2009 World Series of Poker Schedule Released

The final-table delay is back. There will be no rebuys. There will be a $40,000-to-enter no-limit holdem event. There will be more bracelet events than ever.

Those are the highlighted cliff notes for the 2009 World Series of Poker schedule, which was released this morning.

There will be 57 gold bracelets awarded this summer — two more than last year — including a premiere $40,000 no-limit hold’em event to commemorate the 40th annual World Series of Poker. The first event of the Series starts May 27, and the final table of the main event finishes up Nov. 10 — more than four months after it begins on July 3.

Card Player first reported that the WSOP was considering removing rebuys from the prestigious Series, and that consideration materialized today. All four of the 2008 rebuy events were done away with. This is not the first year that the World Series will not have rebuys, and only time will tell if the popular format returns in future years.

The poker community was also widely divided after Harrah’s and ESPN decided to delay the playing of the final table four months last year so that it could be played “nearly live” on prime-time TV. But TV ratings were up nearly 50 percent over 2007, and the positive buzz the delay created was enough of a reason for Harrah’s to bring it back for a second year.

The world championship $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, a five-day tournament, will kick off June 26.

The $10,000 main event will have four starting days, from July 3-6, and play will be suspended on July 15 once only nine players remain. The final table will be played Nov. 7-10.

Check out the complete 2009 WSOP schedule.

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