casino. The much-anticipated World Series of Poker kicks off and the field is expected to be the biggest yet. With last year’s WSOP seeing more than 60,000 players, a significant spike in the playing field had some players concerned, considering how last year almost 500 players were turned away from the Main Event due to a lack of seating. However, the Rio has expanded their gaming floor by almost 25 percent in an effort to avoid last year’s debacle where poker pros like Patrik Antonius and 6-time WSOP bracelet winner TJ Cloutier were unable to score a seat.
“Pre-registrations are up this year,” WSOP vice president Ty Stewart said. “We expect total participation will set a record this year.”
Players to watch out for at this year’s WSOP includes 21-year-old WSOP Europe winner Annette Obrestad, who will be making her WSOP debut now that she’s of age to play in Vegas. The Norwegian poker player has never spent a dime playing poker, beginning her online poker career at just 15 and turning freerolls into cash. There is something errie about Obrestad. Something magical. If psychics are real, then I’d be betting my money that Obrestad’s got that gift, especially after she famously won a blind tournament, never looking at her cards. The reason why I always assumed psychics weren’t real was because if I were a psyhic, I’d be gambling. Hey – perhaps I’ve finally found my proof.
There’s also the Unabomber Phil Laak, who will be taking a stab at the world record, which currently stands at 78 hours, for consecutive hours played. He will begin his attempt on June 2 and try to play for more than three days straight. Hey, he may not earn a bracelet, but he’ll get a hell of a lot of publicity. Then there’s poker brat Phil Hellmuth, who holds the record for bracelet wins with 11, followed by living legend Doyle Brunson and two-time Main Event winner Johnny Chan, who each have 10. Seven-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey is betting he’ll be earning some wrist hardware, making a $5 million prop bet with fellow poker pro Howard Lederer that he can bring home two more bracelets over the course of the next two WSOPs.
Who will make poker history with a Main Even win? Will it be a poker pro, or some elusive online poker player no one has heard of? Sports Interaction is giving players the opportunity to take a seat at the 2010 WSOP. Satellites run daily, but make sure you choose the correct satellites as numerous different packages are up for grabs. Check out Sports Interaction’s WSOP qualifiers today.
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