Poker News Daily Readies for the World Series of Poker

(SANEPR.com) May 29, 2009 -- San Jose, Costa Rica, May 29, 2009 -- Poker news as of late is heating up as poker players from across the world have had this week circled on their calendars for months. In January, Harrah’s officials released the schedule for the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP). Four months later, the tournament series will finally kick off from the Amazon Room inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on May 27. PokerNewsDaily.com has been focused squarely on the prestigious tournament series.

Making WSOP news was ESPN’s announcement of its schedule for coverage of the festivities. The action will once again be beamed into households around the United States on Tuesday nights, with July 28th marking the first episode, a recap of the $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament commemorating the 40th running of the WSOP. On August 4th, the action from the WSOP Champions Invitational will be shown, an invite-only tournament featuring former Main Event winners. On August 11th, the Ante Up for Africa charity event will be televised. The organization, which was founded by Celebrity Apprentice runner up Annie Duke, actor Don Cheadle, and Norman Epstein, raises money for victims of the crisis in Darfur.

The Main Event will begin airing on August 18th and run through November 10th. That night, the televised final table will be shown within a few hours of its conclusion. Each of the four starting days will receive two hours’ worth of coverage, as will Days 2A and 2B. Other days of the 2009 WSOP Main Event will also receive two hours. Last year’s champion, Peter Eastgate, became the youngest winner ever of the feature tournament and banked $9.1 million.

Celebrities for the Ante Up for Africa event have also been announced. They include Celebrity Apprentice candidates Herschel Walker and Dennis Rodman. Other household names that will pay the event’s $5,000 buy-in include Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Reggie Miller, Matt Damon, Jason Alexander, Montel Williams, Hank Azaria, Brad Garrett, Marlon Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, and Casey Affleck. Representing the poker world will be the likes of Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Phil Hellmuth, and Erik Seidel.

Finally, the WSOP has teamed up with the Nevada Cancer Institute to allow players from every event the ability to donate 1% of their winnings to the charity. Players need only inform Harrah’s cage staff upon cashing out that they wish to donate and the rest will be taken care of automatically. Previously, the Bad Beat on Cancer had focused on the Main Event. Now, players in every tournament will have an opportunity to donate. Membership to the Aces Club VIP Lounge will include a portion given to the Institute.

Read about the latest stories from the WSOP and other poker news by visiting PokerNewsDaily.com.

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