Will World Series of Poker Final Table be Delayed for Later Live Broadcast?

Harrahs Entertainment is deciding whether to delay the final table of the 2008 WSOP Main Event, so it can be aired as a live television event on ESPN, possibly in October, according to rumors on the Internet and from various well-placed sources as relayed by Wicked Chops Poker.

"Play would be halted this July once the field was whittled down to its final nine players, and then delayed until three months later. The idea is to make the final table a big television event with plenty of lead time to hype the finalists and so no one knows who the winner is until the show airs," Wicked Chops reports.

"What we're personally hearing is that the final table would not actually broadcast live but would be filmed on a closed set at a later date, then edited and broadcast about two days later.

A decision hasn't been made yet, according to our sources, but officials are leaning towards making this happen," they reported.

WORD BACK FROM HARRAH'S

Pokerworks today reported that upon contacting Harrah's public relations, they received this reply, putting rumors to rest about any live final table causing a delay:

"The statement I [Pokerworks] received was from a Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. spokesperson and read:

"We have heard those rumors as well but we don't stoke rumors. If there was news to announce we would certainly share it publicly. We announced the schedule back in December and nothing has changed to it- 55 bracelet events over 47 days from May 30 to July 16.""

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