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Charlie Chimp
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30 Jun 2010
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 | The Worlds Series
of Poker kicked off
on May 28th and
will last until
November, with a
five month gap in
play from July so
that players can
visit the bathroom
and get a change
of socks.
Charlie Chimp
investigates the
improvements
that make this
WSOP the
BEST EVER!
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D DAY
Every year when people sign up for the Main Event,
everyone wants to start on day D so that they don’t
have to hang around playing Keno for three days
before they get to play day 2. Last year hundreds of
players (including Patrik Antonius) who were
hanging back trying to get a Day D place missed out
in registration entirely. This year Day D will start first,
followed by day B. The last day will be A or C and will
be decided on the flip of a coin five minutes before
ante up on the third day.
PACKIN' EM IN
Table capacity has been increased by 30 per cent this
year to make sure everyone who wants to play can
play. The 58,000 square feet Pavillion Room is a new
venue. Poker legend Amarillo Slim Preston described
the Pavillion as “The biggest fucking room I’ve ever
seen”, and that seems like as accurate a description
as any. It is comfortably large enough to host an
American football game. For players who prefer a
more intimate space, the six service elevators
by the main kitchens will host two tables each.
They aren’t air conditioned as yet, but the good news
is you will get your grilled cheese sandwich superpronto,
and the bathrooms pass by every three
minutes or so.
TRAILER TRASH
VIP players trying to avoid the crush on breaks will
be setting up their own trailers in the parking lots like
movie stars on set. Phil Hellmuth’s was last used by
Sarah Jessica Parker for Sex and the City II and
comes with a cocktail bar, a Jacuzzi and 300 pairs of
very expensive shoes. Last year’s Poker Kitchen, a
tent in the parking lot, has been abandoned to make
room for Hellmuth’s giant vehicle, but non-VIP
players are assured that food is available elsewhere
in Nevada, or you can knock on Phil’s door and ask
him for an olive or some cucumber face cream.
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU
Previous complaints about very expensive and
unhealthy food have been taken on board by Harrahs.
Hosting the event in the Rio, a good way off the Las
Vegas Strip, ensures that players wishing to go
elsewhere for luxuries like water or an unoccupied
bathroom, will think twice. You might think it doesn’t
look like that much of a walk. Go for it. You might
even make it. But do bear in mind that it is 150
degrees out there and mobile phone reception in
the middle of your trip cannot be guaranteed.
I think I saw a dead camel once.
THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY?
The hugely successful $50k buy-in H.O.R.S.E.
tournament that we all loved has of course been
abandoned. Somebody noticed that there was no No
Limit Holdem in it. Brilliantly, the new “Player’s
Championship” will have 8 games in it, including No
Limit Holdem. Even more brilliantly, the final table will be
only No Limit Holdem. That’s right. They stop playing all
the other 7 games when they get to the final table. I’m
not kidding. No, seriously, they really are doing that.
The football World Cup, which runs in South Africa
at the same time, has stolen the idea. The early rounds
will still include elements of football, but this year’s final
will be one half tennis and one half showjumping.
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
Talking of the World Cup. Harrah’s are turning the
Brasilia room into a venue for everyone to keep tabs on
the football. Expect to see Marcel Luske and Rob Hollink
praying over a peach Schnapps that Arjen Robben’s
injured hamstring holds up, Carlos Mortensen buying
Champagne as Fernando Torres gets another hat-trick,
and Neil Channing leading Vicky Coren and the Hendon
Mob on a destructive rampage through downtown Las
Vegas, battling armed police in the street with plastic
chairs after the USA beat England.
Just kidding (like the USA would beat England!).
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