World Series of Poker officials announced on Monday that they are changing the Main Event schedule in anticipation of a record number of players on Thursday’s Day 1D. The move created a domino effect in the Las Vegas poker market, forcing the MGM Grand poker room to adjust the schedule for its $2 million guaranteed grand finale, which was also scheduled to take place on July 7.
The staff at the MGM Grand Poker Room are hoping to see another result like this on Day 3 of their guaranteed $2 million Grand Final on Friday. (Image: Twitter/MGM Grand Poker Room)
The The WSOP announced their schedule change on Twitter Monday, encouraging players to play today’s Day 1C session due to the expected high volume and 10-player tables on Wednesday’s Day 1D. The new Main Event plan will see the survivors of Days 1A, 1B, and 1C play together on Thursday, July 7, and only the survivors of Day 1D will play on Friday, July 8.
WSOP MAIN EVENT SCHEDULE CHANGE
Due to the size of the fields in Main Event Flights 1A and 1B, Flight 1C will now be combined with the first two flights to create Day 2ABC on Thursday, July 7 at 11am. Day 2D will be played as scheduled on July 8 at 11 a.m. pic.twitter.com/S0FG07FxQt
— WSOP (@WSOP) July 4, 2022
MGM Grand’s hand was forced
The change in the WSOP caused Justin Hammer, tournament supervisor at the MGM Grand Poker Room, to reconsider the program of the event at the buy-in of $2,500 from its venuewhich should currently have a six-figure overlay.
“It’s always dangerous to plan a big event around the Main WSOP, so if you want to do that, you have to make sure the players are able to play both,” Hammer said. “To be honest, I really wanted to make it a two-day event to make it easier, but MGM is committed to delivering the best product. I knew right away we had to change something.
THIS JUST IN:
Day 3 of our $2 Million Guarantee $2,500 Grand Final moved to Friday, avoiding conflict with WSOP Main Event changeNOW
All players in Flights A, B OR C of the WSOP Main Event can play our $2 Milly GTD without any dispute.$2 Million REST Guarantee
Reg at 2 p.m. Wednesday pic.twitter.com/ETamwIXvfO— MGM Grand Poker Room (@MGMGrandPoker) July 5, 2022
Hammer projects the part will miss its warranty by about $200,000. Even so, he says it’s important to him and MGM that they stick to that number, even though they have the legal right to make changes. Inevitably, some players will argue that MGM has changed its timeline to help them reach warranty, but Hammer says this move will likely have the opposite effect.
“Their [the WSOP’s] change is definitely going to cost us entries,” Hammer said. “I don’t even think that part is debatable. The current change to our schedule doesn’t add much to the prize pool and pretty much guarantees players more layering. I think most reasonable gamers will understand that this was the best-case scenario of an unfortunate circumstance.
Positive player response
The reaction on Twitter has, so far, supported MGM’s decision. Hammer says he also hears good things from players talking to him in person.
“Most of the players I’ve spoken to are very grateful that we’re sticking to our guns here,” Hammer said.
Despite the high probability that the coin misses its number, Hammer says the MGM Grand remains committed to providing players with big guarantees to give everyone a place to play on the Strip.
“I see big things ahead here and if I was a bettor I would say there are other big guarantees ahead for the MGM Grand,” Hammer said. way to try to compete with the WSOP Main.
Today is the last session of Day 1 of the $2 million guaranteed event. MGM is offering another seven-figure guarantee starting Thursday, July 7, when it kicks off its $1 million guaranteed event.
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