In the 2007 WSOP, the world met Hevad Khan. He was a loud, boisterous, and overbearing player the worked his way all the way to the final table before eventually being eliminated. For years there have been players that would do things to try and garner themselves some camera time. Handstands on chairs, loud outburst after winning a pot, or even a comical routine such as Humberto Brenes and his shark were part of the game. Hevad Khan took things to what was considered the extreme and the one example that seemed to prompt change was his antics when he took a chair and started dancing around with it. At this point, ESPN told Hevad that enough was enough. As a result the rule known as the “Hevad Khan rule” was instituted.
The rule states “Excessive celebration through extended theatrics, inappropriate behavior, or physical actions, gestures, or conduct may be subject to penalty. Any player that engages a member of the tournament staff during the celebration or utilizes any property of Harrah’s will be penalized in accordance with Rules No. 31 and/or 51. Harrah’s property includes but is not limited to chairs, tournament tables, and stanchions.”
I was all for this rule when it came out. When I saw Khan’s antics in 2007, I was embarrassed for our game. I was happy that something like that was instituted.
Harrahs has more or less decided that they will enforce this rule with a ZERO TOLERERANCE policy to any type of significant outburst. If a player shows any amount of high excitement or energy, a Harrah’s floor person is immediately over to the player issuing a warning. I saw this occur time and time again. There were some instances where it was warranted. One example was Day 1b of the Main Event. A man stood up in his chair after “shuffle up and deal” was announced and clashed a pair of symbols. A floor man was right there to issue a warning and tell him to keep them put away. That was an appropriate use of the policy. Then I saw another example where it was unwarranted. A player won a big pot on Day 3 of the Main Event. Day 3 is the day players reached the money. This guy was in a big pot for either most or his entire stack. He won the hand and exclaimed “Whoo! That’s what I’m talking about.” He wasn’t overly celebrating. He was loud, but not overly celebrating. Lon McEachern was standing right there beside me and said that, “The way they are enforcing this is ridiculous. You have to have some emotion.”
I agree with Lon. I think that the spirit and the intention of the excessive celebration rule were just. However, I think that the way Harrahs is enforcing the rule is harmful to the game. If you don’t understand what I mean, watch the Main Event coverage on ESPN. You will find the coverage to be bland and somewhat boring compared to the last few years. To be honest, the Main Event was indeed boring. Sadly, the cameras at ESPN caught the Main Event the way that it really was.
The World Series of Poker is currently held every year at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. For those of you that never have been to the World Series of Poker, you may wonder what you will be in store for if you actually attend the event. First, realize that you are not just attending a set of poker tournaments, but instead you are attending a major event. The crowds will be larger, the competition tougher, and the experience awe inspiring.
When you first turn into the Rio from Flamingo, you will want to keep right and drive by the Hotel entrance. There will be signs pointing your way to the World Series of Poker. You will arrive to the convention center parking lot. If you are driving, you have an option of parking in the free parking area or using Valet. Valet is free, but a tip is expected and deserved. If you are in a cab, they will take you to the front of the convention center.
You will notice first a tarped off walkway with red carpet and mist blowing units to cool off guests. This looks cute, but you do not have to use that walkway. Go up the steps and enter the front doors of the convention center. As you enter the doorway, take a right. You will then begin to walk down a long hallway towards the convention center. Along the way you may see different booths for online sites or other merchants that setup during the World Series. As you get closer to the actual Amazon Room, you will notice monitors welcoming you to the World Series of Poker. One monitor will likely be continuously playing ESPN broadcast from past years.
Just before you reach these monitors, you may notice a good size room with a lot of tables and players. This room looks like it could be the World Series, but don’t be fooled. This is the Brasilia Room. The Brasilia room is part of the World Series, but it is not where the bulk of the events are held. Brasilia is where evening non-bracelet tournaments and Day 2’s of bracelet events are held.
Just beyond the monitors you will notice a desk with a Total Rewards Sign on it. If you have never played at a Harrahs property or if you never signed up for a Total Rewards Card, you need to sign up for one. This card is required to play in any event or satellite at the World Series of Poker.
After getting your cards, you notice you have three directions to go. Do not go right as this area is primarily for media and television. You will want to go left. You will notice several booths including massage therapists, a gift stand, and other poker related booths. The main WSOP gift shop is the first door you pass down this hallway. As you turn, you should notice the Players Entrance for the World Series of Poker. Next time, we will actually go inside and check out the main areas of the World Series of Poker.
Binion’s Horseshoe – The Original Home of the World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) originally started back in 1968 as an invitational event at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno, NV. The event was won by Crandell Addington. The World Series of Poker as we know it today started back in 1970 as a set of cash games that drew the best Poker players in the world together to compete for the title of WSOP. Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas, NV was the venue for this new World Series of Poker. The champion was determined by a vote and Johnny Moss emerged as the winner. For his win, Moss received a silver cup.
The next year, the champion was determined by a freezeout tournament and Johnny Moss again emerged the victor. 1973 saw the introduction of the first preliminary WSOP tournament. Bill Boyd won the Five Card Stud event for a grand prize of $20,000. Every year through 2003, the event was held at Binions. Many champions emerged victorious throughout the years including Doyle Brunson, Stu Unger, “Amarillo Slim” Preston, Johnny Chan, and Phil Hellmuth.
The Main Event was not the only poker tournament held at the World Series of Poker. Over the years bracelet events have been held in all forms of poker including Seven Card Stud, Pot Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E. and Lowball. Some games that have come and gone over the years include Five Card Stud, Five Card Draw, Ace to Five Draw, Match Play, Mixed Doubles, and Women’s Seven Card Stud.
The Rio – Home of the World Series of Poker
In 2004, Harrah’s Entertainment purchased the Horseshoe and the rights to the World Series of Poker. The event was then moved to the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino with the last two days played at Binions downtown. 2004 was the last year that any portion of the WSOP was held at Binions. Since then, the even has been held at the Rio. 2004 also saw Chris Moneymaker parlay an online satellite into a world title. Since then, the popularity of poker has exploded and ushered in the current Poker Boom.
By the time of the 2006 World Series of Poker, the fields had grown to such epic size that the Main Event was view much like a lottery. A new event was created to showcase the elite of the poker world and try and bring back some of the old school luster of the World Series of Poker. This event was the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. Chip Reese emerged as the first champion of the event and since then the event has showcased the best of the poker world.
The Main Event is still the World Championship of Poker. Each year thousands of players make the journey out to Vegas to try and put their name in the record books. This year’s World Champion is still to be determined. Harrah’s decided to delay the final table until November to allow for increased coverage of the event. The “November Nine” will reconvene on November 9th and play down to the final two. Those players will return on November 10th to play for the title and the $9 Million top prize.
