WSOP
A big production
Producing the biggest spectacle in poker is no easy task, as Sean Chaffin reports…
W
ith over five dozen major poker tournaments, constant cash games, tens of thousands of players, and a massive staff to prepare, producing the World Series of Poker is a task.
But the WSOP staff and personnel at the Rio Hotel and Casino make it look easy, and the success and growth of the tournament series shows that hard work continues to pay off.
Things were no different this summer, and big
names making big finishes capped a record-setting World Series. From Phil Hellmuth’s 12th bracelet, Phil Ivey making five straight final tables, and Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi becoming the $50,000 Players Championship’s first two-time winner, the 2012 WSOP was definitely something to remember. The big events included the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop that featured an $18.3 million payday for poker pro Antonio Esfandiari.
Despite the economic downturn, the event’s prize
pool topped $200 million for the first time with a total of 74,766 entries in 61 events. The total prize pool – $222 million – was an increase of 15.6 percent over the previous record of 2011’s $192 million. In the 43-year history of the WSOP, the tournament has now awarded more than $1.6 billion in prize money.
“We’re still in poker’s golden age, at least when WSOP gold bracelets are on the line,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. “We can’t thank the players enough for their continued support of the WSOP and for once again putting a bad beat on market conditions.”
Planning and preparation As the biggest and most successful poker tournament series in the world, WSOP officials were 48 NOVEMBER 2012
not interested in giving away trade secrets about what goes in to producing the annual event. However, they did offer Casino International some insight into their work throughout the year. Caesars Vice President of Corporate Communications Seth Palansky plays a major role each year in coordinating the WSOP’s communication efforts and contacts with media.
“The World Series of Poker tournament in Las
Vegas requires a team of folks to focus on the event year-round,” Palansky says “Obviously, there is more to do during the event and as it approaches, but what really makes the event achieve its goals each year, is the work that is being put in now and in the coming months to set the event up to be in the best position to succeed. There’s a lot of work that goes into the dates, the space allotment for the infrastructure, the schedule, the events to add, the events to remove, and the timing of events during each 24-hour cycle.”
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