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Maryann Guberman has been a writer and editor with many gaming publications, including Sports Form, Card Player, Poker World, Player's Panorama and Systems and Methods. She also has written and edited numerous books on gambling.

May 1, 2004

The New World Series of Poker

"This is your moment. Own it."
-- Oprah Winfrey

It seems like only yesterday that the future of the World Series of Poker was up in the air. But the future is now and the question has become moot. No matter who owns the name, no matter where the event takes place, no matter how much participants from all sides of the issue complain, the most prestigious poker event in the universe still outdistances and outranks any other poker event you can find.

Witness the fact that the first event under the Harrah's banner played host to 834 entries. The only other WSOP event to bring that many contestants to the table was last year's championship, which hosted 839 hopefuls. And this first event, no-limit hold'em with its $2000 buy-in, awarded James Vogl of London, England, a healthy $400,000.

Each year more and more players have been entering the series (despite some doubts when the former owners produced the event), but this year will probably see gigantic fields in all competitions and if you bet the over/under on the initial estimate of 1,400 participants for the big happening and you didn't take the over, you're likely holding a losing wager.

The 2004 World Series of Poker can thank: ESPN for the long-running reruns of the 2003 final; cyberpoker for giving so many people the opportunity to win seats, also providing beau coups free advertising; Chris Moneymaker for winning the championship as a result of an online entry win; and, of course, the Travel Channel and the World Poker Tour for convincing the world public that poker is a sport they can participate in without fear of physical injury and without need for (much) physical strength.

With a new time structure for limit changes, the series would seem to favor skilled players, but my bet is more amateur or frequent-but-not-professional players will appear at all the final tables from now on. Those old hats who make tournament play their regular fare will now have to adjust to a new set of poker rules because not everyone they face will have read the book!

This is the moment for the player and it's a new moment for the event itself.

The cards might be flopping but the World Series of Poker isn't. And all indications are, this will continue to be the main event for championship poker. Most likely, when the action switches venues to the Rio Hotel & Casino, the only major change will be in the location's décor.

One final note to the players, one and all -- besides good luck and best wishes -- read the quote from Oprah Winfrey at the beginning and take it to heart!