WSOP organizers have said that it was a possibility in the past. Now, they’re saying it’s likely.
Registration for day 1D of the WSOP main event will probably close down early this year due to a large pre-registration response and the organizers’ desire to balance out the four starting days as much as possible.
“Day 1D will be shut down likely at some point,” said Seth Palansky, the communications director for the WSOP. “We’re going to balance the days. Once we get to a certain number sold per day, that day will be shut off and we’ll have to get to that number on the other days, as well, before we consider opening up that day again.”
Palansky declined to give out the exact number that it would take for Harrah’s to shut down pre-registration for a certain day, saying that it was an internal number and that the company would not try to shut it down too early. However, he speculated that if players don’t register by about June 24 (the last day that online pre-registration is available for day 1D) or soon thereafter, they might find themselves in an unfortunate situation.
“I would guess that if you haven’t registered by June 25 or 26, you’re probably not going to get the day you want,” said Palansky.
So far, approximately 1,000 people have pre-registered for the main event — with more players signing up for day 1D than the other three starting days combined. This is the largest pre-registration total the WSOP has ever had in its five years of offering the service.
Palansky said it’s one of many changes to the 2010 WSOP that players should be aware of. Below are some of the other things the World Series is doing differently this year:
A Different Kind of Day 2. In the past, the remaining players from day 1A and day 1B of the main event would merge into day 2A, while day 1C and day 1D would form day 2B. No longer. For the first year ever, day 1A and day 1C will combine for day 2A, while day 1B and day 1D will combine for day 2B.
“There’s been a historical pattern of the last two days being the most popular days,” said Palansky. “This will be another way for us to ensure that we have enough space for those returning on day 2.”
Palansky said the World Series was frighteningly close to having too big of a day 2B field last year, and that’s why the WSOP felt the need to make this change. Since the _WSOP_’s deep-stacked structure allows so many players to survive (in 2009, 76 percent of all players made day 2), the World Series can’t really fill two day 1s to complete capacity if they are going to merge, because in reality they would need to have room for approximately 152 percent of one of those day-1 starting fields.
In 2010, players will likely play four levels on day 1, no matter which starting day they choose. Last year, they played four or five levels, depending on their starting day.
More tables, more space. It appears highly unlikely that the WSOP will run out of tables for the main event. That’s because the Pavilion Room, formerly the home of the now defunct Poker Palooza, will now serve as one of the two tournament rooms for the WSOP.
If you think the Amazon Room is big (36,000 square feet), just take a look at the Pavilion Room. The latter has 58,000 square feet, and Palansky says the new space will allow the World Series to institute 30 percent more poker tables than it has in the past.
Palansky said Poker Palooza was a “sacrifice” the WSOP made in order to institute more poker tables. There will still be occasional autograph signings, booths, and seminars in the Brasilia Room in 2010.
New Sports Bar and Lounge for World Cup Fanatics. If you were concerned that spending your summer in the Rio might cause you to miss your beloved World Cup, fret not. That’s because Harrah’s has transformed the Brasilia Room (appropriately named, some might say) into the Bad Beat Bar and Lounge.
“This will be great. We’ve never had anything like this,” said Palansky. “It’s going to be like a sports bar, able to handle people who want to watch the World Cup and NBA Finals and such.”
Harrah’s is currently looking into seeing whether or not sports betting will be allowed in the area, or if guests will have to make the short walk back to the main casino.
Indoor ‘Gutshot Grill’ Replaces Outdoor ‘Poker Kitchen.’ Now, if you’re really hungry, you won’t have to brave the 110 degree heat to get some food at the Poker Kitchen. That’s because in 2010, there will be no Poker Kitchen.
Instead, players can now use the GutShot Grill, which will be located in the Miranda Room, just a short distance away from the new Bad Beat Bar and Lounge.
No More Cash Games in Amazon. The Amazon Room will be used exclusively for tournament play in 2010. The larger Pavilion Room will set up a cage and area for cash games, in addition to serving as the _WSOP_’s second tournament room. Unlike last year, the Brasilia Room and the Miranda Room will not be used for tournament play at all.
Later Restart Times. Last year, players returning for day 2 of an event got back by 2 p.m., only to find themselves interrupted by the daily bracelet ceremony. Well, the bracelet ceremony is back (although it will be in the Pavilion this year at 2:20 p.m.), but now restarts won’t begin until 2:30 p.m. so that it doesn’t interfere. Poker players who competed late into the previous night will probably welcome the extra half-hour of sleep.
No More VIP Room from Harrah’s. The Aces Club, as it was known last year, will not return this year. Palansky said the decision to scrap the room was simple, as it didn’t attract enough customers. Various companies will still hold their own exclusive rooms, and many more players are looking into setting up trailers for themselves this year for a place to go to avoid the masses on break.
