It's official. After nine years of the November Nine, the World Series of Poker yesterday announced the "delayed final table" concept will not be used for this summer's $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event, a.k.a. poker's "World Championship."
From the time the idea was first put in place for the 2008 WSOP Main Event, players and fans alike have debated whether or not halting the tournament with nine players left in July and resuming it nearly four months later was a good or bad thing.
Back in 2008, proponents of the delay focused primarily on ESPN's weekly coverage of the Main Event and the chance to build interest in the event and the players.