WSOP 2009 schedule

The 40th annual World Series of Poker® (WSOP®) will commence Wednesday, May 27 with the first of 57 gold bracelet events, and the next day a special $ 40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament will commemorate the gaming industry’s most illustrious event.

The annual poker extravaganza, which dates back to 1970, is televised exclusively on ESPN from the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and consists of a comprehensive slate of the game’s most popular variations.

The 40th annual WSOP will conclude with the $ 10,000 buy-in World Championship No-Limit Hold‘em Main Event which begins play Friday, July 3, 2009 and reaches its final table (nine players) on July 15, 2009, at which time play will be halted. The famed tournament’s culmination will be held with the “November Nine” from November 7-10, 2009, before a live audience with special primetime coverage from ESPN.

The landmark WSOP comes on the heels of a record year in 2008, when the WSOP generated the most entries ever (58,720) from the most countries ever (124) that competed for the largest prize pool ever ($ 180,774,427) while awarding 55 championship gold bracelets, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize.

Among the highlights of the 2009 schedule:

57 gold bracelet events over 50 days

A “stimulus special” $ 1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament on the opening weekend, May 30-31, 2009, which is anticipated to draw the largest-ever live tournament field outside the Main Event and offer a prize pool approaching $ 5,000,000

10 “World Championship” $ 10,000 buy-in events

The third annual $ 50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. tournament, with an enhanced gold bracelet and the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy awarded to the winner

A one-time commemorative gold bracelet event, a $ 40,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament to help mark the 40th annual WSOP on Thursday, May 28, 2009

Seven open $ 1500 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournaments, the most popular events in poker

The 3rd annual Ante Up For Africa $ 5,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em celebrity and charity tournament on Thursday, July 2, 2009 featuring the opportunity to be seated on the same table as A-list celebrities and top poker pros

The Ladies Only No-Limit Hold’em World Championship on Sunday, June 7, 2009 featuring a $ 1,000 buy-in and helping to raise awareness for the Nevada Cancer Institute, the official community relations partner of the World Series of Poker

The Seniors Only No-Limit Hold’em World Championship on Monday, June 22, 2009 for all poker enthusiasts 50 years of age or older

The return of the “November Nine” where the nine finalists of the Main Event (July 3-15) return to the Rio on November 7-10, 2009 to vie for the multi-million dollar prize and the title of 2009 World Champion of Poker in front of a live audience with special primetime coverage on ESPN

“Whether you play poker around the kitchen table or consider yourself a professional, you will find a comfortable seat at the 2009 World Series of Poker,” said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker. “This year’s schedule offers more variety than ever before and we look forward to welcoming players from around the world to the Rio for our 40th annual extravaganza this summer.”