Change happens in a lot of different ways.
In 2003, the poker world experienced a revolution like it hadn’t seen in decades. Team PokerStars Pro’s Chris Moneymaker went into the World Series Main Event on a $39 PokerStars satellite. He emerged with $2.5 million and a World Series championship bracelet. It was the beginning of an organic revolution, the effects of which we still see today. It paved the way for such champions as Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem to win millions over millions and for legions of online poker players to find new careers in the poker realm. It was something few people could’ve predicted. It was change on the grandest of scales.
Today, the 2008 World Series begins in Las Vegas. Hordes of poker players are setting up shop for seven long weeks in the desert. At the end of it all, there will be more than 50 bracelet winners, and one event left undecided. Harrah’s the World Series of Poker are looking to revolutionize the way we see the Main Event. Not only has the World Series made many positive changes in the organization of such things as food, layout, and other logisitics at the World Series, but it is also stopping the Main Event with nine players remaining. The “November Nine” (a title nearly every poker blogger–this one included–will steal from esteemed poker writer B.J. Nemeth) will return four months later to compete for the championship bracelet.
PokerStars, as it has for the past half-decade, will play a huge role in this year’s Series. Current projections show PokerStars qualifying somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 players for the Main Event. From TLB leader competitions, to freerolls, to a massive 200-seat guarantee on June 15, PokerStars players will have tons of opportunities to win their seat (also, stay tuned later this weekend for more news on World Series satellites and another special promotion). I’ve gotten some early word on what PokerStars has planned for its players at this year’s Main Event and it’s something nobody will want to miss.
In the meantime, there are dozens of events to play. Team PokerStars Pro is setting up shop in Las Vegas now. Many of the members are playing in today’s $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em championship. We wish them all luck as the Series kicks off.
Helpful information:
Win one of 15 free World Series seats on Team Moneymaker
Top 1000 TLB leaders get shot at World Series
PokerStars gives away $1 million in World Series Seats
PokerStars launches 2008 World Series satellites
