Bodog Beat

Harrah's and the WSOP released the schedule for the 2008 WSOP, which has some interesting tournaments listed. (Bodog Beat Image)

Why just have one $10,000 buy-in World Championship event at the end of the World Series of Poker when you can start it with one too? Throw in six other $10,000 buy-in World Championship events throughout the schedule as well and you'll have the basis for the list of events for the 2008 World Series of Poker.

Beginning on May 30 with the $10,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Hold'em World Championship and ending early (based on our experience, very early) on the morning of July 17 with the final table of the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship, aka "The Main Event," the 2008 WSOP will again feature 55 events.

However, it looks like Harrah's has decided to cut down on the number of medium buy-in events and increase the larger buy-in tournaments as well as those with lower entry fees. Along with the eight $10,000 events are now 31 events with a buy-in of $2,000 or less, a schedule that is likely to draw poker pros and amateurs alike.

The big daddy of poker tournaments, the $50,000 HORSE event, is still on the schedule and listed as a five-day event anticipating its increased popularity among poker's best and brightest. Also as a result of the rising interest in mixed games is the addition of the $10,000 World Championship Mixed Event, which will take place early in the series as Event #8.

Other interesting tidbits concerning the 2008 WSOP:

• The dreaded poker pavilion has seen its day and will not be making a return;
• The 'Ante Up For Africa' charity fundraiser is returning and will again be co-hosted by Annie Duke and Don Cheadle;
• There will be nightly $340 no limit hold'em tournaments once space becomes available in the Amazon Room.

Things not addressed but that we are curious about:

• Will the sequestered final tables be making a return?
• For the love of God, will they be doing anything about the arctic A/C?
• And, finally, will the poker kitchen move again (look, we get hungry and this is important to us)?

So, with the schedule in hand you can start making your plans for Vegas this summer, and why not start at Bodog so that you can go for free? For as little as $1 you can qualify for a $12,000 prize package that will get you to Vegas in true Bodog style with a chance to win millions.