News
ESPN COVERAGE OF WORLD SERIES OF POKER BEGINS TONIGHT
Jul 31 2012 02:19 PM ESTWSOP Staff
Tuesday Night is Poker Night on ESPN, as original episodes of the 43rd Annual World Series of Poker begin airing tonight! It was an event so audacious, that many thought it would never come to be.
Shows will air at 8:00 PM ET.5:00 PM PT and run in two-hour blocks. Watch a preview of the episode HERE
ESPN will provide fresh episodes each Tuesday Night from now through October 30, 2012.
To kick this season of WSOP off, it's none other than the Big One for One Drop.
But when Cirque de Soleil founder Guy Laliberte dreams up something, it has to be real big to be worth doing.
The $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop was the largest buy-in poker tournament ever conceived.
What no one expected was for the 48-player cap to be reached, but indeed 28 card sharps and 20 businessmen, philanthropists and amateurs came along for the ride to see who could walk away with the richest prize ever awarded -- $18.3 million and the first-ever WSOP platinum bracelet.
Of course the ESPN cameras were rolling as this 3-day event kicked off earlier this month at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
And tonight, viewers can witness the two-hour action-packed conclusion to one of poker's most storied nights ever.
In Hour 1, we’re down to the final table of eight hopefuls. Among them are a mix of poker’s best professionals, amateur businessmen, and even one man who fits both profiles: former Main Event champion Bobby Baldwin, now a casino executive.
In the chip lead is accomplished pro Antonio Esfandiari – can he keep it up and ride his lead to victory and $18.3 million? Standing in his way are young British shark Sam Trickett, Antonio’s good friend Brian Rast and The Poker Brat himself, Phil Hellmuth. Among the businessmen are hedge fund manager David Einhorn and the host of the tournament, Cirque du Soleil co-founder Guy Laliberte.
In the second hour, six players remain in the most expensive poker tournament the game has ever seen. In pole position for the $18.3 million first place prize is The Magician, Antonio Esfandiari – who, when interviewed by Kara Scott prior to the final table, predicted his own victory. Will that prediction come true? Sam Trickett is hot on Antonio’s heels, as are Phil Hellmuth, David Einhorn, Brian Rast, and the always entertaining Guy Laliberte. The players have made an agreement to show their cards after each hand – how will this wrinkle affect the pros who love to bluff? Will Einhorn and Laliberte gain an edge? Tune in for the conclusion of The Big One For One Drop.
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