The Bernard Lee Poker Show 12-04: Jack Effel, VP WSOP talks 50th WSOP

Bernard Lee
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In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the PokerNews Podcast Network, Bernard Lee interviews Jack Effel, Vice-President of the World Series of Poker. They have their annual discussion of the upcoming WSOP.

As the WSOP is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Bernard and Jack discuss the special events such as The Big 50, 50th Annual High Roller Event, the Mini Main, and the Salute To Warriors and the enhancements to this summer’s series, such as Big Blind Ante for all no-limit hold’em tournaments and increased number of chips.

Show Time Stamps

0:00Welcome to The Bernard Lee Poker Show as this week’s guest will be Jack Effel, the VP WSOP, as the WSOP celebrates its 50th anniversary.
1:50Bernard discusses the first week’s WSOP schedule which will include The Big 50, Employee’s Event and 50th Annual High Roller Event.
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6:14Bernard welcomes Jack Effel to the show.
7:40Jack joins the show.
8:58Jack explains how the schedule is improved and what is the thought process. “We have a difficult job every year. We try not to take the same approach, looking at the schedule, trying to assume every event is good.”
13:51Jack discusses the significant changes including increased number of starting chips ($1,000 buy-in starts with 20,000 chips; $1,500 starts with 25,000; $10,000 starts with 60,000.) “Some of these events are definitely going to have a tremendous amount of play… We want people to be able to come here, we want them to be able to feel good, be prepared, to understand what they are getting into, to have some chips to play with.”
18:50Jack announces that all no-limit hold’em events will be Big Blind Ante at this summer’s WSOP. “We tested it out. We ran World Series of Poker Europe that way. We ran a couple of WSOP Circuit full stops that way. We tested it out in many different ways and we’re believers. Easier for players to keep track of. Easier for the dealers to keep track of.”
22:13Jack describes the big kick-off event for the first WSOP weekend, The Big 50 which will include a $5 million guaranteed prize pool, $1 million guaranteed first prize, 50,000 starting chips, and 50 minute levels. “I think it is going to be probably the biggest, if not one of the biggest, events that we have ever held in a live setting. Very much akin to early Colossus type fields. And could easily exceed that… This one is going to be massive!”
23:12Jack recommends that players register or pick up their pre-registration tickets early. “Please do not wait until the last day to pick up your tickets. Come anytime 24 hours a day to pick up your ticket.”
26:07Bernard explains the unique schedule for The Big 50’s Day 1, 2, and 3.
26:53Jack discusses the incredible task of staffing such a massive event such as The Big 50 this weekend. “It will be everyone we have and everyone that we can borrow from everywhere.”
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30:37Bernard continues his interview with Jack Effel, VP WSOP as he continues his interview about this summer’s 50th Annual WSOP.
31:53Jack discusses the 50th Annual High Roller event with a $50,000 buy-in. “These guys like to play nosebleeds.”
33:38Jack introduces Short Deck as a $10,000 buy-in into the WSOP schedule and explains the rationale.
36:21Jack discusses the genesis of the newly created Mini Main Event, held right before The WSOP Main Event. “We have had a lot of people over the years… ask for it every single year… It just kind of made sense.”
37:36Jack talks about the charity event, Salute To Warriors which will be a $500 buy-in bracelet event that will award a special Red, White, and Blue bracelet to the winner. “The proceeds will be donated to USO and other veteran organizations. It’s our way of recognizing our members of service.”
39:33Jack points out that the week leading into the WSOP Main Event has tremendous value with The Colossus, 888 event, Mini Main, and Salute The Warriors.
40:06Jack discusses weekend events will now have Friday / Saturday starts instead of Saturday / Sunday.
42:37Jack discusses the different formats for the events: 51 freezeouts, 14 single reentries, 7 unlimited reentries, and online has unlimited entries.
43:49Jack explains the online bracelets events schedule which is primarily Sundays.
47:45Jack discusses the success of the “post”liminary events. “I think the World Series of Poker is over when we close the door. So Post-lim, prelim, I think there is no bad day to play poker.”
50:55Jack discusses promotions for live action games which include jackpot games where the WSOP will give away $500 per hour 24 hours a day and also giving away five WSOP Main Event seats.
55:24Jack talks about The Gavin Smith Memorial tournament held Tuesday May 28 where the proceeds will go to support his children.

Let us know what you think of the show - tweet about the podcast using #BernardLeePokerShow, and be sure to follow @BernardLeePoker on Twitter or Instagram.

You can follow Jack Effel on Twitter @WSOPTD.

The Bernard Lee Poker Show is now available on iTunes.

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