2009 WSOP Rundown

7 days until the summer of 2009 WSOP starts on May 27th Event #1 for Casino Employees NL $500 buy in and then the big $40K 4 day event starts next Thursday. I am sure some big name pro will win this one, since no average person can afford it.

I have a friend at work who has already won a Sunday Million this year playing in event #4 on Saturday, May 30th, the only $1000 buy in event. I hope he does well. He is a great tournament player, GO RUSTY!!

I also have another friend at work who has been in a home league and he will be playing in the main event for the first time. Go Alan!!!

A change to this years events, the bracelet ceremony will be held each day at 2pm for the previous nights winner. Prior, if an event ended at 4am they would have the bracelet ceremony right then and there. Now they will have it each day at 2pm. Probably a good idea.

Another huge change is the player tracking based on behavior. According to CardPlayer magazine, WSOP commissioner Jeffery Pollack said "We saw some things we were not proud of last year and we've never tracked this before, so it's a quantum step forward". Penalties ranging from one hand to disqualification will now be assessed based on past warnings verse a 10 minutes sit out. This comes off the heals of Scotty Nguyen's drunk ass during the H.O.R.S.E. event and Phil Hellmuth calling the one guy an idiot 100 times over and over again during the Main Event. I like this rule. I love Scotty Nguyen but man was he out of line last year.

I hope to see a female take at least one bracelet, I know I'm a little bias here but come on, it would be nice. Vanessa Rousso is coming off an EPT High Roller Champion and Runner Up for NBC Heads Up. The other Vanessa (Selbst) did win a bracelet last year but she isn't a good representation of female poker players, if you know what I mean.

Now that twitter is here it's taking over the poker world as pro's twitter after hands, during breaks so updates are coming faster then ever. If you're not twitting now, you have to start. (of course you can follow me on twitter at mspokertn)

I'm always excited about the WSOP and keep track of the events and will post updates and thoughts on bracelet winners over the next 7 weeks.

On a more personal note, tonight is event #5, hope I win. I need to come in 1st or 2nd to keep my 2nd place holding.

PEACE!